NYC Launches "Make It Here, Make It Happen" Women's History Month Event

NEW YORK - Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has just launched “NYC Women: Make it Here, Make it Happen” a video series produced by the City’s Commission on Women’s Issues in collaboration with NYC Media, the official network of the City of New York, to shine the spotlight on extraordinary women of New York City. The series, which will air on NYC life during Women’s History Month, will feature 31 stories of triumph in one-minute videos each day in the month of March. Every video will also appear on nyc.gov accompanied by a link to a City or nonprofit resource that can help women throughout New York City achieve similar success. On March 8^th at 10pm, NYC life will also air a thirty-minute special focused on five women making a difference in New York. The Mayor announced the launch of “NYC Women: Make it Here, Make it Happen” at an event held at the Museum of Modern Art, where he was joined by MoMA President Marie-Josée Kravis, Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) Commissioner Katherine Oliver, Commission on Women’s Issues Chair Anne Sutherland Fuchs, Executive Director Briana Collins, and Mercedes Cano of the Law Offices of Mercedes S. Cano.

“The women featured in this series come from all backgrounds, professions, and walks of life, but they have all been given the same thing: an opportunity,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “They have used their success to extend opportunities to others. Now it’s up to all of us to give that chance to a whole new generation of young women. Opportunity is what it’s all about. That’s why we continue working so hard to make this a City of Opportunity for all New Yorkers.”

“We are recognizing the tremendous impact that just a small group of thirty-one women can have in their communities,” said Commission on Women’s Issues Chair Anne Sutherland Fuchs. “This series highlights the strength, power, and importance of today’s leading women as they are paving the way for future generations of New York City’s leaders. We hope through their stories, men and women throughout New York City are inspired to make a difference in their own unique way, too.”

“‘NYC Women: Make it Here, Make it Happen’ is an inspiring look at some of the very special women who help make a difference in our City,” said Commissioner Oliver, Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. “NYC Media is honored to have produced this video series with the NYC Commission on Women’s Issues and to be a part of this celebration of Women’s History Month.”

Women featured in the series discuss their individual experiences including overcoming obstacles, reaching top positions in their career fields, serving as role models and how the work they’re doing is impacting the communities around them. The series can be seen each night on NYC life at 7:30pm and will also air throughout the day.

The 31 women featured in “NYC Women: Make it Here, Make it Happen” are:

Shavonne Bell, Senior at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Kelley Brooke, Founder of the DOE District 75 Golf Program, Randall's Island Golf Group
Mercedes S. Cano, Sole Proprietor, Law Office of Mercedes S. Cano
Lisa Caputo, Founder and Chairman, Women & Co., Citigroup, Inc.
Alondra de la Parra, Founder and Conductor, Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas
Luda Demikhovskaya, Disabled Activist
Patricia E. Harris, First Deputy Mayor, City of New York
Maryann Hedaa, Founder and Managing Director, The Hunts Point Alliance for Children
Daphne Hsu, MD, Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore
Dr. Kerry Kelly, Chief Medical Officer, FireDepartmentCity of New York
Dr. Joan Klingsberg, Founding Principal, Voyages Preparatory High School
Hoda Kotb, Co-Host, NBC Today Show, Dateline
Helen Arteaga Landaverde, MPH, Director, Plaza Del Sol Family Health Center, Queens
Carol Laurenzano, ADA Manager, New York Yankees
Gena Lovett, Founder and CEO, Littlewolf Capital
Danielle Mahoney, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Seeds of Love
Sister Kathleen McKinney, CSJ, Principal, the MaryLouisAcademy, Jamaica Estates, Queens
Corinne A. Michels, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Biology, Queens College-CUNY
Benita Miller, Founder and Executive Director, The Brooklyn Young Mothers’ Collective
Dolores N. Morris, Former Vice President, HBO Family
Mahroo Moshari, LMSW, Director, Manhattan Multicultural Summer Youth Program
Robina Niaz, Founding Executive Director, Turning Point for Women and Families
Merble Reagon, Executive Director, Women’s Center for Education and Career Advancement
Jessamyn Waldman Rodriguez, Founder and CEO, Hot Bread Kitchen
Teri Russo, The Down Syndrome Foundation
Amy Sewell, Writer/Filmmaker, “Mad Hot Ballroom” & “What’s Your Point, Honey?”
Karen Simmons, Executive Director, The Children’s LawCenter
Shawn Slevin, Founder and Executive Director, Swim Strong Foundation Inc.
Sarah BJ Sung, Board Chair, KoreanAmericanFamilyServiceCenter
Mary Spiritt Taylor, Retired Vice President, Argus Community, Inc.
Toni Williams, Co- Creator, Host/Executive Producer, Brooklyn Savvy

“It is an honor to be recognized amongst the other incredible women who are featured in this series,” said Mercedes Cano, who was featured in the video project. “We each have different stories and backgrounds but there is a common thread that unites us. At many points in our lives, we faced situations that could have prevented us from becoming who we are today. But instead of succumbing to our challenges, we rose above them. I think it takes purpose, determination, tenacity and a positive attitude. Even if it means taking two steps back to go one step forward.”

In addition to these one-minute videos, the thirty-minute special, “NYC Women: Make it Here, Make it Happen,” focuses on the larger stories of five inspirational and successful women. This NYC Media original production will premiere on NYC life on Tuesday, March 8 at 10pm and encore throughout the month. The special provides in-depth profiles of the diverse ways these women are serving as role models for others. The five women featured in the thirty-minute special are: Shavonne Bell, a senior at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Lisa Caputo, founder and chairman of Citigroup’s Women & Co.; Alondra de la Parra, founder and conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas; Hoda Kotb, Co-Host of the Today Show’s 4^th hour on NBC News; and Jessamyn Waldman Rodriguez, founder and CEO of Hot Bread Kitchen.