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ANNUAL REPORT 2023-2024

WWW.UNAWESTCHESTER.ORG
Marcia Brewster | President, UNA-USA Westchester Chapter, 2024

“Our obligation to the world is, primarily, an


obligation to our own future.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Friends,

Eleanor Roosevelt was an important figure in United States history,


having been instrumental in many aspects of the United Nations,
particularly in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
as well as in our own UNA-USA Westchester Chapter. The quote I
chose of hers on the cover was chosen to reflect the ultimate
responsibility of all of us at our Chapter:

“Our obligation to the world is, primarily, an obligation


to our own future.”

An obligation to our own future. A future that is just, peaceful,


sustainable, and which allows every member of our human family
to be happy, healthy, and flourish.

As we face the all-too-often horrible news we hear each day, I


understand why we might be tempted to think that a future like the
one I described is a pipe dream, but we must fight that temptation.
That future can—and must—become a reality, and it is within our
collective grasp to make it so. As Mrs. Roosevelt said, it is our
“obligation”—each and every one of us. We must not lose hope!

As I attend each of our Chapter events, I am inspired by the


progress we are making as a society of human beings, from
human rights, women’s equality, climate change, and solutions to
the multiple crises we face together. I am also reminded of just
how much good exists in the world, and how many good people
exist in the world.

Deepest appreciation to the UNA-USA, Westchester Chapter’s


Board of Directors, an outstanding and inspiring group of
humanitarians. We would be delighted to have more of our
members participate in our committees and contribute their
expertise to our programs and events. If you would like to get
more involved, please email me at
mmbrewster.unausa@gmail.com or the chapter email
unawestchester@gmail.com

Thank you for taking the time to read this report, and I hope to
meet you either in person or virtually at our coming Earth Day and
Annual Meeting at the Yonkers Riverfront Library on April 28th! We
look forward to hearing the ideas of our speakers and members.

Peace and blessings,


Marcia Brewster, President
JOIN US
TO CELEBRATE
EARTH DAY
ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
J. Yuhanna Edwards, Chair

Supporting full payment of the arrears for U.S. obligations to support the UN Regular
Budget and Peacekeeping: Meeting U.S. financial obligations to the UN is critical to achieving
peace and security worldwide. We are requesting members to let Congress know that we need
to support President Biden’s budget proposal to fully fund the UN Regular Budget and
Peacekeeping Arrears in Fiscal Year (FY)'25.

Supporting humanitarian efforts and a negotiated ceasefire to expand assistance to


desperate residents in Gaza.

Engaging local leadership across the County


U.S. Congressman Jamaal Bowman, State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins and
Assemblyperson MaryJane Shimsky and County Legislator David Imamura, as well as many
mayors and other political leaders, have endorsed our efforts to support the work of the UN
over the past year.
UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
UNA-Westchester is still leading the effort to implement
CEDAW legislation in Westchester County, as a follow up
to the Westchester Board of Legislators resolution 40-
2020 of May 2020. We are attempting to forge a CEDAW
Ordinance in Westchester County, the first county in the
state to do so. We are drawing on support from the
national “Ratify CEDAW” campaign, in particular
Ordinances that have been passed in Santa Clara and
Participants at Cities for CEDAW meeting San Diego counties in California over the past two years.
at the Commission on the Status of Our UNA chapter is also coordinating with other UNA-
Women, March 2024 NYC
USA chapters that have implemented CEDAW ordinances
(San Francisco, Washington DC and Broward County FL).

We encourage you to use your voice


• We encourage our members to speak out and support the
UN. Please contact our senators and let them know your
view of the value of the UN and that the U.S. must lead as
an advocate for peace, development and human rights.
• Senator Gillibrand may be contacted at 202-224-4451 or at
www.gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/email-me;and Senator
Schumer at 202-224-6542 or
www.schumer.senate.gov/contact/email-chuck.
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
Raina Kadavil, Chair

Provided cross-cutting support for all Committees and the


Chapter, in general
• Published quarterly issues of The Global Connection featuring
UNA Westchester's events, Digital Media Contest and personal
reflections from key Board members.
• Continued to update and improve the chapter
website, unawestchester.org.
• Utilized Instagram, Facebook, Constant Contact and Weebly to
advertise events hosted by the chapter including International
Women's Day and UN Day and support the Program
Committee in ensuring high attendance.
• Engaged members and event attendees using Zoom and
Eventbrite.
• Supported the Education Committee in advertising their Digital
Media contest and supported the Young Professionals in
advertising their CEDAW media contest.
PARTNERSHIPS & COMMUNITY
OUTREACH COMMITTEE
Brenda L.G. Smith, Chair

UNA-Westchester is privileged to work with so many enthusiastic and loyal partners, who
support our programs and their links to the United Nations. Thank you for everything you
do to make the world a better place. The many partners who cosponsor our public
programs are listed in the Program Committee section of this report.
Key current and prospective partnerships include, but are not limited to:
• The Links, Inc. (Greater Hudson Valley and Westchester County Chapters), and
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Zeta Nu Omega chapter) continued to be major
supporters and co-sponsors of all our events.

• Colleges and Universities provided host


facilities for events, in particular Mercy
University (UN Day) and Manhattanville
University Mary T. Clark Center for Religion
and Social Justice (Human Rights Day and
International Women’s Day).
Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha • The Greenburgh Public Library and the
Sorority, Inc. and the Links, Inc. joined
Board Members and honorees at
Yonkers Riverfront Library are also
International Women’s Day important partners, and each have hosted
our Annual Meetings.
• We are grateful for the support of
municipal and local leaders including the
mayors of the Cities of Mount Vernon, New
Rochelle, White Plains and Yonkers; the
Villages of Hastings-on-Hudson and
Mamaroneck; the County Executive and
many others.
Flag-Raising Ceremony: • Additional partners are the Westchester
UNA-Westchester joined with County Office for Women through its
Mayor Nicola Armacost of Director Mrs. Robin Schlaff; and the
Hastings-on-Hudson to raise the Westchester Women’s Agenda (WWA),
UN flag on UN Day, October 24th through Board members Marcia Brewster
and Nicole Butterfield.
• Flag-Raising Ceremony: UNA-Westchester
joined with Mayor Nicola Armacost of
Hastings-on-Hudson to raise the UN flag
on UN Day, October 24th.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Colleen Gardephe, Co-chair
Nicole Butterfield, Co-chair

The Program Committee remained the most active and dedicated to showcasing the priorities
of United Nations work, including the Sustainable Development Goals, through public outreach
events, both virtually and in person. These feature keynotes by international speakers and
spotlights on local practitioners who are implementing those priorities at the local level. We
typically host four to five public events per year.

Annual Meeting, 7 May 2023: “The Human Right to a Clean and Healthy Environment”, held at
Greenburgh Public Library - Keynote by Angela Kariuki, UN Environment Program; Youth panel
of local activists on recycling, conservation and protection of insects. The panel was
moderated by Paul Anthony Presendieu (UNA-USA Global Goals Ambassador for SDG #13,
Climate Action). The Youth Panel included Harshal Shet, Marissa Glaze, Anusha Vaish and
Vanessa Agudelo, discussing what this theme means to them.

UN Day, 22 October 2023: “Appreciating


Peace and Promoting Non-Violence: the
Role of the UN and Local Youth
Movements”, held at Mercy University.
Michael Kingsley-Nyinah (UN Central &
Southern African Division) and Ambassador Ambassador Francis Okelo and
Francis Okelo (former UN Special Envoy for Michael Kingsley-Nyinah
Peace) joined us as keynote speakers, and
youth activists from 914 United, the
Westchester Youth Alliance, Combatants for
Peace and Peace Action New York State
discussed their role in advancing justice in our
communities.

Cosponsors included: Alpha Kappa Alpha


Sorority, Inc., Zeta Nu Omega chapter; Mercy Youth Panel at UN Day
University School of Social and Behavioral
Science; Concerned Families of Westchester;
International Institute on Peace Education
(IIPE); September 11th Families for Peaceful
Tomorrows; League of Women Voters of
Westchester; WESPAC Foundation; The Links,
Inc., Westchester County Chapter;
Manhattanville University, Mary T. Clark Center
for Religion and Social Justice; Westchester
County Youth Bureau; and UNA-USA Southern Board Members at UN Day Celebration
NYS Division and Westchester chapter.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE (continued)
Colleen Gardephe, Co-chair
Nicole Butterfield, Co-chair

Human Rights Day, 10 December 2023:


“Equality, Freedom and Justice for All:
Human Rights Impacts on the Ground,”
held at Manhattanville University.

We recognized Human Rights Day and


commemorated the 75th anniversary of the
signing of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights with speakers Stephanie Farrior JD
LLM (UN Human Rights Consultant), Tejash
Sanchala Esq. (Executive Director,
Human Rights Day Panel
Westchester Human Rights Commission) and
the Honorable Verris Shako (Yonkers City
Court Judge).

We were honored to welcome Congressman Jamaal Bowman via video, NY State Senate
Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins in person, and State Assemblymember MaryJane
Shimsky via Zoom. Special thanks to all volunteers and co-sponsors: Manhattanville
University Clark Center; Mercy University; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Zeta Nu Omega
Chapter); The Links, Inc. (Westchester County Chapter), and WESPAC Foundation. The
program was organized and moderated by the Program Committee led by Human Rights Day
Chair, Ms. Nikolina Gelmanovski.

International Women’s Day, 10


March 2024: “Invest in Women,
Accelerate Progress,” held at
Manhattanville University. This was a
wonderful event with keynote
speaker Dr. Geeta Mehta, founder of
Asia Initiatives and Professor at
Columbia University’s Climate
School Center for Sustainable Urban
Development; and IWD honorees
Jirandy Martinez (Executive Director,
Community Resource Center, Speaker, Honorees, and Board Members at
Mamaroneck) and I. Javette Hines, International Women’s Day
Esq. (Director, Supply Chain
Development, Inclusion &
Sustainability, Citi). Nicole Butterfield
moderated the panel discussion.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE (continued)
Colleen Gardephe, Co-chair
Nicole Butterfield, Co-chair

Earth Day and Annual Meeting, 28 April 2024: “Communities


Creating a Cleaner World,” to be held at the Yonkers Riverfront Library.
Our keynote speaker Kale Roberts will discuss ways that Westchester
Communities can link with the United Nations. His presentation will be
followed by a panel discussion with Mary Lambert (Program Manager,
Climate Action Planning Institute) and two municipal mayors (Hastings on
Hudson and New Rochelle), who will highlight their commendable efforts
and participation within the State of New York's Climate Smart
Communities (CSC) program. The program is being organized by the
Young Professionals Program, in particular Paul Presendieu, who will
moderate the discussion.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Dan Bena, Chair

For the slate of the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Chapter,


those below have confirmed standing for re-election or
continuation in role, and we nominate them accordingly.

Officers:
• Marcia Brewster: Agreed to accept second consecutive
term as President.
• Karen Rockwell El-Badry: Agreed to accept
continuation as Secretary.
• Victor Petenkemani: Agreed to accept second term as
Treasurer.
• Paul Presendieu: Agreed to stand for re-election and is
transitioning his role as Co-chair of Young Professionals
Committee. He will be appointed 2nd Vice President,
succeeding Lilli Schindler, who is leaving the Board.

Board Directors:
• Tricia Baldes: Agreed to stand for re-election to the
Board and will continue as Co-chair of Education. Term
ending in 2026.
• Colleen Gardephe: Agreed to stand for re-election to
the Board. Term ending in 2026.
• Nicole Butterfield: Agreed to stand for re-election to
the Board and has agreed to assume Chair of
Membership Committee, succeeding Ronnie Lichtman
who is leaving the Board. Term ending in 2026.
• Yuhanna Edwards: Agreed to stand for re-election and
continuation as Advocacy Chair. Term ending in 2026.
• Brenda Smith: Agreed to stand for re-election. Term
ending in 2026.

In addition to those above standing for re-election to the


Board, we are recommending the election of two new
Board Directors:

• Nikolina Gelmanovski. Has agreed to Chair the Program


Committee. Term ending in 2026.
• Robina Singh. Term ending in 2026.

Nikolina Robina
Gelmanovski Singh
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Tricia Baldes, Co-chair
Demetrios Mihailidis, Co-chair
Karen Rockwell El-Badry, Co-chair

• Presented awards to the top three winners


of Middle and High School Media Contest
at the UN Day Meeting in May 2023.
Winners were from Somers School
District, NY and Riverdale County Day
School, NY.

• Initiated Fifth Annual Media Contest for


middle and high school students from
Westchester, Rockland, and Bronx
Counties for 2024; topic is “Food
Insecurity Around the World and in the
U.S.,” in support of UN Sustainable
Development Goal #2, Zero Hunger.
Awards to be presented at the UN Day
Meeting in October 2024.

• Participated in an Earth Day Ceremony at


the Peace Bell in front of the United
Nations on the Vernal Equinox, 20 March.

• Participated in the Lower Hudson Valley


Social Studies Teachers Conference in
December to promote the UN, the United
Nations Association, and our media
contest to middle school and high school
social studies teachers from Westchester
and Rockland County at the Edith Macy
Conference Center, Briarcliff NY. Many
Social Studies teachers stopped by for
helpful information and ideas for teaching
topics related to the United Nations.
Ringing the bell for Peace at the
• Revived the Fifteenth Annual Project, United Nations on the Equinox
“Peace Makes the World A Better Place”
for third graders in Westchester County.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Ronnie Lichtman, Chair

The Chapter includes 294 members as of March 2024, demonstrating stability


from last year. There is one additional lifetime member and 17 additional
standard members (previously called “regular” members). The breakdown is
as follows (percentage of the total membership):

• Youth or Young Professional: 228 members,* 77.6%


• Standard: 49 members, 16.7%
• Lifetime: 9 members, 3.1%
• Bronze: 4 members, 1.4% (Bronze, Silver, or Gold has replaced Sponsor
category)
• Introductory: 3 members, 1.1% (category no longer available)
• Fixed Income: 1 member, 0.3%

NOTE:
*Previously, there was only a Youth category. Now members from 18-26 can
join as a Young Professional for $25 annually and receive additional benefits.
The Youth category remains free.
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS COMMITTEE
Raina Kadavil, Co-chair
Paul Presendieu, Co-chair

• The Young Professionals Program held five meetings throughout the calendar year.
• Co-chair Raina Kadavil was awarded Youth Leader of the Year by UNA-USA at the
National Leadership Summit in Washington DC in June 2023.
• Elections were held for the new Young Professional Co-Chairs on Thursday, March
28th, where Julianne Wang and Harshal Shet, MPH were elected.
• Outgoing Co-chair Paul Presendieu moderated a panel discussion during Westchester
County’s observance of Human Rights Day held on 10 December 2023. He is also
organizing the Earth Day/Annual Meeting on 28 April 2024, and will moderate the panel
discussion by Mayors involved in the Climate Smart Communities program.
• Outgoing Co-chair Raina Kadavil is traveling to Turkey as Secretary-General at a Model
UN Conference in late April 2024. She is also organizing a Model United Nations
Conference at Manhattanville University scheduled for October, with a specific date
being confirmed by campus administration to allow participation from students not
enrolled at Manhattanville University.
• Outgoing Co-Chair Paul Presendieu has established contact with Westchester County
Board of Legislators Environmental Committee Chair David Tubiolo, who expressed
interest in partnering with us for a virtual program in support of World Environment Day.
• Incoming Co-Chair Julianne Wang promoted CEDAW template resolution to Young
Professionals during our winter meeting and encouraged participation in the UNA-USA
Youth Working Group, where she serves as national co-chair.
• Incoming Co-Chair Harshal Shet, MPH plans to organize Fall 2024 programing on First-
Aid/CPR certification opportunities, and food drives to promote nutritional equity, in
partnership with Feeding Westchester.
• Scheduled a Tree Planting in the City of New Rochelle on Saturday, April 20th at 1:00
PM in partnership with the Mayor of New Rochelle.
• 2024 Fall/Winter Engagement plans include virtual workshops to help members gain
access to professional support creating cover letters, and resumes.
BUDGET SUMMARY
Victor Petenkemani, Treasurer

Budget summary:
Beginning Balance: January 1, 2023: $ 9,418.61
2023 Revenue: $4,802.09
2022 Expenditures: ($5,747.31)
Ending Balance: December 31, 2023: $8,473.39

Revenues included membership dues payments from


UNA HQ of $1,675 and voluntary contributions from Board
members and partners of $1,675.

Expenditures were primarily for programming and


communication costs.
OUR BOARD

Marcia Brewster Demetrios Mihailidis Lilli Schindler Karen Rockwell El-Badry


President Vice-President 2ndVice-President Secretary

Victor Pentenkemani
J. Yuhanna Edwards Colleen Gardephe Nicole Butterfield
Treasurer

Raina Kadavil Paul Presendieu Tricia Baldes Brenda L.G. Smith

Amb. Francis Okelo Ronnie Lichtman Dan Bena


JOIN US
AND
USE YOUR VOICE
FOR
CHANGE!

WWW.UNAWESTCHESTER.ORG
Marcia Brewster | President, UNA-USA Westchester Chapter, 2024

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