Brooklyn-born, Caribbean-rooted Jumaane Williams — featured guest at the Tourette Association of America’s annual gala in Manhattan on Monday — is always wearing several hats.
The proud son of immigrants from Grenada, Williams, New York City’s public advocate, has been a supporter of the Tourette Association ever since he was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome.
The neurodevelopmental disorder can cause involuntary movements and vocalizations.
Williams’ confident public presence and success make him an important role model for people with the disorder.
The Tourette Association gala will feature an award to “CBS This Morning” correspondent David Begnaud, who helped raised awareness by sharing his personal story about living with the syndrome.
In a 2017 interview, Williams said his first interaction with other people with Tourette’s syndrome was at an association function — adding that his mother immediately got involved with the group and became a board member of a local chapter
Williams, who seeks to inspire hope for others diagnosed with Tourette’s, was immediately impressed with the association, adding that, as a child, it was helpful to “to see people [with Tourette’s] continuing with their lives.”
For information, visit tourette.org.
Jobs for the jobless
If you don’t have a job and and are not in school, don’t worry. The nonprofit Eckerd Connects has a great offer — free employment and educational assistance for teens and young adults, 16 to 24, who aren’t working or attending school.
Enrollment starts Monday and runs through Nov. 27. Qualified applicants will first participate in the program’s six-week inhouse segment — learning skills such as résumé writing, workers’ rights, job retention aids and on-the-job behavior, followed by a 150-hour paid internship.
After the internship, the applicants get help from a job coach and are placed in employment, a long-term training program, college, the military or an apprenticeship.
After maintaining “a positive outcome” for three months, participants will receive a free tablet. And qualified candidates get a MetroCard for travel to and from the program.
Documents required to apply for the program include a state-issued ID, and proof of address and family income.
For all the requirements and directions to Eckerd Connects Workforce Development in Long Island City, Queens, call (718) 255-6956.
The founders of the Eckerd drugstore chain founded Eckerd Connects in 1968.
Haitian cuisine-culture series
The anticipated “Cultural Heritage Event Series” — a three-part event packed with Haitian cuisine and Caribbean culture — kicked off Saturday afternoon and will continue on Nov. 23 and Dec. 14 at Flatbush Caton Market, 2184 Clarendon Road, Brooklyn.
Respected chef, author and entrepreneur Nadege Fleurimond is a main organizer for the event, which features cooking demonstrations and selected popup vendors, in addition to the more than 30 Caribbean vendors based at the Flatbush Caton Market.
“The vision for this event came from noticing how many staple, dried goods including grains, spices and teas our vendors sell on a regular basis — but the community doesn’t necessarily know how to use them,” said Flatbush Caton Market Director Lisa Thompson.
For hours, admission fees and other information, call Thompson at the Flatbush Caton Market at (718) 813-5034 and visit flatbushcatonmarket.com
Great designs for La Marqueta
Award-winning architect Nicole Hollant-Denis is again making her mark on New York’s landscape by collaborating with another historic site — the famous La Marqueta along Park Ave. in East Harlem
Known for her work co-developing Manhattan’s African Burial Ground National Monument downtown, Hollant-Denis and her firm, Aaris Design Studios, redesigned the outdoor space La Placita at the famous La Marqueta open-air uptown marketplace, located along Park Ave. beneath the elevated Metro-North tracks between E. 111th and E. 116th Sts.
The redone plaza — with a new stage, seating, lighting and sound equipment — was opened on Halloween at a party for neighborhood children and their families attended by Councilwoman Diana Ayala and officials from the city Economic Development Corp.
Hollant-Denis’ Aaris Design was lead architect for the project, and Hunter Roberts was the lead contractor for the redesign. The renovated La Placita will host special events.
Overdue classic dub music
It’s been a long time coming, but Roots Radics band’s “12 Inches of Dub” — the “long lost” dub companion to General Echo’s 1980 Greensleeves album “12 Inches of Pleasure” — was recently released by VP Records on CD and streaming platforms.
“12 Inches of Pleasure” was produced by reggae icon Henry “Junjo” Lawes, but he never delivered the music to Greensleeves in 1980 and it was never released.
The “12 Inches of Dub” tracks were released by VP/Greensleeves on vinyl for Record Store Day 2019 in April.
Historic transplant in Suriname
It’s first for Suriname — a lifesaving kidney transplant for a woman surviving on dialysis, bringing the state-of-the-art procedure to the South American nation.
According to the Queens Philanthropic Foundation, which aided the Aug. 27 operation, both the female recipient and her husband-donor are doing well.
The operation was performed at the Academic Hospital in the capital Paramaribo and was sponsored by the Subraj Foundation, which has helped thousands of persons in need of health care.
Dr. Rahu. Jindal led the surgical team for the 11-hour operation. In Suriname, an estimated 730 people remain on dialysis and “renal failure is a persistent health threat,” says a Queens Philanthropic Foundation spokesman.
The late George Subraj — a native of Guyana who moved to Queens in the 1970s and founded a successful real estate company — initially started the Subraj Foundation to address the need for affordable housing.
But the group, now headed by son Tony Subraj, has performed kidney and corneal transplants in Guyana in addition to pediatric cardiac surgeries.
‘Small Business Pop Up’
The free “Open Desk: Small Business Pop Up” and open house is coming to BKLYN Commons, 495 Flatbush Ave., on Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“The goal of this event is to provide the community at large with access to a variety of professional services and resources,” say organizers.
There will be opportunities “for local entrepreneurs, crafters and makers to showcase and sell their goods and services in an open, festive marketplace setting.”
In addition, the city’s Small Business Service Center will help business owners with Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises certification applications and other matters.
For information call BKLYN Commons at (718) 989-5700 and visit the “Events” section at bklyncommons.com.