Senate Resolution No. 405

BY: Senator PARKER

        HONORING  Weldon  Ryan  upon  the  occasion of his
        designation as recipient of an Entrepreneurial Award
        by the Young, Gifted & Black Entrepreneurial  Awards
        Program

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the sense of this Legislative Body to take note of
and publicly acknowledge individuals who have  distinguished  themselves
through  their  exemplary careers, accomplishments, and purposeful lives
of service to their community and their profession; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Weldon  Ryan  upon  the  occasion  of his designation as recipient of an
Entrepreneurial Award by  the  Young,  Gifted  &  Black  Entrepreneurial
Awards  Program  to  be celebrated at the 18th Anniversary of the Young,
Gifted & Black Awards  Program  on  Wednesday,  February  22,  2023,  at
Terrace On The Park in Queens, New York; and

  WHEREAS, Established in 2006 by President/CEO of the NetLinkz Group,
Inc.,  Carl  O.  Gray,  the  Young, Gifted & Black (YGB) Entrepreneurial
Awards Program recognizes individuals who continue to  reach  levels  of
great  success  through  hard  work  and  determination,  proving  to be
inspiring role models to their community and peers; and

  WHEREAS, Remaining true to its mission, the Young,  Gifted  &  Black
Entrepreneurial  Awards  Program  acknowledges the talent, ambition, and
achievements of African American  and  Caribbean  professionals  towards
their continued pursuit of success; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Young,  Gifted & Black Entrepreneurial Awards Program
was launched in honor of Black History Month and shines a light on  such
accomplished  individuals  as  Weldon  Ryan,  who  truly  exemplifies an
entrepreneurial spirit; and

  WHEREAS, Weldon Ryan was  born  in  the  Republic  of  Trinidad  and
Tobago,  and  he  and  his  family  immigrated to the United States, and
settled in the Bronx; he was a talented artist  and  attended  the  High
School  of  Art and Design in Manhattan, State University of New York at
New Paltz, Fashion Institute of Technology SUNY, and  The  Art  Students
League of New York; and

  WHEREAS, Weldon Ryan worked as an Urban Park Ranger for the New York
City  Parks  Department  doing  educational  talks  and  workshops about
historical sites and events, and  created  murals  for  the  Pelham  Bay
Environmental  Nature Center; in 1989, he was the first African American
to  be  appointed   to   the   New   York   City   Police   Department's
Forensic/Composite Artist Unit; and

  WHEREAS, After 18 years of service, Weldon Ryan retired and moved to
Florida,  where  he continues to paint, sharing his gift with the world,
and is actively involved with numerous community and art  organizations;
and

  WHEREAS, With him throughout has been his wife Richlin Burnett-Ryan,
who  feels  privileged  to  be  a  part  of his life and rejoices in his
achievements; and

  WHEREAS, This award recipient exemplifies the best of his community,
by virtue of his energy, vision, and dedication, commanding the greatest
respect  among  his  friends and colleagues, and within the community at
large; and

  WHEREAS, It is the  custom  of  this  Legislative  Body  to  commend
individuals  of  outstanding  character,  who  have shown initiative and
commitment toward constantly pursuing higher goals for  themselves,  and
acting  as  role  models  of leadership to be emulated by both peers and
young people; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor  Weldon  Ryan upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of
an Entrepreneurial Award by the Young, Gifted  &  Black  Entrepreneurial
Awards Program; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Weldon Ryan.