BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP NOVEMBER 17 - NOVEMBER 23, 2017 35
Opportunities For A Better
Tomorrow holds fall gala
Sunset Park-based Opportunities
for a Better Tomorrow (OBT)
raised over $75,000 which will
go towards critical OBT programs
for youth, adults, and immigration
services at its 2017 Fall Gala held on
Wednesday, October 18 at the Loeb
Boathouse in Central Park..
This year, under the theme of
“Honoring our legacy; Designing our
future," OBT presented three awards
to individuals who have contributed
to the vitality of the non-profit’s mission
and successes.
The Sister Mary Youth Builder
Award, OBT’s most distinguished
honor, named after the founder of
OBT, the late Sister Mary Franciscus,
was presented to Randy Peers, the
former CEO of OBT and current
president and CEO of the Greater
Reading Chamber & Economic Development
Corporation in Berks County,
Pennsylvania.
During his tenure from 2006 to
2017, Peers grew OBT into the city’s
largest job training organization for
disconnected youth, with an annual
budget of over $8 million, 90 staff,
and six locations serving 4,000+
people throughout the five boroughs.
“My time with OBT has been the
most amazing professional journey
of my life,” said Peers. “I am eternally
grateful for the experience that has
shaped me as a leader and person.
OBT given me far more than I could
ever repay.”
Under Peers, OBT added four additional
sites and expanded services to
include business skills job training,
adult literacy, entrepreneurship,
financial literacy, job placement assistance,
immigration services, and
college access programming.
OBT also honored Andrew Kimball,
chief executive officer of Industry
City alongside Cristal Rivera, chief
of staff, with the Workforce Partnership
& Innovation Award. The
award recognizes partners who are
at the forefront of the rapidly changing
workforce landscape and have
helped propel OBT as the leading
youth workforce training program
in the city.
“In April 2016, the Innovation Lab
at Industry City opened its doors,
and with it, OBT’s first technology
sector program was born.” remarked
Randy Peers, Dr. Liliana Polo-Mckenna, Cristal Rivera and
Andrew Kimball.
Dr. Liliana Polo-McKenna, OBT’s
current CEO, as she presented the
award. “The Innovation Lab has
presented a unique opportunity
for pathways to career exploration,
training programs, and serves as a
hub for economic activity in Sunset
Park.”
The night kicked off with its
first speaker, Camila Pinto, a youth
graduate of OBT’s Web Design &
Coding Fundamentals program at
the Innovation Lab. After losing her
job and dropping out of college, Pinto
described the moment in her life as
“without hope and direction.”
After coming across an ad for OBT’s
tech program, she decided to enroll.
Upon graduation, she was placed as
an intern at the renowned architectural
firm, Evergreen Architectural
Arts, in Industry City, where was
promoted to marketing coordinator
in less than a year. Pinto credits OBT
for catapulting her career with her
newly acquired skill set.
Another highlight of the evening
came when Khoudia Diop, recipient
of the Alumni Achievement Award,
shared her experience of overcoming
bullying to pursuing a career
as an international model and
anti-bullying ambassador. Diop
said she dropped out of high school
because of the constant bullying
Current CEO Dr. Liliana Polo-
McKenna presenting OBT's
most distinguished award to
past CEO, Randy Peers.
she endured as a result of her dark
complexion.
When she moved to Brooklyn, and
at the urging of her mom, Diop joined
OBT’s ESOL program to learn English.
While hesitant at first, she started to
enjoy the program and the nurturing
environment of OBT where she was
able to receive guidance and care.
She eventually excelled in the program
and obtained her GED.
“If I could describe OBT in one
word, it is life-changing,” said Diop.
“I received a lot of care here.”
OBT was founded in 1983 to serve
youth disconnected from school
and employment; the organization
has grown and currently runs
educational and job training programs
in several neighborhoods,
including Sunset Park, Bushwick,
Bedford-Stuyvesant and Jamaica. Its
Sunset Park headquarters is located
at 783 Fourth Avenue.
Photos courtesy of OBT
Khoudia Diop and mom with OBT supporters.
A scene from the 2017 Fall Gala.