Spirit of Beacon Day Committee: From left: Jeana Pearl Fletcher, Jennifer Garfield-Abrams, Ali T. Muhammad and Junior Zayed Dabashi.
Photo Credit: Erin-Leigh Hoffman of The Groundhog at Marist College
Written by Katie Hellmuth:
Living in Beacon for me has meant learning what community service really means. I do what I do at A Little Beacon Blog because I want to find information, and I want to be sure those around me have access to that information. Unintentionally, this became my community service.
Through my coverage as a blogger of the Spirit of Beacon Day over the years, and as a citizen experiencing the day, I saw the schools and organizations who I only read about, out on the street. The people in those organizations - the people of whom change all the time as they need to in their lives - those people did everyday volunteer work without needing of acknowledgment. They were people who paid attention and wanted to impact how life is lived here in Beacon.
The Spirit of Beacon Day was a day to see the people making social change out on the streets. Their spirits would come out however they wanted to show it. Vendor tables were reserved for non-profits and service organizations. This was and remains their day to shine.
As a blogger, I have covered 2 instances where the Spirit of Beacon Day almost ceased to happen, when the chair and committee needed to step aside in order to fulfill commitments in their personal lives. The Spirit of Beacon is its own entity. It is not a committee of the City of Beacon, and for a long time, it did not receive money from the city. It did receive complimentary police overtime.
Both of the times the Spirit of Beacon committee needed to cease, there was a releasing of the torch because no one would or could step up. The second time was two years ago, and with only months to spare to produce this huge event that so many people relied upon. I didn't have the time to lead this effort, but I knew that I could do it. I knew I had all of the contacts in my phone, I owned a branding agency who could voluntarily design what was needed. Everyone that could do anything was one text away.
I threw my hat into the ring. But I wasn't the only one. Longtime community members Ali T. Muhammad and Junior Dabashi also threw their hats into the ring. It was decided that I would lead the Spirit of Beacon Day as its Chair and Ali and Junior would serve as Board members. Weeks later, Jeana Pearl Fletcher and Jennifer Garfield-Abrams also came on to serve on the Board to make this event happen. As a Committee, we produced two Spirit of Beacon Days together.
The time has come for me to step aside so that I can get back to blogging and running my businesses to produce for my family so that I can continue to afford living in Beacon.
I am thrilled to announce that Ali T. Muhammad has stepped up and into the Chair position, with Junior, Jeana and Jen continuing to serve on the Board committee. Ali is a born and raised Beaconite, a natural leader, a proven leader in Beacon during his time serving on Beacon’s City Council years ago, and now in his organizing capacities in Newburgh for Next Step Hudson Valley and Melanin Unchained.
I will step off the board and continue to support by giving my Institutional Memory as guidance. My branding agency, Katie James, Inc., will continue to provide volunteer services to the website. A Little Beacon Blog will continue as Media Sponsor in order to get the word out for the Spirit of Beacon Day as needed.
I am so looking forward to seeing and experiencing what Ali produces this year. He is a visionary, gifted with seeing the big picture, and rallying those around him into action. Look for possible changes, and continued spirit.
To the People of Beacon: Thank you for having me.
Anyone interested in joining or rejoining the Committee, or volunteering in any capacity (big or small), please email spiritofbeacon@gmail.com with your interest.
