Super excited to have the Dr. Mims council president Dr. Lisa Mims woman who rock honories of 2026. It is always a pleasure to be able to honor people because there's so many times that we feel left out. Sometimes
no one recognizes us and we also feel like sometime people just really don't care. And so we want to make sure that when it comes to honoring women that for 26 years God placed it on my heart to make sure I do it. every last honore on tonight that you will hear and to see
and hear from, they have touched the city of Patterson. Whether it's through education, whether it's through government, whether it's through real estate, whether it's through the church, whether it's through housing, whether it's through being the mayor of a great city, whether it's through the seniors and so forth and so on. They've done
some great leaders of uh great organizations like Delta Sigma Theta Sarity Incorporated and so many other great things that they are doing um throughout the um great city of Patterson in the state of New Jersey. So tonight is all about the honores. Can
you say it with me? It's all about the honores. >> All about the honores. And so we're going to get started and I want to acknowledge um and you'll hear from them later on in the program, but I have my vice president here and you'll hear from
her later. Councilwoman Marissa Davala who's here. Councilwoman Ruby Cotton of the fourth ward is here in the building. You'll hear from her as well later. Councilman Lewis A. Valz will be is here. You'll
hear from him as later. and the mayor of the great city of Patterson, Andre Seiya, is here. All council members were invited. I'm sure they'll come in at some point in time. And as they come in, we will acknowledge them. So, before we get started, there are a few ladies that
could not be here on tonight. One um our boxer, our champion, none other than Shadesia Green. Come on, let's clap it up for this female woman champion from Patterson. She had a champion fight tonight and I didn't want her to come
here and fight here. She need to fight in the ring. So, Shadja, we love you. I know you're watching. We'll make sure we get it to you whether I bring it to you or you could come to the chambers and we'll present it to you at our council meeting. Also, Carol Cadrad, who is doing great work for William Patterson.
She's a great educator and a leader. She could not be here on tonight. She is in Napa Valley, California, but she is watching as well. Carol, we love you. Shadea, we love you and we we miss you here, but we'll make sure we present it to you in the city council meeting.
Also, um Councilwoman Sandy Sebastian Balisteri, um who could not make it on tonight, but is very grateful for this honor and we clap it up for Councilwoman Sandy Sebastian Balisteri. And one of my dear sisters who I always
love when she says love is light, sister love. um she's not here, but we have one of her good sisters that's going to receive her honore uh her honor for her and we're excited about that. I also see corporation council here. Corporation council, Mr. Aean Abushi, one of my
favorite people and our business administrator, Mr. Daniel Galabach is here and the mayor just walked in. Um and so I want to bring up the first honore. She's not here, but I want to bring him up to receive the honor for
her because he um is going to serve as the escort tonight. Okay. So, uh this is one of my dear sisters and friends, overseer Dr. Maxine Johnson. Uh she is the pastor of Miracle World Christian Center on Orbert Street. She preaches
all over the world. Very famous, very powerful woman of God who is always, always bringing faith, love, and power. And I thought it not robbery to honor her this year. Let's clap it up for our first honore. Overseer Dr. Maxine
Johnson Ira Woodward will receive the honor for her. Thank you. Thank you. Greetings to all tonight's honores. Greetings to our mayor. It's good to see you as always. Greetings to our situ here. I just want to uh bring you honor and greetings from
my overseer Dr. Maxine Johnson who's on an assignment for God right now. Uh she's preaching in Florida now. Um Councilwoman Men said that she's famous. Um she's a servant of the most high God. She won't consider herself famous, but
she is a traveling child of God. She's been preaching from the age of nine. And I stand on her shoulders tonight just to tell you all thank you. So again, I say thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Woodart. We also have a dear sister who is not
here, but she sent her sister to receive her honor. Miss Angela Muhammed. Let's clap it up. She's doing great work in the community. Tell her I said Ramadan Mabarak. Ramadan Karim. She's on the phone and she's going to receive the honor
for Angela Muhammad. I'mma put you on speaker. >> Hello. You're in speaker. >> Good evening. >> They're waiting for your speech. >> Oh, okay. I'm sorry. Good evening and
thank you first of all um thank you for um the acknowledgement. I just wanted to say a few words and um have my sister accept on my behalf. So I'll start. As the host of the unsung heroes award,
I am very much acquainted with those who work out in these streets, most known as grassroots organizations. And it was in those streets that I met my sister Melissa Mens. It wasn't a fairy tale meeting. We both had very
strong opinions and objectives about our community that God used to bind us together. I am extremely honored to be thought of and mentioned by my beautiful sister and God. I stand by her side in her council at large reelection because
she has always answered my call. And as a fellow advocate for our children, please hear a few words of concern from a mother fighting fearlessly for her children's rights of the best education, Miss Sheree Martin.
Sheree. >> Oh, you put me on the spot. I thought you was going to talk. >> Hello everyone. I'm Sheree Martin. I'm an advocate for special needs children. And um after this I will speak to the
women here about a situation that's going on with my son Jordan Townson. So I don't want to take too much time but thank you guys. >> Thank you. One more time. Let's clap it up. Our
next honore is one of my mentors who has done so many great things. She was a county commissioner. She was assembly woman. She moved to Delaware, came back to Patterson, and I hired her as my legislative aid. So, I have some bragging rights. She really I'm her
boss, but she's really my boss. But let's celebrate Assemblywoman Elise Evans. We can do better than that. She's a Patterson legend. Legend. This is yours.
Standing hold your speak. God bless you. Thank you, Council President. Good evening, everyone. >> Good evening. It is always an honor and a privilege to have someone to say thank you for your labor and all the hard work
of all these ladies here are doing without getting financial pay for. It always seemed that we as mothers, sisters, grandparents, aunties,
we always stepping up to lend a helping hand. So we feel that it's not robbery to say thank you for thinking of me. Thank you providing something that we can treasure and can always look back and remember
this day and the honor and it's such a pleasure with so many of these wonderful great women to serve with them. I feel honored and privileged to even stand on the same platform with you. Congratulation to all of each and every one of you and all the
work that you have done and some I haven't seen Peggy and Nasses. I was teasing. I said how long I've known Peggy and um our former lieutenant governor said we don't talk about age. We don't do I said oh okay cuz I'm only
39 and I guess I'm >> younger than and Peg is only 29. So we couldn't known each other more than 25 years. How about that? But um I thank you, Council President. I saw the mayor. Oh, he's standing back
there. Is that my gift? But ladies and gentlemen, I'm honor. Oh, the the attorney said you couldn't give that to me. It's a I don't know if you have the authority to deliver that gift, but I will take it with me on my way out the door. Thank
you so much. and thank all of you for being here and God bless you. And ladies, let's rock assembly woman. Assembly woman. And so at this time we have a woman who has blazed the trails.
She just ran an election and like beat the odds. She has fought for so many things. Women's rights, healthc care, fair pay, equity, inclusion, so many great things. She has been a mentor.
She's been a trailblazer. She is married to someone who is part of the corporate team now of one of my favorite teams despite the many losses. But I love the Giants. >> But we want to honor and recognize
this great woman who have served very well with dignity, integrity, and respect. None other than a good sister, a well-rounded woman, a mother, a confidant, and a friend. Lieutenant
Governor Tahesa We Before I even begin, can we show some mighty love to the mighty councilwoman of president, I should say, of Patterson. Yes.
I tell you, Council President Mimms, you truly are a northstar as to authentic leadership. you understand the assignment putting the public first and we adore
you for that. Now I am going to keep with my um famous uh remarks uh quote which I say I'm going to be sincere. I'm going to be brief and then I'm going to take my seat because we got so many phenomenal um
women to honor this evening. I also want to shout out the mayor and the council who are here. Show them some love. And then finally, I just want to quickly note um as a young child, my mom was the one who dropped me off to school. And
she epitomized uh true leadership, female leadership. And the one thing that she would always say to me as a shy child as I got out of the car was toa just be present.
>> And in that she was telling me to understand your value not only as an AfricanAmerican child but as a female. And I see the presence within each and every single honore here. And we want to
thank you for understanding your assignment in your respective spaces in holding true to what Harriet Beecher Stowe once said that women are the true architects of society. So again I just
want to thank you council president from the bottom of my heart. I wish each and every one of you continued blessings in your journey and thank you and enjoy the rest of this blessed evening. Thanks so much.
>> Look at this everything. Let's clap it up for the Lieutenant Governor Tahisha Wang. This is a legend. I met with one of the other honores and
we were talking about this event and she said, "I know someone great." Miss Ella Villan Noeva said, "I know someone great to honor." And I said, "She helped me in my first campaign. I will never forget." She said, "Get over here and let me talk to you. Sit down." And from that day, she
has taught me the art of winning. Not just winning an election, but winning in life, winning and being consistent, winning and being loyal, winning and being integral. Just the art of winning as a woman. And this honor is based on
for you being a person that always gives and rarely receives. And Peggy Anastas I want to say thank you not just being a legend in your community but a legend for every woman. You are a woman who rock. Our next
honore, Miss Peggy Legend Anastas, thank you so much. And I'm going to do this Hackley with uh she was saying earlier, our key person, but let me tell you, I am a Pisonsonian. At 14 years old, I got my first job here. I've been
here and this is where I learned learned to love everybody here, all the workers. You you you help everybody helped me, you know, and they taught me what to do. And I even your mayor here, I've known him since he was 10 years old. He was in the back when he got out of hand. We
punched him. Uh, so I I am telling you that I am very very happy today because I'm here with all my friends and I want to join the blacks organization too with the Puerto Ricans and every other organization that we have because we're all same.
>> We're all the same and we all work together. So, um, I I got to say thank you. I will continue. I've done a lot of great things, a lot of great people that taught me. So, uh, it is just being
friends because I everybody that was here I loved and still love and that's a great thing. Well, the same people there's no bad things around or people going against each other. It doesn't work. When people go after me,
>> I'll just stomp on her or him. Not the real stompy meeting is I find out what's your problem. >> Yeah, it's your you know what do you want? But I am so proud of Patterson and the group here. And I lived here for
four or five years working with Pat Kramer and everyone else. Remember them? So I'm going to be quiet since I do talk a lot, but I'll see you all someday. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, darling.
Okay, thank you everybody. God bless you. >> So at this time I'm going to bring up our mayor Andre Seiya to have a couple words and he has a special presentation. >> Good afternoon Patterson. Good afternoon ladies.
going to be a little sentimental today because it was March 13, 2005 when God put me in the same place in the same time with a young lady that 21 years later will be my wife
>> which proves Reverend Dr. lied. It doesn't it doesn't really mean that it was the same place at the same time. It was the right place at the right time because God is always right on time. I'm not here to preach. I'm sorry. That's her. That's the apostle right
here. But but I want to commend all the ladies here. I've known you in all different types of capacities. This is my children's principal right here, Miss Castro. Let's give her a round of applause. Number one number one school
for our friends from West Patterson. Mayor, the number one school in New Jersey, second year in a row, elementary school is in the city of Patterson. Tommy Kellum, come on. Miss Led, you know, you're in education.
So, I'm mightily impressed with the young ladies that you've selected this evening to be honored. And yes, you are women who rock. >> Yes. But we're rocking with Mims, aren't we? That was for you, King Mills.
And she's been a rock as the council president. I've noticed meetings are better organized and she's not afraid to stand up to certain people and speak truth to power. So, in honor of this rock we're rocking
with, I'm proud to present this gift to our council president in honor of Women's History Month, Tommy Kellum. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you, Mayor. You want a picture? >> Yes, of course. I'd like a picture.
Mayor owed me that gift because yesterday he kept yelling, "Councilwoman Cotton, she's going to win." He was yelling that he forgot me. Councilwoman Dava, right? We've also been joined by the councilman of the sixth board, Councilman Ibrahim Omar.
You'll hear from all of them in a few moments. Our next honore is none other than one of the principles of one of our um schools that are on the spectrum that has general ed. I met her when she was
working with um Dr. Lou when they had some issues in the first ward and they needed some signage and so we worked together to create some signage for autism awareness and then we let it led into uh areas for children that are are
deaf and could not hear and I remember at the time she was the vice principal and I'll never forget saying to her I can't wait for the day that you are the principal and that day is here and you're doing a phenomenal job our
children are better because of your leadership. The school is better because of your your guidance and your wisdom. And today I salute you, Dr. Vanessa Serrano. Thank you, Mayor and Council, for
attending. Thank you, Dr. Mims, thank you so much for this incredible honor. Being recognized with the Women That Rock Award truly means a great deal to me, and it's especially meaningful to be included among such inspiring group
of women. Each of the women being recognized today brings something unique and special to our community and our state, and it's an honor to stand alongside all of you. First, I want to thank my family, my husband, my son, and my daughter for
their constant encouragement, love, and support at home. They are the ones who listen to me and my ideas, cheer me on, and support me even when those ideas might seem a little crazy. I would also like to thank the amazing people I work
with every single day. A special thank you to my vice principal, Mr. Dr. Michael Olo and to my incredible secretaries, Miss Pamela Cosby and Misha Moss, who are not here. Your support, teamwork, and willingness
to go along with all of my crazy ideas make everything we do possible. Thank you again for this recognition. It really is an honor. Thank you. over here. >> Have you Let's give it up again for our women who
rock. Our next honore is someone who taught me the art of prayer. She's been a mentor. She's been a guide. She reminds me of my grandmother. And for a very very long time, I watched
her before I ever even approached her. And to this day, it's been so long that I've known her, I don't even count the days. I make the days count. That I I talked to her grandson and I was saying to him, I'm having the woman who rocked this year and I want to honor
your grandmother because I absolutely admire the wisdom of our elders. And just a point of of reference, if we can sit at the feet of elders and learn from their wisdom and get all
that's inside of them before they leave this earth, we will be better people. Our next honore is my mentor, my good friend, Reverend Dr. Julia Floyd. I love her.
Make me cry. My favorite lady. >> My first words is praise the Lord. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. >> Glory to God. I thank God for being here today.
>> I I just praise him. I never thought I would be nowhere like this, but I thank the Lord cuz it was all the Lord's. Everything I do, I give him the honor
and the glory >> because I couldn't do none of it if it wasn't for him. But I thank him. Praise God. I thank God for all of you in here today.
I just don't even know what to say. I am so happy. That's the truth. Lisa, I I'll tell you the years that I have known her >> and we just I'm telling you, she just a
sweet person. She listen to what you say. I like that when you listen to what I say. But God is so good and I thank God for and I thank God for all of you that you are involved in the things of
the city, you know, and it's a lot to be done, but you got to start. You start. So, you go on from there and keep on working. I I'm not going to talk too much cuz believe me, I could keep you
here a long time, but I'm not going to talk too much. for God is so good. I just have to talk about him cuz that's who brought me here. >> That's who that's who give you the knowledge, the wisdom and stuff. You
know, you can't just sit down and think of it on your own. God got to give it to you and he give you the right thing. And I praise him for it. You know, um I
forget a lot cuz I'm 89 years old. So, I kind of I kind of forget some things that I said I was going to say, but then by the time I get here, I done forgot it.
>> So, you know, but God is good. So, you see how good he is >> all the time. >> 89 years old. I can walk. I can cook. I can >> clean my own house. I can, you know, I
can still do things. So, God is good. And if I say anything, just turn to him and let him help you and let him take you through. Um, I think that's about it for now. Amen. Amen.
Okay. Right here. Right here. Bye mama. >> May the work you have done speak for you. 89 years. I believe it's important to give people their flowers while they can
smell them. Amen. Our next honore for years we have called her to have meetings or to be a part of the meetings in our senior citizen buildings. She's
very gracious with setting the schedule. She's very fair with the schedule. She's always wonderful and cheerful. You come in the room, you could be feeling down. She starts lighting the room up and then she started exciting the seniors and it makes you excited so you feel like you
could do jumping jacks and somersault and back flips until you realize you can't. But when I called this young lady and after I um said to her that I wanted to honor her,
when she spoke to me and said that she's been doing her job for I believe eight years and no one ever honored her. When I hung up the phone, I said, "God,
this is why I have to honor women. This is why unsung heroes, people that do day in and day out to make sure our housing residents, people
that come in the building have great experiences. And for that, Terresa Parro, you are a woman who rock. Oh my god. First thing first, I'm 100% with you.
Praise the Lord. >> And that's not that's not only wisdom. That's love that is born here in the heart >> and you just like shine like a diamond when you possess that. >> Yes. When Lilisa means, this amazing woman
told me about this. Oh my, I think she hit her head. Honestly, for me, this was like what? But yeah, I'm here. I I got to say to you, thank you because leadership is a
word that possess you completely. And I'm not a woman of a lot of words, but just to say women, we got power >> and diversity is the most beautiful
thing in the world. >> Latinos, American people from everywhere. But the special part here, my senior citizen. And it's so funny because I'm sitting right here next to this amazing lady and
it's like, "Oh my god, they hunting me. I can't be I can't be out of them." Thank you so much. Congratulations to all of you. My dear doctor, you're rocking. >> Each of you are rocking.
>> And please, let's keep rocking. And don't forget that love is the most important thing. Let's give it up again. Our next honore was well she still is my sister. She's my daughter's mentor.
She is the president of our sorarity Delta Sigma Theta Sarity Incorporated. She's a longtime educator. She comes from a family of educators. She's smart. She's articulate, welldressed. She just got it going on. There's just some
people that you see them, you know, just you just have to say like you got it going on. It's very rare in life that you see women celebrate other women. It's very rare that you hear people say you got it going on. Where you get your
shoes from? Right? Where you get your wig from? But people that are authentic and genuine, they are gems. not just in the community, not just in their family, but just in the world. And
I think the world of my Sorro president, longtime educator, retiree now, Reverend Dr. Jaylen E. Lie. Thank you all. Well, praise the Lord, somebody.
>> Praise the Lord, everybody. >> So, I do thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for this opportunity to be here before you, but I also want to thank our council president, Dr. Lisa Mims, for this honor. I stand before you because you are a woman that rocks. All of you
up here, I've seen you in places. I've seen you in the community. I stand seen you standing out in the forefront and you rock. So, give them a round of applause. I do want to thank the the mayor and the councilmen that are here. I've worked
with them in the community. I just retired as principal of Martin Luther King School. So, I used to see Councilman VeZ all the time, but you know, just being out in the community. Um, it is I just want to to say this and
leave this with you. Um, if you can help somebody along the way, then your living is not in vain. And I want to say to the women that are in the room, see, I'm a proud
um, young lady, right? And that's because there are people who are receiving the awards today that are my colleagues, um, that are mentors from afar, principles. I sat in the same rooms so I know exactly what they are
doing on the forefront. But today also I want to acknowledge she is a woman that rocks and I have watched her from a little girl from being a Delta teen and she is standing and she is actually sitting next to me. So I am proud to sit
here among those. Trendela I am proud of you. I see some former students in the audience also. I am proud of you. I see parents that I am proud of you. new Rosa El Park School of Fine Performing Arts. I see you. So, I do appreciate and I also I would not be here before you if
it wasn't for um I want to just acknowledge Calvary Baptist Church at Sawyer Historic Calvary Baptist Church under the direction of my senior pastor who has teaches us who has passed the mantle from our pastor Reverend Dr. Albert Pero who has sat in these chambers um who put the mantle on us for
us to make sure we go out and continue the work in the community and beyond. But for me to stand here before you is I stand here before you because there was a light before me and her name was Janette Slide who is my mother.
She is the ultimate woman that rocked uh for 52 years of my life and she is about to be 80 years old. So we will celebrate her. So mom, I thank you. I thank you. Mom, Dr. Mims, I thank you. Council, I
thank you. Mayor, I thank you. All of those I thank you for this honor. And woman, you rock. Let's give it up one more time. I've said this to this woman privately and now I'm going to say it publicly.
This woman is a woman of her word. when she was running to become the Pose County surrogate, she said, "I'm going to have a breakfast and I'm going to do some things with women and I want to be able to expand the hours and the surrogates's office and do something
around the city so people can understand when you say vote row A all the way or row row B all the way." People need to understand who they're voting for when it comes to estates and wills and when your stuff is held up because your loved one has passed, you don't have a power
of attorney. And this woman has always been the same. I applaud her. I appreciate her. She is our pose county surrogate, Miss Zoya Casanova. Thank you, council president Dr. Mims.
As she said, I'm I'm new, but I'm just as the theme is a vessel for God's work, right? So, women that rock, look at the diversity from elected to community leaders. And
that's what women are because women that rock are the rock. We are the foundation. Okay. And that diversity doesn't separate us and what we do. So to each and everyone to me this is a recognition that I share with everyone
here because I stand on the shoulder of multiple women from my mother to my grandmother to the women here which I lean on. >> So thank you for the recognition but I also continue to serve and just being the foundation of every woman. So I
applaud every woman sitting here because we are the rock. >> Thank you. I also want to acknowledge the presence of our P County Commissioner, Mr. Orlando Cruz. Our
next woman has been fighting the fight, standing the front line, doing popup videos and offices, leading the charge as a female mayor and our partner city in Woodland Park. This
woman has the strength of Goliath. She operates in the peace as a dove and she has the appearance of one that stands shouldertosh shoulder with anyone that comes in her way. I admire and appreciate this woman who w rocked.
Let's give it up for Mayor Tracy Kard. I want to thank the mayor and council for having us here tonight. I want to especially thank Council President Dr. Mims for hosting this here tonight. All of the women here, I wish you nothing but the best. I am in awe of your
pedigree. I congratulate you all. I am proud to be and blessed to be the mayor of West Patterson, Woodland Park, >> but I have deep roots from the city of Patterson. I was born and raised by three strong women that grew up and lived their lives right here in
Patterson. My mother, my grandmother, and my great-g grandandmother. I spent many days here in Patterson living my life. I bought my daughter here when she was born. And I am proud of this city, and I miss it. I will tell you right now, events like this are so important.
Not because we need not because we're prideful, not because we need the accolades, but because we need to inspire the next generation of women who rock. Our job is to open doors for the next women who are going to make the changes that we've made. When you look
at us individually, we could not be more different. But collectively, we are a force. We are all the same. We put service before self. We serve God. We serve our families. and we serve our communities. And I want to thank Dr.
Mims for recognizing that. And I want to thank each and every woman here that will inspire the next generation. And I want to thank my council members for joining me here tonight and my friends from West Patterson. Thank you all. I'm going to have to treat Council Vice
President Dava out to eat afterwards. I just want to put that plug out there. Um, our next honore is someone that I met through her son. We were going through a process on the
city council of appointing someone to serve in the sixth ward because our former councilman, now assemblyman, LZ's was going to serve on the assembly. I've always been connected to the sixth ward.
It's been I I can't even tell you probably two decades or more. They have always been a support force for me and all things that I do before politics in politics, life, family, children, you name it, they've been there. And so when
it came to the appointment and that conversation, they reached out and they wanted me to work with uh this young man. So I said, "Well, I need to meet him. I need to talk to him and find out who he is." And we did that. And through
that connection, I met this amazing woman who I now consider another mother. When I go to the sixth ward, Ramadan Kharim, >> assalam alaikum.
>> When I go to the sixth ward, it could be thousands in a room. She always finds her way to come to my table and go, "Eat something." >> And I go, "I'm good." No, no, no. Next thing you know, a plate slides in front of me.
And I really appreciate that because I am uh the eldest of two children, me and my sister, and I'm a caretaker for my mom. And so, it's always there to me. I always I don't know. It's something about me being around elders all the
time. I do it with Mama Elsa, so many others. I I just love that and I thank you for loving me, you know. I love your son >> and he brings us slap burgers all the time >> and we make make me fat.
>> Well, he don't have to make we already I'm already there, but you know that's another story. But this honore is a woman who is to be admired, to be acknowledged when it comes to getting the election locked in in the
sixth ward. She's it. Some things that are small are huge. She's a quiet force with major influence. The next honore is a woman who rocks, none other than my other
mother, Miss Amal Amar. >> Good afternoon everyone. Um I'm honored to be a nominee in this award to be recognized me that mean a lot to
me such stand with a strong woman. So I'm a proud uh I'm proud to stand with strong
lift up and lead and strong and uh stay together. Uh we are strong and we deserve that we support on each other. Thank you again
Dr. Mims, I'm glad to honored me this uh night. Thank you. I'm sorry if I can't do that. Thank you very much. Mom, my favorite lady, >> this is Councilman Omar's mom. >> Yeah.
I'll make I'll make that One more time. This great woman is another woman who from my very start in politics helped me. My cousin, former mayor Marty Barnes,
she worked on his campaign. I don't even know if she knew till this day until now that he was my cousin. I remember the days when he talked about building diversified teams that will
help build and move the city forward. And I remember her always always helping candidates of all different races, ethnicities, and economic statuses.
This woman has always supported me, has always been there for the entire community. She's a strong force and Maria Magda will be very proud. >> In 2008,
when I came out of corporate America, the first couple things I did was adopt schools and I adopted the Hispanic multi-purpose center. and she was there. We did many great things together and we're going to keep doing them together
because we're better together. Our next honore is a powerful force, a great influence, my sister and my friend, Miss Ila Villa Nueva. I get emotional.
>> I get emotional and I not going to excuse myself because I've been in this council for the past 45 years. >> When I came to Patterson, I was 22. >> I started working with the Hispanic multi-purpose service center during then. And I have the opportunity
to work for the most amazing woman's in this chamber. The first woman elected, Miss Marian Russian back to the city council to the Maria Magda >> to the council woman Ames. >> Yes.
>> And yes, I was the running mate of the late Jesse, Dr. Jesse Dson. >> Yes. Yes. >> On the Mars ticket. Yes. >> Honored to be among you. Your legacy lives forever. And I'm honored that I'm
here sharing with you my dear Tahishu way when she was freeholder. The one that got me my first job in the city of Patterson. And it's true. I work with council president when she
was running >> for Borovette >> every time. >> To my dear Louis. >> Yes. >> To my dear >> Yes. >> Marissa. >> Yes. >> To my dear Elsa. >> To each and every one of you which I
have the opportunity to work with and I did put all my effort to elect everybody that I have worked on with all my heart. I wish the best to everybody and I really thank you Da everybody
else. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for your support. I love you guys and I will always be here to support candidates to office females candidates to office. I will do my best
to to help them to guide them and to work with them. It doesn't matter who they are, where they going, what party, what nomination, what ethnicity. That's me. Thank you so much to all of you. Blessings to you,
council president. Thank you. You know that I'm on your side. >> To the mayor and uh to the first lady that she's not here. >> Uh thank you all of you. Blessings to you and your families.
That's okay. >> This is her. >> Well, she's my boss. And they call me Stevie >> Wondering. No. No. No. Picture with the beeping. No picture. >> You know, you got your extra stuff.
Our next honore works very very hard in education. I love the fact that she stands truth to power. I love when you call and you or you requ you say to someone I want to honor you
and then they call back and say why me? Why do you want to honor me? And then you go into explaining to them. When I first started doing this, I used to have people come. You would have to pay and buy a ticket to do it. But I said, I'm going to stop doing that because I think
people want need to be honored. You don't have to pay anything. So as I begin to explain to her what the process was, she was like, I am so honored. I didn't even know that no one saw what I was doing.
You are a woman that people watch. You're a woman that people admire. And you're a woman that is going far. Amma Omar, you are a woman who rock. I make I'm awa and s I'm so you see I'm
looking at this say Ramadan Karim. >> She does. But this is Awa Insaw from Prospect Park. >> Good evening everyone. Happy Friday. My name is Ottawa Ensur. I proudly serve as vice president of the city Prospect Park
Board of Education. Thank you. I do want to start off by thanking Dr. Mims for recognizing me. And yes, that is true. I called her up and I'm like, are you sure it's me? like I'm I saw my name. I just had to double check cuz
usually for me I'm a very humble down to earth type of person. Um that's where I came to believe that actions over here do speak louder than words. That's where we came here today. As you can see we're all different uh colors, shapes, sizes, ethnicities, backgrounds, uh the what we
wear, what we speak, where we come from. I'm pretty sure most of us are first generation students that our parents and greatgrand ancestors came over here to for a reason for a purpose and I I want to thank you all to to be seated on my
right and my left for people that now I know to call my sisters my friends my adviserss my leaders I do want to thank my mom in the crowd that she came and sacrificed all the from overseas raised myself and six other kids over here
knowing that this is a big job, big responsibility. And I know a lot of you parents out there, most of you are immigrants. So standing up up here today representing my people, my community, my background, being a voice for the Muslims, Arabs, hijabis, Americans,
women, female opens up doors cuz I know it is slept on a lot nowadays. It's slept on. So they want someone to step up, someone to do that. And sometimes you got to take the initiative. You got to take the sacrifice. You got to take the risk. I
do want to uh by I want to end it off by thanking you all for coming out for staying throughout the whole event for each and every one of us. And I want to thank and congratulate all the honores. I want to thank my family, my adviserss, everyone that helped me to be who I am
to today. Thank the council members as well, the city of Patterson, the P County commissioners, and the one and only Dr. Mims. Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you to all of our Muslim brothers and
sisters, Ramadan Mabarak and Ramadan Kadarin. Our next honore, I don't know if I want to call her sister, friend, or niece, but if you ever want someone that works hard,
never asks for anything, very honest, very humble, and just very, she's just a very, very great person all the time. do life. You get to meet people on your
journey, whether it's through the community, whether it's in education, whether it's through their family. But what happens is when they make a connection with you, it sticks. We had an event the other night and I sent out the schedule and I said, "We need some things to be done." And she
said, "I'm cooking all the food." She bore her mother. She bore her family. Her uncle always is there. But I respect people that keep their word and keep their promise. If I could honor this woman every single
day, I would because her first name is Quashinda, but she's really a true queen. Our next woman who rocked is a niece to me, a friend to me, family to me, Quashinda Kellum.
Hello everyone. >> Hello. >> I'm truly honored and grateful to receive this recognition. Congratulations to all the incredible women being honored today. It is inspiring to stand among such excellence. I would especially like to
thank my mother who's in the audience right now. >> Yes. Yes. >> She has always been my biggest supporter and constant source of inspiration. >> Her encouragement and belief in me have helped shape the person I am today and
for that I am forever grateful. Dr. Mims, I'm also grateful for you as well. You inspire me. And one thing I will say to everyone as I leave this podium is make sure you're registered to vote.
Make sure you vote. If you have someone in your family that's turning 18, make sure they register to vote. That's right. Register to vote. Our next honore is someone another person we've been friends for a
long time. She works very hard in Prospect Park. We're sister cities together, Patterson and Prospect Park. She's been a friend since before schoolboard days. Her and her husband always giving words of encouragement.
We're always having conversations. Whether it's we talked this week and we talked two weeks later, it doesn't matter. It always picks up. And that's what real sisterhood looks like. I believe God named her for what is not just on the outside of her, but what's
on the inside of her. And I want to celebrate this woman who has always exemplified beauty. Not just because your name is beauty, but because your spirit is beautiful.
Our woman who rock Miss Beauty. Nadine. >> Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. I'm truly honored to be recognized as one of the women who rocks honores of 2026.
I sincerely thank Council President Lisa Mim, Dr. Mimmes for this recognization and for celebrating women who makes difference in their communities. I thank Allah, my family, especially my
mom, friends and colleagues for their constant support and encouragement. My roots are in Patterson. I grew up in Patterson. I went to school in and college in Patterson.
I am also proud to share that I am the first women in this country from Bengali community to achieve the register municipal clerk certification. I am happy that I am the one breaking barriers and opening doors for others.
Congratulations to all honories. You all deserve it. And happy International Women Months. Thank you again for this honor. I truly appreciate it. Dr. Mans love you.
for my daughter. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. our next honore and I was waiting to honor her cuz I wanted to make sure that um her buddy was here and I saw her come in the door. This woman has been doing
wonderful things not just in the Peruvian community but in the city of Patterson. When you meet great women, there's moments when you just have to be quiet and let them speak because when they speak, the greatness exudes out of them and you will recognize how great
they are, too. I just want to say thank you for being a good sister and a friend. Thank you for always loving on me. Thank you council vice president for recommending her. And when she said it should be Darvis, I said yeah it should be Darvis. Thank you for teaching me how
to hit the piñata on Tyler. You remember that right? I could I couldn't open it. I couldn't open it but I was trying to hit it but she was teaching me. You are truly a woman who rock. Our next honore, Miss Doris Hutuko.
Gracias each roas. I'm happy to be a citizen of the United States. >> I have two American children. >> I'm very proud for my children. They're born and raised and educated.
>> I thank Councilwoman Davila. She has walked all wars of the city of Patterson. She knows every council person in the city of Patterson, >> every candidate. I'm very proud. Thank you.
Arabic, Spanish, Italian. She's very thankful for the sisterhood for every woman. She's a proud Peruvian and a proud American. Congratulations, Doris. Thank you. Our next honore,
I think she's one of the hardest working women in Patterson. no matter what election, no matter what um group or organization that calls her to work, she doesn't just come working
in sneakers and boots. She comes in heels. I've never seen anyone work a campaign from 6:00 in the morning till 10:00 at night in heels but this honore. Her genuine authentic love radiates
through her smile, through her presence, and through the heart of gold that she encompasses. The next honore is a good friend, a good sister, Miss Elizabeth Cruz. So cute. Thank you.
>> Good evening. Good evening everyone. >> Thank you so much Dr. Lily's men for recognizing me tonight. I'm very excited. I saw a lot of rock woman around me. When I received the
invitation, I say, "Oh, um, probably she do a mistake." When I started like um reading all this rock woman and the list and I say, "Wait a minute." When I saw my name, I feeling really really
excited. Thank you so much all my community. Thank you all the councilman here. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I'm feeling emotional. Thank you the mayor. Thank you um the
president of the Dominican parade asia. Thank you so much for trust me. Thank you so much for believe me. Thank you so much for believe me and my job. I work for my community. I work for my paris and be here when I come in 22
years old. >> Yes. All my student is my country, my bachelor in my country. But I know this country you need to speak English. Um fortunately,
thanks God. I'm started my college. I'm started work hard for the sheriff's department. Yes, >> I working hard for our community. >> I was concent for a few years
>> but I'm here on another level. Thank you everyone for trust me. Thanks God. God is the first and I love you everyone. Dr. Serrano, this is the director of the school number two. She's the best. My
son has been here for many years and I appreciate it all you do for my son. I really appreciate it. My son is going to be soon in the PCTI college >> honory and the school >> Brady Cruz. Yes, you got it. Thank you,
Mayor F. Trust me and believe me. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Thank you everyone. Thank you my families and friends here. >> Good evening and keep going. Great job everyone. Thank you so much. Never give it up.
Are you >> I love when Mama Elsa says it. Bravo. I love that. Our next honore is someone who is in charge of the seniors for the entire county
of Pake. For years, this woman has advocated, fought, stood on the front line to make sure that all of our seniors across the county of Pake, there's over 500,000 people that encompass the county of
Pake, 16 municipalities, and this woman who's a woman of God, a woman of strength, and a woman of faith. This woman has been doing it for a very, very long time. And on behalf of
all the seniors, including my mom, I want to say thank you for being a force and being a woman who rocked, Miss Shirley Force. >> It had not been for the Lord
on my side. Tell me where would I be? >> Where would I be? >> All right. Now, >> ah
I am so humble and grateful to each and every one of you. I thank you Dr. Mims. I am grateful to sit with you each and every honore. It is my pleasure to be
amongst you guys. And when I thought of what I would say tonight, so many things ran before me. But because of who I am, I have to be always true Dr. Mims. So I have to say this journey has not been
travel alone. My every step plan and hope has been through prayer and blessings for the women who still wanting to have a clear path don't know where you want to go. Trust and pray and
watch the blessings unfold right before you. Just want to leave you all with and for those of you who know I can talk, I can talk, but I'm going to make it brief tonight. Um I'm going to say to you, keep the faith. Keep the faith and know that the
impossible is possible. >> I want to remind you of some of some strong women as well from the biblical book. Esther, Ruth, Deborah, Rahab, and if you all know from my seniors, I'm just throwing this out because I'm a
department head. Sarah who was blessed at the age of 90 plus. I'm not telling my seniors to go out and be a Sarah, but what I'm saying to you is everything is possible. So what I say to you again is
just keep the faith and know that you can do whatever your heart sets out to do. Thank you so much. Thank you. I I I would I cannot leave this out. I want to thank my sister who travel away to be here, my son, my daughter-in-law,
and all of those those grandchildren right there. Thank you guys. Excuse me. >> Thank you. >> The blessing is when you're around women who rock, even if you can't sing, you got to join in. >> But I saw my niece in the in the
audience, so I almost called her up. Farra, come help me. I almost had to call her up. Our next honore has her school is the number one school in the state of New Jersey. It is our gifted and talented school in the city
of Patterson. As um someone that works in one of the schools in the city, we're in a a position where we're looking to become a middle school. And so there's some very very bright students in our building who really did not want to take the risk of
going to the school because they love being at school 21. But some of them are have now tested and they've been accepted and every day they get on my nerves reminding me that they're going over to the gifted and talented school and I'm
going to miss my babies in the building. But they're in a building with one of one of the greatest educators that operates in strength, poise, tenacity,
dedication, commitment, and a leader in in the spirit of excellence. Thank you for being a mentor to my daughter. Thank you being a advocate for all of our children. And thank you for putting Patterson on the map. Miss Nancy Castro,
you are a woman who rock. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. Love you too. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> First and foremost, I would like to thank Dr. Mims for this prestigious honor. To my fellow honores,
congratulations. It is truly a privilege to stand alongside with you this evening. To the people behind the scenes, my family, my husband, my son, my daughter-in-law. Thank you for your
constant love and support. I truly believe we are as strong as the people around us, and I am truly blessed to be surrounded by such incredible people. Dr. Mims, mayor, council, thank you for
seeing my heart in the work that I do. I am grateful and I will continue to do this work with all my heart. Thank you Nancy Castro. We >> should have had that song playing grew up together.
They should have simply the best play in that school because that's exactly what's going on. Some of the best and the brightest, not just in that school, but in all of our schools in the city of Patterson. We have some really great youth in the city of Patterson. This next honore
is a woman who has really just astounded everyone. She's a young woman, but she's doing great things through nonprofits, community activism, community outreach organizations. She reached out to me
some years ago in an inbox and she said to me, and I'll never forget, she said, "I have watched you for a while, Dr. Mims." She said, "And it's very rare that you find a dark-skinned, beautiful, intelligent woman, and I want to ask you
to be my mentor." And from that day, even if we don't talk every day, it is my belief that when we sit in our roles as elected officials, we should be training people to be the
next in our seats. that we are not there for 40 years. We're not there for 50 years. But the goal is to train them and pass the baton.
While some want to kick us out, others believe in training, mentorship, leadership, guidance, wisdom, and recognizing talent in the young people. That is a gift that God has given me,
and I'm so grateful to not just be your mentor, but that we learn together. This young lady, I love her. She could be my real daughter. People might think she is my daughter, right, Mom? Mom like, no.
She like, that's my baby. Miss Tindela Delane, you know, Trenela, you know, I absolutely love you. I appreciate you. Keep doing what God has called you to do. The sky is the limit. And the words of
of my mama, you're shining and nothing can dull your shine. Our next honore is none other than Miss Tren de la Delane. >> You are a woman who rock.
>> I love this. I love her. >> Are you? Thank you. >> I love her. >> How's everyone feeling? Great. Um, thank you all for being here today. It is a pleasure and a profound honor to stand before you all.
Congratulations to all of our women who rock because you all truly rock. Um, special thanks to God first and foremost. Special thanks for all of you for having us here and you Dr. Mims for all of the work that you do. Thank you for leading me, guiding me, and always
supporting me. But I know we're speaking about women who rock, but I just want to shout out my parents. So, if you can stand up, if you can stand up for me, please give it up for my parents. Um, not only do you rock, you truly
rock, and you are my rock. Okay. Um, my parents, I actually want to give a shout out to Delta Sigma Theta, right? >> Let's give a shout out to them because my mom, she actually enrolled me in a program. I was a Betty Shabbaz and I was
a Delta gym for so many years, but I actually went to college because of Delta Sigma Theta. So, please let's give it up for them. Yes. Um, and since then, they've always supported me. They always stood
alongside me and always been here through my endeavors. But Dr. Mims, I appreciate you. I encourage you. >> I support you. You know, you have my vote. >> Yes. >> Right.
>> And I really appreciate everything that you do for the community because you truly care with your heart. And I really want you all to know three things before I go. >> You matter. Your voice matters and most importantly your vote matters. Okay.
>> All right. Thank you. >> Sorry. Great job. >> We'll share her mom. >> Thank you. >> That's Get up for my campaign manager. The next honore
when she ran for school board, it was something about her that my mother gravitated to. And my mother doesn't gravitate to people quickly. And my mother said it's something about her heart and her spirit. And I don't
care if she wins or loses, she's always going to be a winner. So I said to my mom, I have to let you meet this young lady. I I have to let you meet her. And I voted for her, too. And I came and we met. And she pulled
her in like she knew her. And she said, "It's something about you." And from that day, no matter how many times mother my mother's been sick or what's been going on, she always says, "How's FA?"
I'm like, "What about Lisa? This one? That one?" My mother loves FA and she knows it. FA is one of the hardest working organizers in the city of
Patterson. She has organization leadership skills like no other. She does it. It's almost like she does it in her sleep. And if she's for you,
nobody could be against you because she's somebody that when she hooks into you, she keeps her teeth synced in and she never lets you go. I want to say to you which I always say to you privately, FA, I love you.
Thank you. Thank you for being a sister to me cuz my mother took her as a daughter. Thank you for being a sister to me. Thank you for being a friend to me. And thank you for always making sure that we don't
just win, but we win big. I'm going to say that again. making sure we win big. Fa, you're a superstar. You're a woman who rock, but you're a superstar. Great things lie ahead of you
for the city of Patterson. The next woman who rock, none other than my sister, one of the greatest organizers in Patterson, Miss Fa Santana. Good evening. >> Thank you so much, Dr. um Menz. And it
means a lot. And let me tell you, I love your mom. So, make sure you let her know. >> She's watching. >> Oh, she's watching. >> I love you. And thank you so much for believing in me. >> It's an honor to be around women's that rock.
Um, if I'm standing here today is because I has been inspired by women's and Patterson that every day had to wake up at 3:00 in the morning to cook breakfast, lunch, to leave for the family, to go to the two jobs, sometimes three jobs and then come back home and
start all over again. Those women that make the make possible out of the impossible. I have been inspired by leadership that transform life. Women's that open the doors for other
women's to growth, to be leader and to be part of the change that the societ our society need. I just want to remind all the womens in the room and those that are watching, you have the power to
make impact, to change, to transform life. We have elections coming up and it's your vote that is going to make a difference. So make sure you come out to vote. Let make our voice really strong and loud. Make sure that we elect the
right leadership. >> The leadership that cares, the leadership that will work for you and the leadership >> and the leadership you can trust. >> Women's you inspire. Thank you so much.
I love me. >> Thank you. leadership you can trust. >> Last, but certainly not least, I want to call up Bronze Heat. Bronze Heat represents the minority
firefighters in the city of Patterson. We have our director of communications, my birthday twin, Miss Lenny How. We have our great longtime entrepreneur, entrepreneur, and our firefighter,
African-American female firefighter as well, Miss Janice Miller who used to cut my grandfather's hair. And then my uncle's here and all my boys here. So, I appreciate both of you. So for this we've been I've been doing
honors for 26 years but five years ago I sat with Bron Heat who embraced me when I came um into this arena to the city council and I said there should always be one person and we probably could increase it for next year but there
should always be one person from the community that's doing great work that we come together Bronty Dr. Mims comes together and we acknowledge and we celebrate this person in the community. This year Dr. Mim's bronze honore is
none other than Commissioner Valerie Freeman. Speaker, >> good evening everyone. Congratulations to all you women who rock and everybody out here in the out in the audience. You all rock as well. Um, as um, Dr. Min
said, we're a part of the Bronze Sea organization where we love to give back to our community. We are the community. >> Um, Val is a really close uh, family friend of ours. Get a little emotional. Um, >> I have two cousins that passed away
recently >> and Val was there every single day for our family. Um, she's been through that battle of of breast cancer. So, she was really strong for most of us when we couldn't be strong for ourselves. That
was a tough tough loss that we uh we had to endure. So, with that being said, we appreciate Val. We thank her for everything she does with the school board, the community, and for my family especially. So, thank you, Val. Let's give it up for all of our women
who rock honores. Record time. Record time. Um, at this time I want to bring forth our mayor. He has already spoken, but our mayor is coming. Council vice president Davala, Councilman Louis Aales, Councilwoman
Ruby Cotton, Councilman Ibrahim Omar if they will come at this time. I also want to acknowledge two I don't have any natural brothers, but there's some people in the community have embraced me as a sister, and I have to acknowledge my good brother and
friend Tommy Kellum, who is here. and Wameit Santiago, my two brothers in the community. And there's so many others that are not here, but they know who who they are. >> A nice hat. So, I'm going to allow them
in this order. Council vice president. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Let's have a round of applause for our council president. In addition to that to all of the honores who inspire me every day there is not one of you that I do not know up
here there although I know each and everyone there are a few that I would have to say that they are the reason I am standing before you. >> They are the reason I vanova spoke about Maria Magda being the first Latina in the fifth ward.
Right. When it was time for me, it was she along with two other women >> who said, "We need you. We need you." And we ran and we lost. >> But guess what's so important about people that run and lose?
>> If you continue to be uh uh to persevere, to keep uh um active >> because when you want to lead, you don't need a title to serve. >> When you want to lead, you just do the work. And God's given me that opportunity that it's because of Pose
County Community College, now being me being a director of the Pose campus, that it was an Ilia who said that young lady's fire. It was a Nelly Poe at the time, assembly woman that says that young lady's fire and a Sonia Sonia
Rosado who was the freeholder director at the time. I thank those women. I thank Maria Magda. And so I say this to each and everyone. each and everyone. People that I know since I was, you know, very young. Her best friend was my best friend. You know, people like like
um Doris Watuko. You don't know her life. When she says she's walk, she walks the walks and talks the talk. She's a hard worker. When she loves, she loves. And she's a fighter. And that woman has
suffered so many things. And today she is an American citizen with American children. America American citizen children. So we love you Peggy. Thank you. Thank you for giving that job and making sure that Elia got the job so I could get the job. Okay. To
Soya Kasanova and to so many Oh my god. And I was going to say Janette lied. You know why? Cuz Janette Li has always been in my heart. She was at Eastside High School. She was an inspiration. And look at her daughter today. Trenella, oh my god, I went to your event and you looked
at me and said, "Do you not remember me?" I was that class mom with us that would go, they went to school together and I was a class mom always going to the trips. So to each and everyone, so thank you. Thank you for helping over 3,000 seniors get wills. Okay? Thank
you. Thank you what you did for my family. And I'm sorry that I took time, but I've been wanting to pop out of that seat because all these women in inspire me each and everyone. So, thank you. And to all the women out there, >> and to the men,
>> to the men that also, okay, someone like Mitch Santiago, who was my running mate when I ran for school board and I lost, right? It's okay because you know what? >> We love Mitch. >> We love Mitch. >> We love each and every one of you. To everyone out here, to my council
colleagues, to my coworker, you know, you know I love you, right? Me loves some you. You know that councilman. He's the newest councilman, Edwin Figareroa from West Patterson. >> Oh, I met Woodland Park. We love your mayor as well. And every council person
here and Mama Panchcha, thank you for always having my back and for telling me to never walk with my head down. Never. Because you always say to me, if your head is down, your crown is falling. But guess what? She says, "Pick that crown
up. Pick that head up." Right. >> That's right. >> Provia much. Thank you to all and my council president. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you chosen true rocks, true gems today. God bless you all. >> Council McCotton.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Council President. And let me say I'm happy to be here. But most of all, I always say that we as women must always look out for each other. >> And let me tell you something. No one really knows how I feel because I sat up here for two years as the only female
sitting on the city council. >> Then two years later came Council Medavala. And then two years, four years after that came councilwoman Dr. Lisa Men. But I want to say to all women out there, we're here to look after each other. I know one thing that I was
raised with my ancestors, my grandma, my aunts to look out for all women. No matter what your nationality are, we are to look out and make sure to look out for each and every one of us. Not to say I'm going to hurt you or you did
something. Look out for each other and make sure we all rise. >> Yes. >> Cuz if I rise, you going to rise. And I always say that once I get up there, you going to get up there with me cuz I'm going to bring you up with me. >> And I want to say Dr. Lisa Mims, council
president, wonderful, wonderful. And for all the honores, you are all special. >> But I always say God put when I say when you have faith, faith will give you strength. >> Yes. >> All the time.
>> You might not think so, but it will. >> And I will always keep the faith. And to my council colleagues sitting here, you know, we're never going to sit up here and talk about each other on TV with 30,000 people watching. Never.
I'm not going to do that. You cannot do that. >> Yes. >> God is watching you. Don't think he's not watching you. He's watching us. He's watching all of us to see how our behavior is. But to all the honores, congratulations, council president. Very
well. Thank you ladies for accepting her to be here. Thank you. I appreciate you all. God bless you all. I am always here. We are what we call the three ladies of the leading the leading ladies of the city council. Thank you everyone. Thank you all for coming out and
supporting everybody. Yes. Yeah. >> Go ahead. >> Good evening everyone. First, let's first of all, let's give a round of applause to our council president, Lisa Mims, for bringing us together and to honor every woman here that rocks. And I just want to say this.
Congratulations to all of you. I mean, I I could start with our our Madame Sherigette, uh, Elia Vilueneva, uh, mayor from Woodland Park, and so many all of you, Lieutenant Governor, so all of you, but I really am honored and I'm almost uh getting a little, you know, a
little Yeah, but because you honored my mother. So, I want to say this. It's the month of Ramadan. In the holy month of Ramadan in uh in Islam, we believe one thing. We believe that heaven is beneath your mother's feet. >> So, Mom, and this month I truly do honor
you. Not only does our council president and the rest of us, but I honor you as well. And to the and to the rest of you, congratulations. >> And last, but surely not least, >> A for action. >> My my my fifth W Councilman Lewis A for
action. >> Thank you, son. He's my son in the council. Ladies and gentlemen, I don't want to take too long. First of all, I want to apologize. I'm using sunglasses to cover my vision because I'm going serious of surgeries on my eyes. And um
listen, it's a wonderful thing when you could see, right? I noticed how ugly I am. And they only gave me one eye and it's working right. So, this next week I'm going to the second eye and I got to see Omar ugly.
But that's okay. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a great moment to celebrate woman. >> To all the men's out there, >> remember we all came out of the woman. >> You could clap for that.
Congratulation to all the honores that received the honory today. Ilia Van Nova, you taught me a lot. You know, you teach me a lot the way and I try to lead Maria Magda way and your way and everybody way.
So I inheritish the fifth war council and I always listen to Maria Magda and I think I think I never think by myself. I always think what other people say but I think I'm doing a great job in the fifth
ward. So I'm not aund I'm doing a great job in the fifth ward. I'm not a $100 bill to be likable to everyone, but I tried to do my job because the people elected me to do so. So, I got a great surprise tonight. And
the ladies that I going to call forward, they don't know about the surprise that I have for the for women's day. So, Councilwoman Lisa Min stand next to me and Councilwoman um Councilwoman Marisa Davis stand to me next to me. So, it's
coming through the door. It's coming to the roof. It's coming through the windows. But today, this is a surprise that come from my heart. I've been sitting with two great womans in the council. And today, I will announce that
I will endorse her to come for reelection to the city of Patterson of the city of Patterson. I tell the Lord, listen, my decisions are not made because I want to do it. I always pray for my decision to be the
right one. So I always say my vision is not a competition. It's a will to serve others. And I know they serve. And to those that out there in this past week saying that I disrespect her, look at the meeting. We
don't ever disrespect each other. We fight for our community and we going to stand strong. They're thirsty. Good luck. But I'm supporting both of them. God bless you all. >> Very good. Very good. >> So ladies and gentlemen, we rock. Now
it's time to roll. >> Go ahead. One second. >> So, >> we're going to come. >> Okay. >> To all of our honores, once again, congratulations.
To everyone that came out. To my godmother, Miss May Bradley. Thank you so much for um um nominating some of the honores. I appreciate you. I saw my other community mother, Miss Francis, was here. Ali Ajara from Care, New
Jersey is here. Um, Seminary Baptist Church is in the building. Um, and so many others. I see my family members and friends and just so many people from the community. Thank you so much for all that you do. My other mom, Miss Lide,
>> and so many other people from the community. Heather, thank you everyone for all that you do. Everything that you do, always remember somebody is watching. Even if you don't think they're
watching, they are watching. In closing, one of the students came in to my office. And she said to me, she said, "Dr. Mims, I need headphones." So I said to her, "I'm going to bring the headphones today to the school."
Which I have them in my car. And she came and she had tears in her eyes. She said, "If I don't have the headphones today, I can't use the piece to connect to the TV cuz the TV doesn't work without headphones."
So, after school, I surprised her and I had a new television for her family >> and headphones >> and headphones. >> But little did I know that she was taking the bus to go home and there were six buses. So, I'm on
every bus. Where is she? Out of breath. 56 years old. You know how that goes. Out of breath. And I found her. And when she saw the television, she just cried. And the bus driver just said, "We have
to wait. Everything you do, do it with intention. Do it with your heart. And never ever question if God has your back. Never. >> Women,
>> you rock. Men, you rock. >> Patterson, we rock. God bless you. God bless the great city of Patterson.