ALPHA PHI ALPHA
ETA THETA LAMBDA
FIRST OF ALL, SERVANTS OF ALL, WE SHALL TRANSCEND ALL
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Black History Month Commemorative Awards Celebration Honorees
Every year at our Awards Celebration Luncheon, the Brothers of Eta Theta Lambda recognize and honor a few notable and worthy candidates. The honorees this year can be found below:
Keynote Speaker
Tara M. Lyons
Deputy Chief, Criminal Division
Project Safe Childhood Coordinator
Criminal Civil Rights Coordinator
Southern District of Georgia,
United States Attorney’s Office,
Department of Justice
AUSA Tara M. Lyons
Deputy Chief, Criminal Division
Project Safe Childhood Coordinator
Criminal Civil Rights Coordinator
Southern District of Georgia, United States Attorney’s Office, DOJ
Ms. Lyons was raised by her parents on Long Island in East Northport, New York. She chose to attend South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, after participating in the Alpha’s (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.), annual HBCU college tour. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from SCSU, Ms. Lyons went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina.
Ms. Lyons served as a law clerk for the Honorable Henry F. Floyd, a United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina, and subsequently as a Public Defender in South Carolina, where she defended those who could not afford to hire a criminal defense attorney. In an effort to impact the criminal justice system on a larger scale, Ms. Lyons joined the Department of Justice in 2003. She has previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division, District of South Carolina, as well as an attorney advisor for Executive Office for the United States Attorneys, and currently serves as an AUSA in the Southern District of Georgia.. Her career with the Department has allowed her to handle a wide range of federal cases related to violent crimes, narcotics, human trafficking, sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, and criminal civil rights violations. In the District of South Carolina and Southern District of
Georgia, she has served as the Project Sentry Coordinator, dedicated to the prevention of gun violence; the Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, responsible for the prosecution of child exploitation cases; and as the Criminal Civil Rights Coordinator, responsible for the prosecution of color of law, hate crimes, and civil right violations.
In February 2022 she served as lead counsel in the first federal hate crimes prosecution in the Southern District of Georgia, United States v. McMichael et al., securing a conviction for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia. Ms. Lyons is currently serving as a Deputy Chief in the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division, Southern District of Georgia. Ms. Lyons has dedicated her career to protecting the most vulnerable in our community and hopes to continue this effort for many years to come.
Honoree
Sandra Lindsay is Northwell’s ambassador to raise health locally, nationally and globally. She leads the health system in expanding knowledge of issues that affect community health, public policy and other aspects of health care.
With more than 28 years of nursing experience, Dr. Lindsay previously served as director of patient care services in critical care at Northwell Health's Long Island Jewish Medical Center. On December 14, 2020, she became the first person in the United States to receive the COVID-19 vaccine outside of a clinical trial.
Since her historic COVID-19 vaccination, Dr. Lindsay has become an advocate for vaccinations and dispelling misinformation, and a supporter of medical research and global health equity. President Joseph Biden has recognized Dr. Lindsay at the White House as an Outstanding American by Choice for her outstanding achievements as a naturalized U.S. citizen, civic participation, professional achievement, responsible citizenship commitment to this country and common civic values. In July 2022, President Biden awarded her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor given to a U.S. citizen.
Dr. Lindsay also has met with the President of the United Nations, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, and, in July 2021, served as Grand Marshall in New York’s Hometown Heroes Parade. Dr. Lindsay will receive the Order of Distinction in the Commander Class from her birthplace, Jamaica, in late 2022.
Numerous organizations have recognized Dr. Lindsay for her work, including the Caribbean Heritage Organization, which awarded her with the 2021 Robert Nesta Marley Humanitarian Award. She also has received the Mary Seacole Award, the Jamaica Cultural Alliance and Glenmuir High School Trailblazer Award, the Herbert Lehman College Alumni and Leadership Award, the Borough of Manhattan Community College President’s Award, the American Nursing Association President’s Award, and the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce’s Black History Legends Award. The Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York has recognized Dr. Lindsay as a Corporate Ambassador of Hope and the Aspen Ideas Festival invited her to join them as a thought leader in 2022 to discuss issues that shape the world and challenge our times. She will return to the Institute in November 2022 to discuss the role of hospitals in the post-COVID world.
Dr. Lindsay's educational accomplishments include a baccalaureate degree in nursing from St. Joseph's College and a master’s degree in nursing from Herbert Lehman College, where she returned to deliver the college’s 2022 commencement address. She also earned a master’s degree in business administration from Hofstra University and, in May 2021, completed a doctorate in health sciences with a concentration in global health and leadership and organization behavior from A.T. Still University. In June 2022, Dr. Lindsay published a paper in Nursing Management titled, “Authentic Leadership: Does It Relate to Job Satisfaction and Engagement?”
Dr. Lindsay received her nursing degree at Borough of Manhattan Community College in 1993, where she graduated as valedictorian. In 1994, she joined Northwell Health’s Lenox Hill Hospital as an oncology nurse. Three years later, Dr. Lindsay became a critical care nurse before taking on leadership roles. She served as nurse manager for the adult medical intensive care unit at Lenox Hill Hospital for more than seven years before becoming its director.
Raised in Jamaica by their grandparents, Dr. Lindsay and her siblings moved to the United States in 1986.
When Dr. Lindsay is not pursuing her studies or working, she enjoys adventurous traveling, visiting Jamaica, reading leadership books and articles and gardening
Dr. Sandra Lindsay
Northwell Ambassador
Honoree
Dr. Launette Woolforde
Dr. Launette Woolforde is Chief Nursing Officer for Lenox Hill Hospital and the Manhattan region of Northwell Health, the largest healthcare provider in NY State. Previously, Launette served as the System Vice President for Nursing Education and Professional Development. Launette led Patient Care Services through a successful 2021 TJC comprehensive stroke designation at Lenox Hill Hospital. Launette co-authored the national Scope and Standards of Practice for Nursing Professional Development and served on the Board at the National League for Nursing and the Association for Nursing Professional Development. She was the recipient of the 2019 International Founder's Award from Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing and was named the 2019 National Certified Nurse of the Year by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Launette earned numerous degrees including a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Case Western Reserve University and a Doctor of Education from Columbia University, Teachers College. She is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine and of the esteemed American Academy of Nursing.
Chief Nursing Officer
Honoree
Dr. Reives-Bright has a plethora of experience amassed over a twenty year career as a Board-certified Child and Adolescent psychiatrist whose path has intersected the non-profit, community based, and most recently, the corporate realm. Dr. Reives-Bright’s expertise is comprehensive and multi-faceted.
Dr. Reives-Bright joined Fidelis Care, as the Children’s Behavioral Health Medical Director in mid-2018. In May 2021, her talents and skills were further acknowledged and she was promoted to Senior Medical Director, the first person to fill this role in the history of the organization. Her primary role is to provide medical expertise to a team tasked with implementing the transition of Behavioral Health services for vulnerable populations, with medical and psychiatric needs, to Medicaid Managed Care. Additionally, she provides Behavioral Health Utilization Management services and is a key contributor to the decisions of medical necessity for innovative Medicaid services delivered to this diverse community of members. She further enjoys creating collaborative opportunities for Medical Directors to partner with various departments within the organization. In addition, Dr. Reives-Bright served as a founding co-chair of the DEI Council, a pivotal role responsible for assisting in the assessment of the organization’s challenges in the DEI space and charting the course for Fidelis’ growth as they navigate strategic change. This year, she was selected to join two elite programs of distinguished leaders within her local plan as well as within the Fortune 500 parent corporation focused on accelerating leadership, personal and professional growth.
Prior to transitioning to Fidelis, Dr. Reives-Bright was the Medical Director for Family Service League, where she was led a team of 30 members of the medical staff. Dr. Reives-Bright’s clinical expertise proved essential to the creation of policy and practice guidelines as well as staff development. As the Medical Director for Harmony Heights therapeutic residential program, she provided comprehensive psychiatric services for students as well as participating in staff and parent education for over a decade. Her clinical expertise was honed during her work at Northwell-South Oaks Hospital as the Division Director of C&A services providing quality management, programming and policy development. There she distinguished herself amongst her peers and was tapped to serve as President of the Medical staff during her time there. During the span of her career, Dr. Reives-Bright has provided comprehensive psychiatric services in outpatient mental health programs, university centers, and private practice setting.
Dr. Reives-Bright’s professional and board affiliations are also representative of the unequivocal passion she brings to her craft. Dr. Reives-Bright currently serves on the Board of Directors for Long Island Crisis Center. She has been a long-standing member of the Greater Long Island Psychiatric Society before becoming a member of the Board of Directors in 2013. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America.
Dr. Reives-Bright is a proud graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of North Carolina School Of Medicine. She completed her residency and fellowship programs at Zucker-Hillside Hospital. Dr. Reives-Bright is Double-Boarded in the specialties of General Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Dr. Reives-Bright currently lives in Long Island, NY with her husband-Jerry, her two children-Jasmine and Jason, and their lovable Goldendoodle, Sampson. She is an avid reader and decorative planner who loves to travel and discover new restaurants!
Dr. Patrice Reives-Bright
Senior Medical Director,
Behavioral Health
Honoree
Roger Faulk
Ex-Chief, Village of Hempstead Fire Department
A Native of one of New York’s Long Island, Nassau County suburbs, I was born and reside in the village of Hempstead. A graduate of Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in Hicksville, I went on to attend Nassau Community College (Class of 1985).
My commitment in and association with the Hempstead Fire Department has been long standing beginning with my training as a volunteer fire fighter in 1992 and has continued for nearly thirty-one years to date. Interest in the village and town of Hempstead and representation of its citizens is of utmost importance to me.
I served Eagle Engine Company #1 in the following capacities: President of 7th Battalion Chiefs Association (Nassau County), 2nd Vice President Hempstead Benevolent Association (Current), Co-Chairman Hempstead Fire Dept. Juniors Program (Current), VOH Building Dept. Fire Inspector (Current), Captain (3 terms), Secretary, Lieutenant, and Chairman of the House to House Committee, Chairman of the Journal Committee and member of the New Apparatus Committee. Within the Department, I served on the Investigating Committee, Drivers Committee, 4th of July Drill Committee, Fire School Committee, was Warden from the Eagle Engine Company and proudly served as Chief (2002-2006) and (2011-2016).
Completing courses for Officer’s Training, I have achieved certifications from the Nassau County Fire Service Academy: Active Shooter Response, Rapid Intervention, Assistant Fire Inspector, Managing the Mayday, Carbon Monoxide Response & Air Monitoring, Hazardous Materials Operations, Motor Pump Operations, Short Aerial, Ropes II and Fire Behavior Lab. I have also earned a Certificate of Achievement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute): Introduction to Incident Command System, ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incident and National Incident Management System. I am a former accredited EMT and have been CPR trained.
Honoree
Rodney K. Harrison began his career with the New York City Police Department as a Cadet in June of 1991. He was appointed to the rank of Police Officer in June 1992.
During his career in the New York City Police Department, Harrison has achieved every rank from Cadet to Chief of Department, including time as an undercover, detective, Precinct Commander in Harlem, Chief of Patrol and oversaw the NYPD’s Neighborhood Policing Model.
In 1995, Rodney Harrison was awarded the Combat Cross for extraordinary heroism. While under fire his partner was shot as he was an undercover during a Buy and Bust operation.
In 2018 Harrison was the Chief of Patrol and helped create Neighborhood Policing.
In December 2020, Harrison, was recognized for his extensive knowledge and experience with the Department both from a patrol and investigative perspective. He had the honor of being bestowed as the first African American Chief of Detectives in the Bureau’s 175-year history.
Harrison was promoted to the rank of NYPD Chief of Department, the highest ranking uniformed member of the service within the NYC Police Department. He achieved another historical milestone by becoming the first Cadet to ever rise to the rank of Chief of Department and oversaw 35,000 uniform members of service.
Following his retirement from the NYPD, after a 30-year career, Harrison was nominated by Suffolk County Executive, Steve Bellone, to be Suffolk County's Police Commissioner. On December 23, 2021, Suffolk County's legislature unanimously confirmed Commissioner Harrison’s nomination, clearing the path for his appointment. Harrison would become the first Black Police Commissioner in Suffolk County Department's history.
On a personal level, Police Commissioner Harrison has been married to his wife Laprena, a retired NYPD Lieutenant, for 27 years. They have three daughters, Amber, Tyra, and Kaia, all scholar‐athletes and a two year old grandson, Christian. Most recently, Amber and Tyra were sworn in as New York City Police Officers.
