_________________ BALDWIN ________________
Singing the night away at karaoke
Food Truck Fest at the garden
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VOL. 32 NO. 32
AUGUST 7 - 13, 2025
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Alexandra Francois earns SHIELD honor my junior meeting,” she recalled. “But then they told me I had received the SHIELD Alexandra Francois, a rising Award, and I was like, ‘Wow.’ senior at Baldwin High School, It’s really a big deal for me. “I was really shocked, I was was recently honored at the Nassau County Courthouse in really grateful,” she added. “I Mineola with the prestigious realized I was the only high SHIELD Award — which recog- school junior at Baldwin receivnizes high school juniors who ing it, so I honestly felt really honored.” exemplify academic Francois said excellence, strong what made the reccharacter and a ognition particulardeep commitment to ly meaningful was community service. that it affirmed the The Nassau work she had County District accomplished in the Attor ney’s Of fice community and the presented her with leadership roles she the award, given ALExANDRA had undertaken outannually to the side of academics. county’s standout FRANcOIS “I don’t do these students, who have Baldwin resident projects and initiademonstrated a spirtives just to build it of initiative and a drive to my résumé — I genuinely do bring about positive change. Francois, the only Baldwin them to better my community,” student to receive the award she said. “To have that recogthis year, said she was stunned nized, hit my heart. It really when she learned she had been means a lot.” Her mother, Martine Perrin, selected. She said she was called down to the guidance said the award was a reflection office one day with no prior of her daughter’s strong values notice or knowledge of even and deep sense of purpose. “I am extremely proud of having been considered for the Allie. She works hard in school, honor. “I thought it was for some- however giving back to the thing else — I had already done Continued on page 7
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ
hgaldamez@liherald.com
Maureen Lennon/Herald
Food Truck Friday at the garden Valerie Beaudry Geasor and Elissa Kirchner enjoying a meal from the Royal Elite BBQ last Friday at the Baldwin Civic Association’s Food Truck Friday event. Story, additional photos, Page 10.
$30M state investment to benefit nonprofits in local communities By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
State funding totaling $30 million may go to help nonprofit organizations across the state, including those in Baldwin, Freeport, Roosevelt, Hempstead, Lakeview, Uniondale, and West Hempstead. Distribution of these funds is expected to begin sometime next year. The funding was discussed at what was described as a listening session attended by residents, nonprofit leaders and elected officials at the Roosevelt Library on July 24. The meeting was part of a statewide tour aimed at ensuring that the voices and needs of local communities guide how this civic investment will be allocated. The money that will be distributed by five
entities — Elm Core, LISC New York, the National Urban League, United Way of New York State, and the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies — is intended to support community-based organizations in underserved area across the state. The organizations will work with the Department of State to allocate the funding to groups that apply. Over 400 organizations across New York have expressed interest in the money. The initiative was spearheaded by the New York State Black Legislative Task Force, which is chaired by Assemblywoman Chantel Jackson of the Bronx. The task force, which seeks to advance legislation and secure funding for Black communities, was formed in 2022, and was officially recognized by the Assembly this year. Continued on page 18
I
was really shocked, I was really grateful.