Bill Text: NY K00873 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourning the death of Agnes M. Bain, longtime arts administrator and executive director of the African American Cultural Center

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-06-10 - adopted [K00873 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00873-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 873

BY: M. of A. Peoples-Stokes

        MOURNING the death of Agnes M. Bain, longtime arts
        administrator  and executive director of the African
        American Cultural Center, distinguished citizen  and
        devoted member of her community

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
those  individuals  of artistic significance whose creative talents have
contributed to the  cultural  enrichment  of  our  communities  and  our
Nation; and

  WHEREAS,  Agnes M. Bain of Buffalo, New York, passed away on January
28, 2020, at the age of 78; and

  WHEREAS, A native Buffalonian, Agnes M. Bain attended Fosdick-Masten
Park High School, and earned her degree in human  services  from  Empire
State College; and

  WHEREAS,  Agnes  M.  Bain  spent  her entire career with the African
American Cultural Center (AACC), including 41 years as its Director;  in
this  capacity, she was responsible for the development and coordination
of administrative and programmatic organizational policies; and

  WHEREAS, Throughout her tenure, Agnes M. Bain  was  instrumental  in
increasing  the Center's budget to include grants from the United Way of
Buffalo and Erie County, the New York State Council  on  the  Arts,  the
National  Endowment  for  the  Arts,  the  Office of Children and Family
Services, the Western New York Congressional  Delegation,  the  City  of
Buffalo,  the  County  of  Erie,  the  Erie  County  Department of Youth
Services, the New York State  Division  for  Youth  Special  Legislative
Grant, the New York State Department of State, and various corporations;
and

  WHEREAS, Agnes M. Bain produced over 80 African American productions
working  with many prominent artists, and under her luminous leadership,
thousands of young people participated in various  programs  offered  at
the  AACC  such  as  the  Paul  Robeson  Theatre,  the AACC Dance & Drum
Performance Company, the Jumpin' Jambalaya Summer Program, and the  Pine
Grill Jazz Reunion; and

  WHEREAS,  In addition to her impressive work with the AACC, Agnes M.
Bain was actively involved with the East Side  Coalition  of  the  Arts,
Niagara  Frontier  Folk  Arts Council, the Collective Buffalo, Tashama's
Childrens' Repertoire Performance Workshop, New York  State  Council  on
the  Arts/Special Arts Service Program, Arts Council of Buffalo and Erie
County, and the Buffalo Arts Commission, and served as  a  panelist  for
the  Decentralization  and  Key  Bank  Art  Grants sponsored by the Arts
Council of Buffalo and Erie County; and

  WHEREAS, For  her  steadfast  unremitting  commitment  to  both  her
community  and  the  AACC,  Agnes  M. Bain was the recipient of numerous
awards and accolades including the 2019  Community  Service  Award  from
Concerned Citizens Following the Dream Committee; and

  WHEREAS,  She  also received various awards from the YMCA of Western
New York Women's Club, the Langston  Hughes  Institute,  1490  Jefferson
Black   Achievers,   Langston   Hughes   Institute,   Kenfield/Langfield
Association,  African  American  Cultural  Center,  Martin  Luther  King
Committee, Lighthouse Inter-Denominational Ministries, Inc., Cold Spring
Block  Club,  Buffalo  Club  National  Association of Negro Business and
Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., Black Achievers, and Agape AME Church,
as well as Naomi Chapter No. 10 - Order of the Eastern Star Prince  Hall
Affiliation; and

  WHEREAS, Agnes M. Bain is survived by sister, Alforna Hawkins-Evans;
niece,  Azizah  Hawkins; brother, Donald Hawkins; and numerous community
members and young people who greatly  benefitted  from  her  outstanding
work with the AACC; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  recognizes  the importance of the
performing arts, which act to inspire, enlighten, and unify people  from
all  cultural  backgrounds  through  the  transcendent  power  of  human
expression; through her tireless efforts,  Agnes  M.  Bain  truly  added
strength, vigor and inspiration to the cultural diversity and quality of
life in the communities of the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS, Throughout her meritorious life, Agnes M. Bain touched many
through  her  kindness  and commitment to service, and, as we recall the
loss of this incredible woman, we memorialize her  remarkable  life  and
the  enormous  impact she had on everyone with whom she came in contact;
and

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this  Legislative  Body  to  convey  its
grateful  appreciation and heartfelt regret in recognition of a faithful
and passionate woman who dedicated her purposeful  life  and  career  in
faithful service to her community; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of  Agnes  M.  Bain,  longtime  arts  administrator  and
executive   director   of   the   African   American   Cultural  Center,
distinguished citizen and devoted member of her  community;  and  be  it
further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Agnes M. Bain.