VICE CHAIR ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 11, 2006

Contact: Yolanda Robinson
Tel: (914) 995-8015
ydr1@westchestergov.com
 
Westchester County Legislator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D, Yonkers), Vice Chair of the Board of Legislators, received the “Distinguished Service Award” from her colleagues at the Board’s December 11th meeting.  Stewart-Cousins has represented District 16 for ten years. She was recently elected to represent the 35th District in the New York State Senate.

Legislator Stewart-Cousins stated, “I am proud to be honored by my esteemed collegues. We have all been through so much, but in the midst of it all we have passed meaningful legislation that will benefit the people of Westchester for many years to come.”

Andrea Stewart-Cousins was first elected to the County Board of Legislators in 1995, becoming the first African-American woman to represent Yonkers’ 16th District. As a result of her hard work and diligence, her colleagues on the Board of Legislators voted unanimously for her to serve as Board Vice Chair for the 2006-2007 legislative term.

“I have learned so much from this outstanding government body -- who are not only my collegues, but dear friends. Over the last ten years, I have learned how to get things done, from passing on-time budgets to meaningful legislation. This knowledge and experience will certainly serve me well in Albany.”
A former AT&T marketing professional, journalist, teacher, and personnel manager, Stewart-Cousins began her career in government with her appointment in 1992 as Director of Community Affairs for the City of Yonkers, the first African-American to serve in this position. Her unique perspectives spawned a number of creative and novel initiatives, including the first union/government internship programs for youth in NYS; Yonkers’ first internship program for the disabled; and, the Mayor’s annual toy and coat drive. Stewart-Cousins was a co-founder of SOYO (Southwest Yonkers Planning Association), “Riverfest” and “Art on Main.”

In her six years as Chair of the County Board’s Legislation Committee, Stewart-Cousins led the effort to pass landmark legislative initiatives, including the County’s first Human Rights Laws; Smoke-Free Work Place laws; tougher gun laws; living wage legislation; and laws that prosecute “predatory lenders” and racial profiling.

Legislator Stewart-Cousins continues to be an active community volunteer and has received many awards for her service including leadership awards from The Westchester Arts Council, the NAACP, the American Cancer Society, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Salvation Army, among others.

A state-certified mediator, Legislator Stewart-Cousins earned her B.S. from Pace University. The mother of three, she resides in Yonkers with her husband Tom.