Over the weekend, Assemblyman Brian Curran (Lynbrook-21st A.D.) hosted a “Young Leaders In The 21st” event. This event honored young people who make a positive difference in their community. The following people from Baldwin were honored:

• Maekyla Massey- Maekyla Massey is a two-time TEDx speaker and a political organizer from Long Island. She is dedicated to fostering youth engagement and building stronger communities. She has worked on several campaigns, including Reema Rasool’s historic run for Congress, Jake Scheiner’s campaign for county legislature, as well as the New York Democratic Committee’s coordinated campaign. In addition to Maekyla’s campaign work, she works to bridge generational gaps and empower young people to be politically involved through organizations like Minority Millennials and Voters of Tomorrow. Maekyla will be attending Columbia University in the fall where she plans on studying Political Science.

• Samiah Banjo- Samiah is an ambitious and dedicated student at Baldwin Middle School! Since second grade, Samiah has been a trailblazer, always striving to create better opportunities for herself and her peers. With a passion for leadership and service, she has a proven track record of success, having been elected as class representative and school president. Samiah’s artistic talents have also shone through, with her artwork being featured in a museum. Beyond academics, Samiah is deeply committed to giving back to her community through numerous hours of service and her involvement in Girl Scouts since 6th grade. A voracious reader and lifelong learner, Samiah is always seeking to improve spaces and learning environments for those around her. Along with her academics and community involvement, Samiah also dedicates her time to being a scholar-athlete, while having a passion for playing the saxophone, tuba and being a drama enthusiast. Looking to the future, Samiah has her sights set on a career as a zoologist and veterinarian, combining her love for animals with her passion for science. Additionally, her interest in real estate investing showcases her entrepreneurial spirit and forward-thinking mindset. With her drive, creativity and dedication to making a positive impact, Samiah is sure to achieve great things in her academic and professional endeavors.

• Jovani Fernandez-Garcia- Jovani Fernandez-Garcia is a Baldwin native born on July 21, 2013. He is ten years old and attends Steele School Elementary School. Throughout the years at Steele School, he played the violin in the Orchestra and he represented his grade at the Baldwin Fitness Champions event. In June, he looks forward to graduating from the fifth grade. Academically, Jovani is a high-achieving student who values education and serves on the Student Council. In January, he was selected to participate in the All-County Chorus. Socially, he enjoys friendships and is helpful to peers and adults. Within his community, Jovani has played the role of the Prophet Isaiah in the St. Christopher’s Christmas Pageant. He also plays baseball for the Long Island Royals as a center fielder. Playing baseball is a passion for Jovani. He loves being a team player and uniting with his teammates. In his spare time, Jovani likes to read his favorite series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He also enjoys listening to music and dancing. Last year he participated in the Steele School Talent Show and won a trophy for singing “Stay” by Justin Bieber. Jovani is described by his friends and family as energetic, adventurous, generous, funny and kind. Friendships are important to Jovani because his peers are supportive of him while extending a sense of belonging, happiness and laughter. During time off from school, Jovani loves to cuddle with his four pets. He loves to sleep late and play video games. He enjoys traveling with his family to different countries and he looks forward to another Disney vacation. Jovani thanks his two mothers for his success and leadership. His mothers are special to him, “because at the end of the day, they will always be there for me – in life and in my heart, no matter what I do”
• Keeyan Weeks- Keeyan Weekes is an energetic, intelligent and kind seven-year-old boy. He is currently in the second grade at Lenox Elementary School in Baldwin, NY, where he is excelling. Keeyan has brought home many acknowledgments and awards from his school for his intelligence and leadership qualities since starting at Lenox in the first grade. His hobbies include reading, science, math, writing, basketball, swimming and coding. He has participated in FIRST LEGO League Explore for two years where he used his leadership skills to work with his teammates on the research, development and programming of their LEGO models. Keeyan is always helpful to his peers and is adored by his family, teachers and friends.

“Young people are powerful. All throughout history, youth movements have had a tremendous impact on the way society thinks, acts and runs. Even today, it is young people who continue to lead the charge in the fight for equality and justice for all. I want to encourage young people to be bold. Change the world. Don’t be afraid to be a part of something bigger. Young people are a powerful group, and with great power comes great responsibility. Use your powers to make our small planet a better place Maekyla, Samiah, Jovani and Keeyan are great examples of young leaders,” Curran said.