The fourth annual Elmont Black History Month celebration, sponsored by Elmont Online and the Elmont Community Awareness Program (ECAP), was held this past Sunday in the new Elmont Public Library Theater. The event was a celebration of a culture and it is appropriate that during the course of the day, those who celebrated black history experienced a diversity of emotions.

The celebration was appropriately titled, "a collaboration of song and spoken word," and those who partook in the celebration laughed and smiled and paid tribute to the contributions of black Americans.

As part of the celebration, awards were given to deserving community leaders who have left their mark on others. The Dr. Carter G. Woodson Award was presented to Carol Parker Duncanson, a 15-year resident of Elmont who has positively impacted the community through her involvement in the schools and the Elmont Youth Soccer Club's intramural program. Duncanson has also brought her expertise in nutrition to the community.

Elmont School Board and Sewanhaka Central School District Board member Aubrey Phillips, who served on the 2007 Black History Month Committee, noted how much Duncanson does for the children of the community.

In addition, each year, Assemblyman Tom Alfano honors two individuals who have made significant contributions to the community by presenting them with the 21st Assembly District Martin Luther King Jr. Award. This year, the honorees were Joel Jackson and John Sullivan.

Jackson, a senior at Elmont Memorial High School, is not only the school football team's quarterback, but has lent his talents to help the youth and those less fortunate. Jackson is a role model and a humble man whose leadership has positively affected the lives of many in the community.

In accepting the award, Jackson thanked Assemblyman Alfano, who he called a friend and mentor, and his parents. "I couldn't be more proud of him," said Alfano of Jackson, who serves as community liaison to the assemblyman.

Alfano's other honoree, John Sullivan, has been active in Elmont's civic organizations as a founding member of the Alden Manor Civic Association, and Elmont Community Coalition Council. He also served as a manager and coach of the Elmont South Little League and committee chairman, Cubmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 244. "John is a leader in every sense of the word. He's always been there for Elmont and has built bridges for people of all backgrounds and ethnicities," said Alfano.

Elmont Memorial High School Principal John Capozzi spoke about debunking the myth that minority schools can't achieve. In 2006, Elmont Memorial High School had a 99 percent graduation rate, 91 percent graduated with a Regents Diploma and 41 graduated with an Advanced Regents Diploma. Elmont Memorial was recently honored with an award from the Schott Foundation for Public Education for excellence in education of African American male students.

The afternoon also featured performances by cast members from the Sewanhaka Central High School District's production of Aida, under the director Andrea Kramer, and a tribute to the late "Godfather of Soul" James Brown by Kent Williams, Blessing Awowole and Luis Troncozo. Terrence Lewis, a teacher at the Gotham Avenue School, brought laughter and enjoyment from the audience as he shared some poetry.

The afternoon did have a moment of sadness when it came to a tribute to civic leader Richard Mastrocola, who past away last year. Mastrocola strove to make Elmont a better place to live and was concerned with the education of the students of the community. One of his goals was to help make the abandoned Alva T. Stanforth Junior High School an asset to the community by using it for education. Phillips, as he fought back tears, noted that it was appropriate that the black history celebration was held in the theater of the Elmont Public Library since the theater originated from the original ATS school and the library was constructed on the school grounds.

The tribute was supposed to be done by Joyce Stowe. However, since she had lost her voice, Phillips read her eloquent words.

"This man fought for our community like you would not believe," Phillips later said about his friend. "It was hard for me to talk about him."

Prior to the celebration, a roundtable discussion was held, entitled "Empowerment, Opportunity and Social Justice." Phillips served as the moderator and the panelists were Assemblyman Alfano, Randall Clark, a graduate of Elmont Memorial High School and student at Queens College, professor of history and interdisciplinary studies at Adelphi University, and professional journalist Hugh Hamilton.

"Everyone who was there felt it was the kind of discussion that needed to occur in Elmont," said Phillips.

Phillips also said when the panelists made their opening statements, there were significant areas of disagreement, but each of the panelists were able to share their insights in a productive manner for an educational discussion. "I was happy to moderate that," he said.

The Elmont Black History Month celebration was again a success for not only was it a celebration of black history but also a celebration of the community. Congratulations to the committee members - Allyson Phillips, Pamela Byer, Scott Cushing, Norma DeBartolo, Sandra Ifill, Aubrey Phillips and Sandra Smith.