The 18th Annual Jim Perry Progressive Leadership Awards will be held on Thursday, May 20th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Each Thursday leading up to the event, we’ll introduce you to one of this year’s honorees. The first in this series of posts is Norma J. Chapman.
After years of working with nonprofits to raise money for the needs of her West Hill community and lobbying government officials and others for desperately needed services and programs, Norma Chapman realized that it was time that she had a seat at the table when local government was making decisions about resources and services. “My neighborhood needs someone inside the arena when decisions are being made about the future of our community and our young cities’ young people,” she said.
Norma is serving her second term representing the 5th Legislative District in the Albany County Legislature. Her district lies entirely within the City of Albany and is generally bounded by Henry Johnson Boulevard on the east, Western Avenue on the south, North Manning Boulevard on the west and Livingston and McCrossin Avenues on the north.
Norma is a member of the following County committees: Court Facilities and Public Works, Finance Committee and Mass Transit.
Norma has long been an active leader in the community. In 1989, she founded Asiatic Enterprises Fashion and Entertainment Co. for youths and adults. She is also one of the founders and advisors to the Frank Chapman Memorial Institute, a non-profit organization providing quality programming for inner-city youth from Arbor Hill, West Hill, the South End and North Albany since 1995.
Today FCMI is needed more than ever to help with failing schools and a wave of gang and street violence. The number of murders and gang-related violent events has left the community reeling. The lack of community resources threatens to leave a great many of our disadvantage and impoverished children and their families behind in the race for social advancement.
The Chapman Institute has employed hundreds of youngsters through the Institute’s Summer Day Camp in collaboration with the City of Albany Summer Youth Employment Program, and has provided a safe place for children to assemble for after-school activities, mentoring, performing arts, fashion shows and other activities. She also was instrumental in forming several other after-school programs.
Norma has lent her time and skills to organize the African-American Festival Day Community Stage, the Martin Luther King Jr. Observance March and the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus Youth Talent Showcase. She has been involved with Equinox, the Northeast Regional Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House, the Capital District African-American Coalition on AIDS, the Black Leadership Commission on AIDS and various volunteer teams associated with the New York State Comptroller’s Office. She also established the West Hill newsletter providing information to residents on issues and accomplishments in the community.
Norma retired in 2007 after 37 years with the State Comptroller’s Office as a member of the Retirement Employers Service Department.
Norma’s decision to server her community as an elected public official does not mean she has left her community work behind. Her energy and dedication to her community remains as strong as ever. Thank you, Norma, for making a difference to so many people.
Please join us on Thursday, May 20th in support of Citizen Action of New York and this year’s honorees: Norma Chapman, Judith Mazza, Vera “Mike” Michelson, and Joe Seeman.
This year’s event will be held at The State Room, 142 State Street, Albany, NY from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
