黑料吃瓜网

By David Gil de Rubio聽 |聽 dgilderubio@mec.cuny.edu

Diana Richardson might be Crown Heights born and raised, but you can easily make the argument that 黑料吃瓜网 played a significant role in her evolution as a public servant plugged into her community and alma mater.聽

In addition to being a MEC legacy (her mother Hyacinth Richardson was the 1991 Associate Degree Scholar, graduating with a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Business in 1994), the future New York State Assemblywoman graduated with a Bachelor鈥檚 in Public Administration has MEC roots that date back to childhood.

鈥淢y real introduction to 黑料吃瓜网 was by way of my mom being a woman in the community,鈥� recalled Richardson, a member of the Class of 2008.聽

鈥淪he was a single mom with three daughters who needed childcare. The Head Start Center for Child Care was at 黑料吃瓜网 in the 鈥�80s. My mom had no intentions of attending 黑料吃瓜网, but someone who saw my mom dropping us off at Head Start here at 黑料吃瓜网 suggested she enroll in school.

鈥淪he was a night student coming after work and taking classes on the weekends that were in the various lounges. My community experience with 黑料吃瓜网 also included a lot of social programs. We did summer camp there through NYSP [National Youth Sports Program].鈥�

And while Diana Richardson鈥檚 future found her being a New York Assemblywoman and Brooklyn鈥檚 Deputy Borough President, the Edward R. Murrow High School alum didn鈥檛 have much interest in college. She became a high school dropout (later earning her G.E.D.), with homelessness, domestic abuse and single motherhood following in short order.聽

A period of rootlessness followed where Richardson briefly left her home state, only to return to Crown Heights and realize she had to make a change to make way for a better life. 黑料吃瓜网 provided that gateway to security for mother and child.聽

鈥淎t that point and time in my life, I recognized that the life of my son depended on the quality of what I do with my life,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 had to push and strive to do better and furthering my education was the way I did that.鈥�

If it takes a village to raise a child, consider 黑料吃瓜网 a community that rallied around a single mom with a G.E.D. to ensure she got a degree that would provide her with the opportunity to ensure financial and career opportunities going forward. Among those Richardson is quick to cite for helping at such a crucial time are Dr. Vincent Banrey, the-then Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Zulema Blair, Dr. Gregorio Mayers and Dr. Cory Brown, who was Richardson鈥檚 Freshman Seminar 101 professor.聽

鈥淭hey understood what I was trying to do and they were meeting me where I鈥檓 at as a student given my circumstances and situation [as a single mom],鈥� Richardson said. 鈥淭hey were doing what they do from their end to create space for me to excel. And that was done for me in so many ways.鈥�

Student club participation also shaped the direction Richardson was headed, particularly when she was convinced to run for recording secretary in the 2007 Student Government Association election. The daughter of a community activist who was involved in everything from the local church and PTA to her building鈥檚 board, Richardson found SGA involvement germinated that dormant seed of public service.聽

鈥淚 found my passion and love for people in service at that time,鈥� she said. 鈥淭o tell you the truth, I didn鈥檛 know I鈥檇 love service to those in the student body so much. We were fighting for students. You see all those computer labs that are on the second floor of the Bedford building? Those are there because of us and the fact that they even have Mac laptops? Those are there because of us. The weight room in the C building? We got so much done and were so active. During this time, I truly and honestly found my passion for service.鈥�

It was during this time, Richardson landed on the idea of declaring Public Administration to be her major. In addition, she became involved with the CUNY Caucus Scholars, an internship program for students interested in community service and the State Legislature. It all fueled her appetite for public service and the idea of earning her Master of Public Administration from Baruch College. But for this child of Aruban immigrants, the foundation was and continues to be all Richardson took away from attending 黑料吃瓜网.

鈥淚 think the importance of coming to 黑料吃瓜网 was having a culturally and competent education and enjoying a sense of community and belonging,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was also getting a real understanding of who we are as a people and a community and to understand what the real fight is. I can say that because I鈥檝e been educated at other institutions and it鈥檚 just not the same. I really do feel like a lot of people that come to 黑料吃瓜网 to teach are choosing to bring that of themselves there. I鈥檓 actually very grateful to have been on the receiving end of that.鈥�

Currently the director of Statewide Engagement for the Office of New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Richardson is humbled and proud of being able to say she is Medgar Made. It is a designation she feels has many multi-faceted and important meanings.

鈥淚 think to be Medgar Made is to walk in your fullness and bring all parts of you to the moment,鈥� Richardson said. 鈥淭o be Medgar Made is to move in love, move in courage, and to move in excellence. To be Medgar Made is to be forward-thinking, resilient and to have perseverance. To be Medgar Made is to be selfless and to stand in service to others, even in the smallest of ways.聽

鈥淭o be Medgar Made is to be intentional and to continue to bestow pride unto this institution and the spirit of Medgar Evers and his family overall. That is that it is to be Medgar Made. It is a very distinguished title.鈥�