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Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks At Alpha Reception With First Lady Chirlane McCray

February 18, 2017

Mayor Bill de Blasio: [Inaudible] Chirlane and I heard there was an Alpha conspiracy happening here. As we talked about in previous years – this is important, Alphas, you’ll want to hear this about you.

As we have talked about in previous years, it is only a matter of time before the Alphas take over our entire nation.

[Laughter]

So, Chirlane and I come here every year to remain in good graces preparing for that day. I want to thank Chris for his leadership. Let’s give him a big round of applause –

[Applause]

I want to thank and congratulate your honorees – the great inventor Dr. Marshall Jones. Well done, sir.

[Applause]

And I got to thank on behalf of all the children and families of New York City, Dr. Lester Young who is one of the great educators that has ever come out of New York City [inaudible] –

[Applause]

So, I’ll be very quick but I want to tell you – I don’t need to remind you that the progress of Alphas in government is already extraordinary whether it’s our former boss, David Dinkins or the new breed, Walter Mosley and Michael Blake, and of course [inaudible] – extraordinary leaders, all.

Now I want to say – just one quick moment before I introduce my wife. I want everyone to remember the Alpha motto. I want you to note how this motto fits this moment in history. Okay? This is going to be deep. You have to come away from the bar to hear this.

[Laughter]

The Alpha motto in the age of Donald Trump – listen carefully – the motto is, “First of all servants of all we shall transcend all.”

[Applause]

Now, my friends we have some really important transcending to do in this moment of history. It will not be easy [inaudible] challenge coming out of Washington. But that spirit of transcendence must animate us.

I got one example I want to give to everyone in this room. If at any point you’re feeling down, you’re feeling depressed, you’re in a state of shock, remember on January 21st – the over three million Americans who marched around this country for the rights of women.

[Applause]

They were all transcending. They were not accepting a status quo that did not serve them. They were creating a new reality. Alphas have done that for years. We all have to do that in this moment in time.

And speaking of the ability to create a new reality, I will introduce to you a woman who said, in New York City with all its challenges – eight-and-a-half-million people – we could take the challenge of mental health head on and we could break the stigma, we could reach people who before never got the help they needed. And she’s making it happen everyday – the First Lady of New York City, Chirlane McCray.

[Applause]

First Lady Chirlane McCray: Good evening, everyone.

Audience: Good evening.

First Lady McCray: You all sure look good. You’re a little noisy but you’re very handsome.

[Laughter]

Can I be an Alpha?

Audience: Yeah.

First Lady McCray: Yeah – honorary Alpha. I see so many familiar faces. Now, who’s not an Alpha?

Really?

So, I just want to thank you all for standing up for your brothers and sisters, all the good work you’ve done. Thank you for protecting our progress. Thank you for doing all of the good work you do.

And you know, mental health is my thing. I know that you can do so much to help all the fear, the stigma around this issue. It affects so many of us. The statistic is one in five New Yorkers suffers from some kind of mental health condition. That means in this room, every single one of us knows someone [inaudible] directly or indirectly we’re affected. But it also means that everybody can be part of the solution.

Now, Alphas, you are powerful, aren’t you?

Audience: Yeah.

First Lady McCray: Yeah! So there are three ways you can get involved. Take a mental health first aid class or sponsor a mental health first aid class. It’s free. You’ll learn all the signs and symptoms – learn the language to talk about this which we have never talked about in any real way.

So, take a mental health first aid class. [Inaudible] or you can go to the website – nyc.gov/ThriveNYC.

Number two – be part of the Weekend of Faith. The Weekend of Faith that we have for clergy. We had it last year and we had 1,000 houses of worship participate. Clergy members put mental health at the top of their agenda and we helped them do it with the resources and the tools. We’re going to do it again this May.

All of you, if you could just reach out to people you know and get them involved and maybe we can double that number this year, and we’ll have a real public conversation about mental health needs in our communities.

And finally, number three – 1-8-8-8-N –

Mayor: This is the important part. Listen up everyone.

First Lady McCray: Well, it’s all important but –

[Laughter]

I want you to remember this number. Repeat after me. 1-8-8-8-NYC-Well.

Audience: 1-8-8-8-NYC-Well.

First Lady McCray: One more time. 1-8-8-8-NYC-Well.

Audience: 1-8-8-8-NYC-Well.

First Lady McCray: That is the number to call if you or a loved one suffers from a mental health condition and you need to talk to a trained counselor, a peer counselor, anyone to help you figure out what to do or get connected to a mental health provider. It’s free. It’s confidential. And it’s available 365 days of the year, 24/7 in more than 200 languages. Alright. So, there’s no excuse.

If you’re suffering from anxiety, having panic attacks, depression, bipolar disorder, whatever it is, you call this number and talk to some for free.

One more time and I will let you go. 1-8-8-8-NYC-Well.

Audience: 1-8-8-8-NYC-Well.

First Lady McCray: I love you. Thank you.

[Applause]

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