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Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Hosts Department of Education Valedictorian and Salutatorian BBQ 2014

July 1, 2014

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Welcome to Gracie Mansion everyone. Welcome to the peoples’ house. Now, we’re going to be talking about all the students and all you have achieved, but I want to get one thing out of the way at the very, very beginning. Because every successful student here tonight had a whole family backing them up, they had friends, they had loved ones there with them every step of the way. So for all the parents, all the guardians, everyone here in support of these successful, wonderful young people – let’s give a round of applause to all the family members.

[Applause]

Chirlane and I both have had the joy of raising two wonderful children, both of whom attended New York City public schools. Dante has one year left, one year to go. And we know how much work it took for everyone in the family to support each child. How much it takes a village for each child to be successful, so we really honor that. We also honor the people who do the work in our schools, who support you every day, and their leader is here tonight, our Chancellor Carmen Fariña.

[Applause]

And she is doing an extraordinary job moving our schools forward. Let’s give a round of applause to all the principals and administrators here tonight, for all they do.

[Applause]

Let’s give a round of applause to all the teachers who are here, and everybody who works in your schools. Whether they are here or not, everyone who makes the schools work – the custodians, and the paras, and the crossing guards. We want to thank them all.

[Applause]

Want to thank my colleagues up here on stage, the Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer for supporting us here tonight. Our commissioner for the department of design and construction, Feniosky Peña-Mora, thank you for being here. I know City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez is here tonight, if you’re here, come on up Ydanis. We welcome you, we thank you. And let’s thank the event sponsors, the people who provided the resources so this wonderful gathering could happen. Thank Scenic Hudson, a wonderful organization that protects the Hudson River and one of our sponsors tonight. Give them a big round of applause.

[Applause]

And let’s thank Grow NYC, which provided the delicious local produce featured on the menu tonight. Let’s thank them.

[Applause]

Now I’m going to be quick, but I want to just let every one of you, all the valedictorians, all the salutatorians know how proud we are of you. I get to sometimes speak on behalf of all 8.4 million New Yorkers. And on behalf of every New Yorker, we are so proud of you and what you have achieved, and we know you are part of the great future of this city. You will be leaders of the future of this city and we need you and we honor you for what you have achieved.

[Applause]

I know it took dedication and determination. It took hard work and we are proud of you for that. We are proud that you represent the rich diversity of this city. If you look around this room, it looks like New York City and that makes us especially proud, that the leaders of the future of this city will represent us all, every community, every neighborhood. You speak – just in the gathering here tonight – you speak 34 different languages at home other than English, which means you’ll be able to communicate to the world about the greatness of New York City and bring the world here to make this city greater.

[Applause]

And you have amongst you some individuals who represent historic moments. A lot of you are going to be the first in your family to go to college. That’s an amazing moment, and something you should be so proud of, your families are so proud of. We also have some really interesting stories. I just want to name a couple. Shanelle Davis –

[Cheers]

Shanelle has her cheering section. Shanelle of Jamaica, Queens. First African-American valedictorian of Benjamin Cardozo High School in its 48 year history.

[Applause]

She is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants. Let’s go Jamaica.

[Cheers]

She’s from Jamaica and she’s from Jamaica, you get it? Okay. First – as I mentioned, one of many here tonight – first in her family to go to a four-year college. Now, I’ve got to be honest with you, Shanelle wasn’t able to get into a particularly prestigious college. She’s going up to Cambridge, Massachusetts, some small college named Harvard.

[Applause]

And she got a scholarship on top of that.

[Applause]

Another young man worthy of our praise, Brenton James, he’s the valedictorian of Eagle Academy for Young Men in the Bronx. He is the first student in that school’s entire history to be accepted to an Ivy League college.

[Applause]

He’ll be attending the University of Pennsylvania in the fall. Raised by a single mother – and you guessed it, he’s from Jamaica. So we love all peoples, but the Jamaicans are getting special praise tonight.

[Applause]

Now, what company are you in – so, you all think about what you’ve achieved. You know you’ve gotten all of our attention, the Chancellor’s proud of you, I’m proud of you as mayor, all of my colleagues, everyone is focused on you because you’ve done something amazing. We all know the valedictorian, salutatorian is one of those honors people look up to – we hear about it throughout our lives, you’ve achieved that. And in and of itself you should be proud, but now let’s put you in a little bit of historical context. Who came before you and had similar honors in their time – well first of all, the senior Senator from New York State, Chuck Schumer was the valedictorian of James Madison High School. Lloyd Blankfein, the CEO of Goldman Sachs was the valedictorian of Thomas Jefferson High School. All right, let’s take it up a notch here. United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was salutatorian of James Madison High School.

[Applause]

Let’s go even higher now, valedictorian of her time of The School For Professional Performing Arts was Alicia Keyes. So those are some pretty good role models. In law, in government, in business, and entertainment, you can see how far those who have had the same title as you have gone. And we know that what you achieved is because people invested in you. Your families invested, your teachers invested, your principles invested, people believed in you. We as an administration, we are focused on making the investment so, so many more like you can succeed. It’s why we’re doing full day pre-K for every child in the city – you can clap for that.

[Applause]

That’s why we’re doing afterschool programs and summer enrichment, that’s why we’re doing community schools, there’s so many things we want to do to bring people more opportunity educationally.

[Applause]

And we believe, that the investments we make in education, they don’t just pay off in terms of a bunch of people succeed and that was a good investment, they pay off much more deeply, they create a better society. A more equal society, a society filled of more hope and opportunity – that’s why we are making these investments. And you are such great examples. And remember, you are also an example to everyone you know.  You’re an example to siblings obviously, but you’re an example to friends, you’re an example to younger kids coming up in your schools – seeing how far you have gone, gives them a little more hope about themselves. And you’re ambassadors of that hope. And I do want to charge you with this role – that anytime you see a young person and they need a little encouragement, maybe doesn’t have the confidence, doesn’t realize that they too could reach this kind of level. Take a moment to tell them about your story. It wasn’t easy for you, it wasn’t handed to you – take a moment to tell another young person, or two, or three, or four, about what you experienced. Give them that encouragement, and they’ll remember it, because they’ll appreciate it coming from someone who has gone as far as you.

I will conclude by saying that there’s a truth about education, that it’s such a force for change – not just in an individual life, but in society as a whole. The education empowers you to make whatever impact you can to help others. Nelson Mandela said it very simply, he said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’ It has the biggest multiplier effect, and you’re proof of it. So I want to thank you for what you’ve achieved, for the example you set for others, for making us so proud all over this city. It means a lot to us to see so many wonderful, successful people, and you give us a little more faith in this amazing place called New York City. Give yourselves a round of applause.

[Applause]

And now, let’s hear from the woman who every day makes our schools work for all of our children across New York City, and she’s doing an extraordinary job at it, our Chancellor Carmen Fariña.

[Applause]

Chancellor Carmen Fariña, Department of Education: It’s a pleasure to be here today, and every once in a while a reporter who hasn’t gotten the right answer keeps asking me, why did you come back from retirement when you could be having such an easy life – and you’re the answer. When I look around this room, I understand that teaching and education is really the only thing that makes the world go round. I’m the first one in my family to go to college and the one piece of advice I would like to give all of you is, don’t forget where you come from. No matter how high you go, always remember your roots. And the most important thing I learned – I’m a Brooklyn girl, in case you can’t figure it out from my accent.

[Applause]

Chancellor Fariña: Never be embarrassed to say where you come from, because the reality is our roots that make us what we are today. When my children were born, I gave out a statement that said, the only two things we can hope to give our children – one is roots and one is wings. And guys, you got the roots in New York City public education, the wings – and for those mothers I was talking to before, don’t cry when they go to college, just cry when they come back and want to live at home with you. So, make sure that you enjoy the college experience, but don’t forget to thank the people who made you what you are today, and lots of luck. Thank you.

[Applause]

Mayor: So that’s it. Short and sweet, you have our respect and our gratitude, and our real admiration for what you’ve achieved. And all I can say from this point on for the rest of the evening is mi casa es su casa. Enjoy Gracie Mansion. Enjoy this wonderful celebration. Thank you very much. 

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