Honor Kevin D. White

Senate Resolution No. 3663 BY: Senator LARKIN COMMENDING Kevin D. White upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the Major General Irene Trowell-Harris Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. on February 3, 2018 WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made significant contributions to the quality of life therein; and WHEREAS, Kevin White has given not only of his time and energies but also of his competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently has been designated for special honor; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Kevin D. White upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the Major General Irene Trowell-Harris Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. to be celebrated at its Tuition Assistance Dinner Dance on Saturday,

February 3, 2018, at Anthony's Pier 9, New Windsor, New York; and WHEREAS, Upon graduating from Newburgh Free Academy High School, Kevin D. White attended Howard University where he majored in accounting; he eventually transferred to Baruch College in New York City where he earned his bachelor's degree in management; he then went to work on Wall Street; and WHEREAS, Kevin D. White has been called upon to contribute his time and talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always given of himself unstintingly; and WHEREAS, Although he enjoyed this work, Kevin D. White always had an interest in doing something more meaningful with his life; he attributes this desire to his initial upbringing in a New York City housing project in the Bronx; he often dreamt of returning to help others find a way out; and WHEREAS, Kevin D. White soon left Wall Street and took a job as a substance abuse counselor working with individuals on the lower east side of New York City; he eventually moved on to work with developmentally disabled youth and psychiatrically disabled adults, helping them gain meaningful employment and maximize their life potential; and WHEREAS, In addition to his work as a substance abuse counselor, Kevin D. White also pursued a career as a staff trainer, working with inmates on Riker's Island in an effort to prepare them for a successful return to society; and WHEREAS, In 1993, Kevin D. White became the director of an alternative to incarceration program in New York City, where he worked to secure the release of thousands of young felony offenders, and helped them enroll in school and find meaningful employment; and WHEREAS, Kevin D. White later redirected his efforts towards prevention work and went on to establish several afterschool programs in Brooklyn as well as a welfare-to-work program for poor single mothers in Harlem; and WHEREAS, Kevin D. White furthered his education by obtaining his master's degree in education from Fordham University; recently, he has started working on his Ph.D. in Sociology; and WHEREAS, After Kevin D. White and his wife, Kim Turner, moved to the Newburgh area, they created the Newburgh Performing Arts Academy (NPAA) in 2004; under Kevin's management and the creative talent of Kim, NPAA has grown to provide high quality professional instruction in dance, music, theater and visual arts offering over 150 classes per week serving over 500 young people each year; and WHEREAS, In July of 2010, Kevin D. White's successful management of NPAA led to the merger of the Newburgh Performing Arts Academy and the Glenn E. Hines Memorial Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh to form what is now known as the Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh; and WHEREAS, Through Kevin D. White's steadfast commitment, this union has created an organization which provides youth development services in the arts, academics and athletics to over 2,000 young people each year; and WHEREAS, In addition to his work with youth, Kevin D. White serves on the Board of Directors of St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital, the Newburgh Community Land Bank, and teaches Sociology at SUNY Orange; and WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his community service, a period of constructive involvement, Kevin D. White has stood constant in dignity, good grace and humor; and WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individual for the benefit of others which Kevin D. White has displayed throughout his life; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commending Kevin D. White upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the Major General Irene Trowell-Harris Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Kevin D. White.