Jamaica Rep Spotlights 5 Southeast Queens Women

JAMAICA, QUEENS — Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman is shining a spotlight on the women of southeast Queens with an event honoring five local standouts.

Hyndman, who represents the Jamaica area, is hosting a "Women of Distinction" ceremony on April 12 at the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning. Hyndman said she selected the five honorees, who all live in southeast Queens, because of their work or volunteerism in the city.

The honorees are:

• Saleha Alam, a Bangladeshi immigrant who came to the U.S. in the 1980s, has worked with new Bangladeshi immigrants to adjust to life in this country.
• Flor Pena is a longtime McDonald's employee who now runs the McDonald's in Rosedale.
• Cecile Noel is Commissioner of the Mayor's Office to End Domestic Violence and Gender Based-Violence.
• Zanzana Meacham is a long-time civic member and community activist in southeast Queens.
• Marie Slaughter is a retired corrections officer who has a long history of community service.

"March was Women's History Month and because I believe women's history takes place every month, my event is in April," Hyndman said.

The Jamaica representative is in good company. Fellow Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato, who represents Rockaway Beach, honored six women of distinction Thursday: Tina Roseman, Kami-Leigh Agard, Bridget Klapinski, Tawana Green, Cathy Harrison and Phoebe Grant Robinson.

The "Women of Distinction" event is Friday, April 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, located at 161-04 Jamaica Ave.