The Greater Jamaica Development Corporation (GJDC) hosted its third annual “Women Who Lead Reception” earlier this month, where the organization shined a spotlight on six women whose contributions have significantly shaped the southeast Queens community.
The event was held on Mar. 14 at GJDC’s Greater Nexus coworking space, located at 89-14 Parsons Blvd. in Jamaica.
The honorees included Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman; Monica Morales, a reporter at PIX11 News; and Kym McAdoo, an estate attorney with McAdoo and Associates. Additionally, the event celebrated Kim Ramos and Wanda Matos, both of whom hold VP positions at Ponce Bank. Meanwhile, a female GJDC staff member also received an award.
About 100 community members gathered at the event to honor the women, enjoying an atmosphere that Patricia Robinson, the chief administrative officer at GJDC, described as “a mini gala.”
“It feels very elegant, it feels very special, we put a lot of effort in,” Robinson remarked. The honorees were treated to a VIP reception, where they received flowers and awards in recognition of their work and dedication to the community.
Robinson highlighted the ceremony’s role in honoring women who are committed to serving underserved communities, noting, “They exhibit strong work ethic, natural leadership abilities, and are really mission aligned in terms of what we do as an organization around economic transformation and revitalizing our area.”
The event has grown in stature and impact since its inception, with this year’s ceremony featuring performances that included a musical act by local and international violinist Kareem Headley, alongside contributions from a local writer and poet.
Earlier in the year, GJDC’s executive team came together and selected the honorees. The process culminated in recognizing a group of women whose contributions have been instrumental in enriching the southeast Queens community.
McAdoo was honored with the Community Impact Service Award, a testament to her efforts in estate law and community service. Hyndman received the Distinguished Public Service Award, recognizing her contributions to public affairs and legislative advancements. Ramos and Matos were both celebrated with the Women Who Inspire Awards, acknowledging their roles in government affairs and nonprofit services, respectively.
In a heartwarming addition to the ceremony, a female GJDC staff member was also surprised with an award, underscoring the organization’s commitment to recognizing and celebrating the achievements of its team.
Robinson emphasized the profound impact the GJDC employee has had on the community.
“That is such an amazing impact for the employee just to be recognized and in a public forum,” she remarked, highlighting the value of appreciation and recognition within the community and the organization.
Robinson said GDJC staff came up with the idea for the reception in 2022 as a way to honor local changemakers for Women’s History Month.” It started with a small idea and we said, okay, let’s try it. We should put together something to acknowledge women in the community,” she said.
As for future events, Robinson wants the reception to grow in size in coming years. “The goal will be to make the event larger, so that more people can understand what our leaders are actually doing,” she said.
