Honor MPower! for LGBTQ Advocacy

Senate Resolution No. 35 BY: Senator BRESLIN HONORING MPower! upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the Organization of the Year Award by the Pride Center of the Capital Region WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes the profound impact of those exemplary organizations within the great State of New York which proactively work for the enfranchisement of minority communities, and the importance of such work for the benefit of all citizens of this State, and indeed, all citizens of the Nation; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor MPower! A Program of the Albany Damien Center upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the Organization of the Year Award by the Pride Center of the Capital Region to be celebrated at its Annual Awards Gala on Friday, October 19, 2018, at the Albany Capital Center, Albany, New York; and WHEREAS, This auspicious event benefits the Pride Center of the Capital Region and celebrates the important contributions of individuals who work hard to empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) community; MPower! is one such program; and WHEREAS, MPower! is receiving this prestigious award for its outstanding support of the LGBTQ Community; and WHEREAS, MPower!, a program of the Albany Damien Center, is dedicated to providing innovative, sex-positive ways of bringing young gay, bisexual, and transgender people of color together by enhancing the lives of people affected by HIV/AIDS in an affirming environment and reducing new infections in the communities it serves; and WHEREAS, In addition, MPower! strives to prevent new HIV infections, reduce the stigma surrounding HIV and sexually transmitted infections, and engage people who are HIV-positive to get the services they need; in

1,198 services; and WHEREAS, Currently, MPower! consists of three staff members, Tommy Rosario, Ryan Ramdass and Peg Stucky; as the Program Coordinator, Tommy Rosario is dedicated to providing meaningful quality of care to individuals that have been affected by HIV; and WHEREAS, A caring and compassionate individual, Ryan Ramdass has been involved with HIV/Human services for more than 15 years; as a Peer Navigator, he is a constant presence in the community and supports and assists those in need; and WHEREAS, With over three decades of mental health counseling with the Albany Damien Center, Peg Stucky serves as the Prevention Counselor; in this capacity, she works with high risk MSM and LGBT people of color in formulating high risk interventions and providing support when and where needed; and WHEREAS, Our society is greatly benefited by the purposeful efforts of those organizations and individuals which unite for the cause of improving the quality of life for others, and proactively work toward the goal of dignity for all; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor MPower! upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the Organization of the Year Award by the Pride Center of the Capital Region; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Tommy Rosario, Program Coordinator; Ryan Ramdass, Peer Navigator; and Peg Stucky, Prevention Counselor, MPower!.