New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. with honorees and co-sponsors at his Women ’ s History Month celebration at the Tweed Courthouse on Wednesday, March 30, 2005. Pictured (back, left to right) are: Margarita Rosa, Esq., Executive Director, Grand Street Settlement; Theresa J. Shortell, Deputy Inspector & Commanding Officer, 6th Precinct, New York City Police Department; Thompson; Teisha Hills, Director of Scheduling and Special Events, New York City Office of the Comptroller; Rev. Renee Washington, Memorial Baptist Church; (front, left to right) Gale Stevens Haynes, Provost, Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus; Lorraine Beaulieu, M.Ed., LPC, Founder and Director, Project Union Outreach, New York City; Mary Lou Urban, League of Women Voters of the City of New York; and, Gina L. Bolden-Rivera, Senior Vice-President & Chief Credit Officer, Community Capital Bank, andFormer President, New York Women ’ s Agenda. Photo credit: Marla Maritzer

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New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. last night honored five city leaders at his fourth annual celebration of Women’s History Month on Wednesday, March 30, 2005. The event was co-sponsored with the Women’s City Club of New York and the New York City League of Women Voters.

Addressing more than 250 people gathered at the Tweed Courthouse, Comptroller Thompson pledged to help in the fight for equality for women in the economic life of our city, state, and nation .

“The fight for equality is a long, long battle, and setbacks are part of the struggle,” Thompson said. “The most recent census figures show that earnings by women who work full-time have actually decreased for the first time in years. The discrepancy between men's and women's salaries continues as well.”

“We need to change the big picture of women's participation in economic life. We can do this in a number of ways, by creating new opportunities for the many talented women who work in every imaginable field and profession, by setting up more programs like micro-loans that give women entrepreneurs the chance to start and grow their businesses, by encouraging young girls to develop strong goals and pursue them.”

“ We need to continue this type of work because we know that the big picture is made up of many individual stories. We can't lose sight of the importance of small victories, from legislative battles won to individual success stories. The small victories are what carry us forward in the journey towards full equality for all members of society, and full participation by, and recognition of, women in all aspects of daily life.”

Thompson noted that the honorees are all leaders in the continuing struggle for equality, have achieved great heights professionally, and have opened doors for other women.

The Comptroller presented the first award to Lorraine Beaulieu, the founder and director of Project Union Outreach, which provides counseling services and assistance to families of the unionized workers killed in the attack of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. She also co-founded and served as mental health director of the World Trade Center Building Trades Support Network, which provided counseling and services to the construction workers who worked at the site in the months after the disaster.

“Lorraine Beaulieu brought her professional services to the aid of our city in our toughest hour, and continues to serve the people of this city today with commitment and excellence,” Thompson said.

The second honoree was educator Gale Stevens Haynes, Provost of Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus. As head of the institution, Provost Haynes oversees one of the most diverse campuses in the country, with more than 11,000 students, managing an annual budget of more than $100 million.

“Provost Haynes has led the institution through a remarkable renaissance: doubling student enrollment, creating new facilities, diversifying faculty, forging links with the community, and transforming the campus into a vibrant urban academic center,” Thompson said. “This summer, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, highly commending her leadership of the Campus, granted the school the maximum 10-year accreditation for higher-education institutions.”

The next honoree was Gina Lauren Bolden-Rivera, Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer at Community Capital Bank. Ms. Bolden-Rivera is Past President of the New York Women’s Agenda and Vice Chair of Women in Housing & Finance, and sits on the Boards of the Brooklyn Philharmonic and the Community Development Financial Institution Coalition Steering Committee.

“Ms. Bolden-Rivera has excelled in her field, and demonstrated outstanding dedication to improving the quality of life in our city,” the Comptroller said.

The fourth honoree was distinguished social service leader Margarita Rosa, the former New York State Commissioner of Human Rights who currently is Executive Director of the Grand Street Settlement.

“Under her leadership, the organization operates programs for over 10,000 people annually, including early childhood education, after-school education, youth development and leadership, adult education, and a senior citizens’ center,” Thompson said.  “Margarita Rosa has demonstrated exceptional abilities as a public leader and great dedication to community service.”

The final honoree was New York Police Department Deputy Inspector Theresa J. Shortell, who since last Fall has been Commanding Office of the 6th Precinct in Greenwich Village. Deputy Inspector Shortell, who began her career in 1984 as a foot patrol officer in Crown Heights, has escalated through the ranks to eventually become Captain and serve as Second of Command at the 105th Precinct in Queens Village and, later, in command of the 94th Precinct in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Hailing her “tremendous leadership and dedication,” Thompson said, “Deputy Inspector Shortell has performed outstanding service on behalf of the people of this city.”

Accomplished musical performer, radio show host, and television producer Lynne McGhee performed at the event. The Rev. Renee Washington of the Memorial Baptist Church offered the Benediction.

To receive photographs, please contact Marla Maritzer at (212) 669-2597 or at mmaritz@comptroller.nyc.gov.

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