Paterson Youth Council Holds 19th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Recognition Awards

Watch our video recap of the 19th Annual MLK Youth Recognition Awards

View our MLK Awards photo gallery

Celebrating Dr. King's Legacy

Each year, to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy, our Paterson Youth Council (PYC) members host the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Recognition Awards Breakfast. This signature event, part of our yearlong leadership development and civic engagement program for 30 Paterson teens, celebrates community members who embody Dr. King’s vision for public service and civil rights while working tirelessly to uplift Paterson youth.

A Day of Service at NJCDC

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holds special significance at NJCDC. In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, establishing the federal holiday as a national day of service. That same year, NJCDC was founded, with our very first program being an AmeriCorps initiative. Since that inaugural AmeriCorps class led a day of service on MLK Day, we’ve upheld the belief that this holiday is a “day on” rather than a “day off.”

This year, a snowstorm on MLK Day forced us to adapt our plans — but it didn’t deter our commitment to honoring Dr. King’s legacy. On Monday, January 27, our Neighborhood Help Center and AmeriCorps teams hosted a coat drive at our Great Falls Youth Center. More than 150 Paterson residents in need received coats, toys, essential items, and hot breakfasts. Volunteers played a crucial role, dedicating their time to serve the community and embodying the spirit of giving back.

The Awards Ceremony

After much anticipation, we gathered with our PYC members at The Brownstone on Monday, February 17, for the 19th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Recognition Awards Breakfast. The event honored four outstanding Paterson youth, an exemplary adult, a dedicated elected official, and a local youth-serving organization making a meaningful impact in our community.

Despite the rescheduling, more than 150 guests attended, including Mayor Andre Sayegh, First Lady Farhanna Sayegh, and their three children; NJCDC trustee Carline Morrison; Passaic County Commissioners Orlando Cruz and Rodney DeVore; Passaic County Deputy Clerk Ramon Pagan, representing Danielle Ireland-Imhof; and Paterson City Council President Alex Mendez, Vice President Luis Velez, and Councilwoman Maritza Davila. Also present were Assemblyman Al Abdelaziz, Yvette Roland (Chief of Staff to Senator Benjie Wimberley), Idida Rodriguez (former Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Nellie Pou), and Joel Ramirez (Paterson’s Health and Human Services Director).

The program began with a warm welcome from NJCDC’s Founder & CEO Bob Guarasci, followed by a short video featuring inspiring words from Dr. King. Reflecting on the significance of the occasion, Bob remarked, “The memory of Dr. King, and the need for our nation to heal today, should motivate all of us to do more to promote social justice, respect diversity, and fight to improve the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors.”

Mayor Andre Sayegh — once a PYC advisor before being elected mayor — shared a compelling success story from the Paterson Financial Empowerment Center, a collaboration between NJCDC and the City of Paterson: “I want to give you an example of Dr. King’s legacy here,” he said. “A single mother arrived from the Dominican Republic in Paterson with her two children and wanted to buy a home. Unfortunately, she had a poor credit score and was deep in debt. She found out about our Paterson Financial Empowerment Center and not only improved her credit score, but also reduced her debt and became a business owner in the City of Paterson.”

NJCDC’s Special Assistant to the CEO/Director of Community Outreach Eddie Gonzalez, along with Chief Program Officer David Gelman — both PYC advisors — also spoke. Eddie encouraged attendees to make a difference, saying, “It is your collective power, your dreams, and your actions that will shape the future and make it brighter for all of us.” David then introduced this year’s PYC President, Adiba Rupa, who shared insight into the selection process: “We received nominations from all over the city and had a difficult time selecting our winners. Congratulations to all of our nominees. Your dedication, passion, and hard work are what make Paterson a better place for all of us!”

Guests were then treated to a stirring performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by Paterson’s own Tiffani McCutchen, which was met with resounding applause and heartfelt appreciation from the audience. The powerful rendition set an inspiring tone for the remainder of the ceremony before the PYC members presented the awards to this year’s honorees.

Recognizing Outstanding Community Members

Next, we moved onto the awards portion of the program. Each awardee received a declaration from the New Jersey State Legislature, a special NJCDC certificate, and a copy of Dr. King's autobiography.

Youth Award Recipients

This year’s middle school award recipients were Mia Cespedes (Grade 8, Paterson Public School #18) and Alexa Garcia (Grade 6, Joseph A. Taub School). The high school honorees were Justin Veineer (Grade 12, JFK High School) and Nia Elder (Grade 10, Passaic County Technical Institute). Nia, upon receiving her award, expressed heartfelt gratitude: “I want to thank my parents, our PYC, and the City of Paterson because it encourages me to be a better person every day.”

Adult Award Recipient

The recipient of the Dr. MLK Adult Award was Nancy Castro, Principal of Paterson Public School #28 — which was recently ranked as the #1 elementary school and the #1 middle school in the entire state. She was introduced by PYC member Mohammed Mufassiruzzaman, a former student of hers. Mrs. Castro reflected on the honor, saying, “This recognition not only inspires me to continue striving for excellence but also reinforces the belief that we can make a difference in the lives of those around us.” First Lady Farhanna Sayegh, moved by the moment, joined Mrs. Castro at the podium to offer congratulations and reflect on her time as PTO President at P.S. #28.

Youth-Serving Organization Award

This year’s Youth-Serving Organization Award went to The SOLID Foundation, which uses skateboarding as a violence-prevention tool through programs that “inspire, connect, and support young people to maximize their potential and equip them to radically impact their community and beyond.” Founder Steven Wolfe accepted the award alongside his team members, including Marquise Johnson, SOLID’s first-ever participant — and now a board member. Marquise emphasized the importance of community unity, saying, “I want everybody to get familiar with each other so we can continue to push the city forward and do for each other — and that’s what we’re here for.”

Elected Official Award

The final honor, the Elected Official Award, was presented to Passaic County Clerk Danielle Ireland-Imhof in recognition of her steadfast commitment to public service and her advocacy for civic engagement. Her efforts in making government resources more accessible have had a lasting impact on the Paterson community. While Ms. Ireland-Imhof was unable to attend due to the rescheduled date, Deputy Clerk Ramon Pagan accepted the award on her behalf. He left the audience with a powerful message: “No matter where life takes you, find a way to serve. Whether it’s mentoring, volunteering, or even running for office one day, your voice matters.”

A Powerful Closing Moment

To close out the ceremony, Tiffani McCutchen returned to the stage for a powerful rendition of Paterson’s unofficial anthem, “Lean on Me.” The song, long embraced by the community for its message of unity and mutual support — as well as its connection to the city through Joe Clark, the former principal of Eastside High School in Paterson who inspired the film Lean on Me — resonates deeply in Paterson, where neighbors continuously lift one another up through acts of service and resilience. The audience quickly joined in, transforming the moment into an uplifting sing-along that captured the spirit of the day.

We are incredibly proud of these outstanding students, educators, leaders, and organizations for their dedication to service, leadership, and making a lasting difference in our community!