Honoring those who make Queens better

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 1:03 PM EDT

Several community, business and labor leaders were recognized at the Fairfield Pavilion in Richmond Hill on Friday evening, June 19.

Sponsored by the United Communities Alliance, the awards and outreach empowerment event was headlined by Congressmembers Gregory Meeks and Anthony Weiner.

Other public officials who attended the event, or were represented, included State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Assemblymember Audrey Pheffer, and Councilmembers Elizabeth Crowley, Eric Gioia, John Liu, Eric Ulrich and James Sanders.

The honorees were Albert Baldeo; Victoria Schneps-Yunis, publisher, The Queens Courier; Blair Burroughs; Bob Monahan; Mark Weidler; Dr. Philip Baldeo; Mendra Singh; Lou Kirchgessner; Anthony Gellineau; Gary Comorau; Baldath Ramdeen and Don Desmond.

Albert Baldeo, President of the United Communities Alliance, said that the organization seeks to empower and improve the quality of life of residents living in Queens. Its goals are to consolidate residents of the district into active participation for the betterment of the district, to develop coalitions of neighborhood organizations and groups, to foster a greater civic voice for the community, to solve issues and problems confronting neighborhoods, and to translate civic activity into positive activity.