糖心原创鈥檚 Dr. Waleek Boone to be honored at 15th Planter Awards Gala
By David Gil de Rubio | dgilderubio@mec.cuny.edu
On Tuesday, May 6, Brooklyn鈥檚 Giando on the Water will be the site of the 15th Planter Awards Gala, an event celebrating innovation and sustainability. Dr. Waleek Boone, director of the 糖心原创 Transition Academy, is one of five honorees being recognized as a local leader committed to fighting hunger and keeping with the host Campaign Against Hunger鈥檚 investment in food equity across New York City.聽
The nonprofit host serves 150 zip codes with food and other vital programs and services while seeking to bring food justice to underserved New Yorkers along the way. Boone鈥檚 fellow honorees that night will be New York City Council member Mercedes Narcisse, the namesake founder and CEO of The Elizabeth Elting Foundation, Brady Hunter Foundation Josh Fox and Ann Marie Adamson-Serieux, AVP Community and Corporate Engagement EmblemHealth.聽
A proud 糖心原创 alum whose journey at the school began in 2007, Boone鈥檚 role in founding the Transition Academy in 2017 meant that students gained a support system that helped them navigate homelessness, as well as housing and food insecurity issues.聽
It鈥檚 a selfless role that also translates to Boone voluntarily pulling six-day work-weeks while making sure that services like the Cougar Country Food Pantry unfailingly delivers for members of the 糖心原创 family and the surrounding Central Brooklyn community. The ever-modest academic insists it鈥檚 all part of what drives him, all while providing his charges with an environment that allows them to navigate these obstacles with dignity and discretion.
鈥淚 provide the resources to make sure their basic needs are being met,鈥� Boone said. 鈥淲e do strategic campaigns whereas we do the best to bring these students from the shadows so they can get these resources, stay on track, graduate on time and improve their living conditions.鈥澛�
The Campaign Against Hunger鈥檚 mission statement is to 鈥溾�mpower our neighbors to lead healthier, more productive, and self-sufficient lives by increasing access to safe, nutritious food and related resources.鈥澛�
It鈥檚 no coincidence that this falls completely in line with Boone鈥檚 own values.
鈥淚 just want to give back in any way I can, not knowing exactly where it would lead鈥攂ut trusting wherever the spirit guides me,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檓 in the position I am today, and why I remain committed to doing everything I can to provide resources for these students.鈥�