Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams had a positive turn out, yesterday evening, at Wingate Field where he hosted the first of four shows, part of the 33rd Annual Martin Luther Kings Jr. Concert Series, which featured Morris Day and the Time.
With nearly a thousand attendees, the free concert brought with it a plethora of information on opportunities for Brooklynites. Representatives from various organizations and elected officials spoke prior to the show, which ultimately set the tone of the night, provoking a sense of unity for everyone to put their worries on hold for a couple of hours and enjoy themselves in a safe environment.
District Attorney Ken Thompson encouraged those with outstanding arrest warrants related to unanswered summonses for low-level offenses to take part in his Begin Again program. With nearly 1.2 million open warrants in New York, Thompson’s first event this past June, brought out a thousand people in two days. Adams interrupted Thompson, agreeing that low-level offenses are, at times, understandable; he too encouraged the crowd to take advantage of the assistance being offered.
“They happen,” he said, admitting as a teen he jumped subway turn stiles. “Back then, I didn’t know you had to pay,” Adams joked.
“Together, let us begin again,” said Thompson, who also assured the community that he could not only provide legal aid, but also assist with job hunting. The second event will take place Saturday, September 12 at St. Paul’s Baptist Church in East New York.
Senator Jesse Hamilton of District 20 was in attendance as well. He invited everyone to come out to his Career Development Workshop scheduled for this Thursday, July 30 at 6 p.m. at Brownsville Partnership, 519 Rockaway Ave. Assistance will be provided in everything from from resume writing to job searching.
The Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger, which has helped serve over 3 million meals to the community was also on hand. With its base pantry on Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn, the campaign also has mobile pantries on Mermaid Avenue and Neptune Avenue in Coney Island, and one on Central Avenue in Far Rockaway. Tamara Dawson, Director of Program, called upon anyone interested in picking up fresh vegetables, meat and organics options, to stop by any of their facilities, as they accept food stamps.
With Mayor Bill de Blasio also putting Universal Pre-K into affect, the community was also informed that many seats for free, full-day, high-quality schooling are available throughout Brooklyn. Families were urged to attend the pre-K fair on Wednesday, August 5, from 6-8 p.m. at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, 331 Hawthorne Street.
Also in attendance was Public Advocate Letitia James and City Comptroller Scott Stringer.
As announcements finally concluded, Morris Day and the Time took that stage, given the undivided attention from a community that seems to be looking forward to this time of change.
Wingate Field, 600 Kingston Avenue, is behind Kings County Hospital off of Winthrop Street between Albany and Brooklyn avenues.
The other performances of the Martin Luther Kings Jr. Concert Series are as follows:
August 10– Reggae Night with Freddie McGregor, Christopher Martin, New Kingston and Ikaya
