Muhammad Ali Jinnah Way unveiled in Brooklyn
Midwood Neighborhood Senior Center re-opens
Caribbean Life, F BQ eb. 15–21, 2019 3
By Nelson A. King
The Midwood Neighborhood Senior
Center in Flatlands, Brooklyn on Monday
held a grand re-opening ceremony
in its brand-new location at the Congregation
Beit Hillel of Flatlands, 2146
Ralph Ave.
“The ceremonial ribbon-cutting saw
a large and enthusiastic crowd of seniors
celebrating the reunion of a vibrant
community in a brand-new space,” said
Councilman Jumaane D. Williams, representative
for the 45th Council District
in Brooklyn.
He said the Midwood Neighborhood
Senior Center frequently sees hundreds
of community members for meals,
classes, games and fellowship, as well
as other events, such as concerts and
parties.
Last summer, the center’s previous
site, at 4815 Ave. I, in Brooklyn, closed,
“with members left to find alternatives,”
Williams said.
“Now, as the new location opens,
this community is able to reunite,” he
added.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held
in the main hall of the new facility, featured
performances from the Midwood
Senior Choir, dancing, and a meal.
Besides Williams, speakers at the
ceremony included a representative
for Council Member Alan Maisel, District
Leaders Lew Fidler and SueAnn
Partnow, and Anissa Cabrera from the
Department for the Aging.
Over two hundred attendees enjoyed
the celebration, Williams said.
“Our active adults need a space to
come together with their neighbors and
friends, and I’m so glad to have this new,
beautiful space open at last,” he said. “I
want to thank Millennium Development
for their tremendous advocacy for
our seniors, and for all of the work that
they’ve done to make this possible.”
Paul Curiale, executive director of
Millennium Development, said: “We are
thrilled to re-open Midwood Neighborhood
Center to serve active adults in
Councilman Jumaane Williams’ District,
after being the proud sponsor
since August of 1999.
“All adults are welcome to join us in
Mill Basin and Georgetown (Brooklyn),”
he added. “Great days ahead!”
Williams said that, last summer, as
the original location of the Midwood
Neighborhood Senior Center was facing
closure, a group of members attended
an oversight hearing at City Hall “to
made their presence felt” and voiced
opposition to what they described as “a
mishandling of the situation.”
Williams said he questioned the city’s
Department for the Aging (DFTA) Commissioner
at length about the situation,
including DFTA’s practices and applicable
policies.
By Nelson A. King
The Brooklyn-based Pakistani American
Youth Organization (PAYO) and
Council Member Jumaane D. Williams
on Friday held a ceremony to unveil
Muhammad Ali Jinnah Way, a newly
co-named street in Midwood, named for
the founder of Modern Pakistan.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah Way now
runs along Coney Island Avenue, from
Avenue C to Avenue H.
This stretch of Coney Island Avenue
is considered at the heart of a thriving
Pakistani American community in
Brooklyn.
Williams, who represents the 45th
Council District in Brooklyn, said the
area is often referred to as “Little Pakistan,”
a designation that Williams said
he is seeking from city government following
Friday’s co-naming event.
The celebration was held at the intersection
of Coney Island Avenue and
Foster Avenue, with the newly-unveiled
sign at the core of the Pakistani community
in Central Brooklyn.
Elected officials and community leaders
came together along, with a crowd
of over 100, to unveil the new sign.
Besides Williams, speakers included
Borough President Eric Adams; Acting
Consul General of Pakistan Naeem
Cheema; Assembly Members Rodneyse
Bichotte and Robert Carroll; Council
Members Mathieu Eugene and Chaim
Deutsch; and District Leader Doug Schneider.
Williams noted that Muhammad Ali
Jinnah was the founder of modern Pakistan.
“He worked for years in and outside
of government to advance the causes of
both independence of the subcontinent
from British rule and the creation of
Pakistan,” Williams said. “He passed
away in 1948, just a year after Pakistan
officially became independent.
“He is revered by the Pakistani people
for his skill, tenacity and leadership as
the ‘father of a nation,’” he added.
Williams said there have been several
efforts, over the years, to create Little
Pakistan and the co-naming.
He said PAYO has spent years organizing
the effort to co-name Muhammad
Ali Jinnah Way.
“They collected and submitted hundreds
of community signatures, as well
as letters of support from elected officials,”
Williams.
He said PAYO approached him in September
2018, adding that “the legislative
effort culminated in December when the
co-naming was officially approved.
“Today’s ceremony unveiled the new
distinction in the neighborhood,” Williams
said. “The Pakistani American
community means so much to my district,
so much to this city, and it’s vital
that communities see themselves, their
culture, and their cultural leaders represented.
“It’s so exciting to finally make this
recognition, this cultural landmark, a
reality,” he added. “I want to thank PAYO
and everyone who helped to make today
possible. On to Little Pakistan!”
PAYO Vice President Jawad Shabir
said: “Once you are an immigrant, you
never forget you are one.
“Together, PAYO and the community
will create equality,” he said.
Williams said the area was chosen
for the recognition because of “the deep
roots that Pakistani culture has in the
neighborhood, with a variety of Pakistani
restaurants and businesses lining Coney
Island Avenue.”
He said is also the site of the largest
Brooklyn Mela, a day parade celebrating
Pakistan’s Independence Day, adding
that the surrounding community “continues
to draw Pakistani immigrants to
New York City.”
The newly co-named street runs from Avenue C to Avenue H along Coney
Island Avenue.
The ribbon-cutting on Monday, Feb. 4 marked the offi cial re-opening of
the Midwood Neighborhood Senior Center at its new location copy.
Ernest Skinner