Monday, March 11, 2013

District Attorney Hynes Honors Brooklyn’s Finest Women

Kings County DA Charles Hynes

Kings County District Attorney Charles Hynes honored 33 women of Brooklyn for their extraordinary service to their communities at the seventh annual “Extraordinary Women” event held on March 5, 2013.

Hynes declared that these women worked hard for years to improve the lives of those around them. They should be, and are, considered great role models for others, displaying a large degree of selflessness, dedication and compassion for their communities.

Among those extra-special women was June Rodrigues of Ditmas Park. In 2008 Rodrigues began to volunteer for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI.) Back then East Flatbush’s branch of NAMI had only two support groups. From the beginning Rodgrigues was dedicated to improving the lives of people with mental illness. It was one of her most cherished goals to improve the services available for them through education and advocacy.

Rodrigues is largely responsible for many of the most basic programs available through NAMI at the Kings County Hospital. Those include NAMI’s Peer-To-Peer, Family-to-Family, and NAMI Conexion, a support group for mentally ill Spanish speaking adults.

"It is an honor for me to recognize these women for their outstanding work, which benefits all the people of Brooklyn," Hynes exclaimed.

The 33 women were also given the special designation of “Special Ambassador” in their communities.

 "The women come from neighborhoods throughout Brooklyn.  The honorees all have one thing in common," Hynes said. "They make Brooklyn a better place to live.”