12 JULY 21 - JULY 27, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP
Sunset co-naming honors activist
BY JONATHAN SPERLING
EDITORIALBROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
A Sunset Park street will now
bear the name of a long-time
Sunset Park resident who
dedicated his life to improving the
community.
The life and accomplishments of
Charles A. Sferrazza were honored on
Wednesday, July 12 (42 years to the day
of his death), as City Councilmember
Carlos Menchaca led a co-naming
ceremony at 44th Street and Eighth
Avenue attended by the Sferrazza
family, friends and Sunset Park locals.
The street will now also be known as
Charles A. Sferrazza Way.
“We always need people who will
take initiative, encourage others and
help their community. Mr. Sferrazza’s
life exemplifi ed the best qualities you
could hope for in a neighbor,” said
Menchaca, who noted that Sferrazza’s
sister, Grace, spearheaded the street
co-naming e ort. “As it was in his generation,
Sunset Park is still a thriving
immigrant neighborhood and young
community leaders of tomorrow will
fi nd inspiration in Mr. Sferrazza’s story.”
Sferrazza was born on December
14, 1933 and grew up in Sunset Park,
eventually raising his family on
44th Street. As a devoted community
leader, Sferrazza was president of the
72nd Precinct Community Council
and served on the board of directors
for the Leif Erickson Youth So ball
League.
In keeping with his belief that the
future of a community was dependent
on its youth, Sferrazza founded
the Community Advisory for Youth,
which provided support and mentoring
for children.
Sferrazza’s son, Anthony, recalled
that his father had as much attachment
to the community as he did to
his family.
“My dad loved his family and was
very committed to the community. He
lived here, so he wanted to build a solid,
secure community,” said Anthony. “It’s
not about people going about their
own business, it’s about people helping
people. Neighbors reaching out to
neighbors and helping each other.”
“He earnestly stood by the causes
he believed in and wouldn’t buckle
down. He believed in those causes and
it didn’t matter what others thought.”
Sferrazza dedication to creating a
safe community led him to become
president of the 44th Street Block
Association in 1972. As president,
Sferrazza looked to build strong
bonds between neighbors by holding
monthly meetings and block watching.
The association also hosted fun events,
such as block parties, activities for
children, baseball games and fundraisers.
Sferrazza’s e orts did not go
unnoticed, as he was o en called upon
by other blocks to aid them in setting
up their own associations.
In a show of support for police, Sferrazza
was infl uential in establishing
Police Appreciation Day, which was
hosted at the 72nd Precinct. Besides
expressing appreciation for the New
York Police Department, the event
featured activities for children and
awards for exceptional o cers.
“It’s a very proud moment, but
bittersweet,” said Sferrazza’s son,
Phillip. “It’s a great honor for his
memory to live on even further in the
neighborhood.”
Organizations host a meal for unity
BY JAIME DEJESUS
JDEJESUSBROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
People of di erent religions
broke bread together as
Muslims Giving Back, a
non-profi t organization that
tries to fi ght hunger by providing
food to less fortunate,
hosted a meal that symbolized
unity and peace in Sunset Park.
Citing the heightened levels
of violence over the past few
months, the organization stressed
that the meal, which included people
from a variety of religions and races
and of di ering social status, was a
way to come together to celebrate
diversity.
Others involved in organizing
the repast, held at the Muslim Community
Center, 5218 Third Avenue,
on Sunday, July 9, included Action
Corps NYC and Love Trumps Hate
Sunset Park, a grassroots organization
that works on bridging the
gap between new neighbors and
undocumented families
“It is an honor to have such amazing
allies and friends who are not
afraid to break down walls to get
to know their neighbors,” said
Mohamed Bahe, founder and director
of Muslims Giving Back. “It is
BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photo by Jonathan Sperling
Family of Charles Sferrazza joined Councilmember Carlos
Menchaca at a street naming in his memory.
extremely empowering toward our
community to see such beautiful
people willing to reach out and help
towards our well-being. It shows
us that love does indeed trump all
forms of hate.”
Councilmember Carlos Menchaca
was on hand and called the event a
huge success. “The Muslim community,
with all communities of color,
has been hit especially hard by the
hateful rhetoric and policies of the
Trump administration,” he said. “As
a gay Mexican-American, I’m proud
to stand with my Muslim brothers
and sisters, with immigrants, and
with all of those who support love
over hate, unity over xenophobia,
and say ‘we will not be divided.’”
The inclusive nature of the
dinner sent a message that no
one should be discriminated
against, said organizers.
“Everyone should have a
seat at the table,” said Isaac
Evans-Frantz of Action Corps
NYC, a group that focuses on U.S.
policies on foreign aid, food and
climate. “Muslim groups played a
pivotal role in our group’s International
Women’s Day event several
years ago, and ever since have been
kind and committed allies.”
"This community dinner provides
a wonderful platform and opportunity
for three separate groups
to come together for a common
purpose,” added Founder of Love
Trumps Hate Sunset Park Shanna
Castillo, adding that she hopes the
sign of unity will become a trend.
“It is important to express to our
Muslim neighbors that they are not
alone and that they are welcomed
and respected in our community. I
am encouraged that this will be the
fi rst of many community bonding
experiences."
BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by
Arthur de Gaeta
Ainsley Paolella-Snyder.