It’s not always easy being a reporter and editor for Kings County Politics, but somebody’s got to do it.
And with that in mind, I followed my heart and stomach over to the Vanguard Independent Democratic Association’s (VIDA) annual barbecue on Saturday at the Hancock T&T Community Backyard Garden Park, 324 Hancock Street (“The Community Backyard”) between Throop & Tompkins Avenues in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
“It’s [the annual barbecue] about us showing our appreciation for both our membership and the community – for all the hard work they do and it’s about civic engagement,” said VIDA President Henry L. Butler.
Besides Butler, the club’s executive committee consists of Kings County Democratic Party Vice Chair Annette M. Robinson, Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, Jr. (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights), Assemblywoman Tremaine Wright, (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights, and Executive Board members Cynthia Doris Pinn, Stefani Zinerman, Chinyelu Udoh and Babatunde Akowe.
Former Assemblymember and City Council Member Al Vann was a founding member of the club as was Robinson. It has grown in power over the years and remains Central Brooklyn’s most powerful club.
Hosting the event was local artist Darryl Montgomery Hell, who built out the garden a little more than four years ago with the objective to transform an underused Green Thumb community garden into a mini Prospect Park in the heart of Bed-Stuy. He currently labels it an edu-graden where both minds are built and food is grown.
“It’s was built on a 75/45 model. Seventy-five percent is public space, and 25 percent is given to members to grow food,” he said.
Manning the grill was Vietnam veteran Doug Williams, who is also the chair of Community Board 3’s Veterans Affairs Committee. Williams did his hitch in the U.S. Navy. He grilled moist chicken, succulent hamburgers, hot dogs and tasty ribs.
Adding to the food was an interesting mac ‘n cheese dish with tuna.
Also passing through were several judicial candidates and judges as well as seniors and youths in the intergenerational event.
To learn more about VIDA or get involved email vanguard.democrat@gmail.com.
