Senate Resolution No. 292 BY: Senator PARKER HONORING Regina Wilson upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition at the Young, Gifted, & Black Entrepreneurial Awards 20th Anniversary Gala on February 26, 2025 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to honor those individuals and organizations which devote their purposeful energies to improve the dignity and quality of life of those they serve, preserve their heritage, and foster pride among them; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Regina Wilson upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition at the Young, Gifted, & Black Entrepreneurial Awards 20th Anniversary Gala at Terrace on the Park in Queens, New York, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025; and WHEREAS, In 2006, the Young, Gifted, & Black (YGB) Entrepreneurial Awards were established by Carl Gray as a platform to spotlight and celebrate everyday individuals who serve as positive role models, inspiring their peers through their accomplishments, perseverance, and contributions; and WHEREAS, Carl Gray's vision for the YGB Entrepreneurial Awards has remained steadfast in ensuring recognition is given to those whose contributions, though not always highlighted in mainstream media, have a profound and lasting influence within their fields and society; and WHEREAS, Regina Wilson is a Firefighter for the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), assigned to Engine Company No. 219; one of only 170 women in a workforce of more than 11,000 firefighters and fire officers, she has been a member of the Department for 25 years; and WHEREAS, Throughout her firefighting career, Regina Wilson has held various positions and titles; she has been a Probationary Firefighter School Instructor, teaching engine operations; she was the first female President of the Vulcan Society's 85-year history; this Society is an organization of African American firefighters, EMTs, fire inspectors, fire marshals, and civilian employees of the FDNY; and WHEREAS, Additionally, Regina Wilson is Past President of the United Women Firefighters (UWF) of the FDNY; currently, she serves as Vice President of International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF); and WHEREAS, Numerous awards, proclamations, and certificates for her services in the community have been bestowed upon Regina Wilson; she also had the honor of speaking at the 2023 Forbes Power Women's Summit; additionally, she was a participant in the First Responders Facing Health Hazards: 9-11 and Beyond Congressional Briefing in Washington, D.C.; and WHEREAS, Regina Wilson continues to advocate for equality for women and people of color in firefighting services; she will always act as a voice for her fellow responders on 9-11 to ensure the world never forgets the dedication and service rendered by those individuals who sacrificed so much in the line of duty; and WHEREAS, Besides her rescue efforts after 9-11, Regina Wilson has also participated in the recovery work for Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy; she is also a member of the FDNY Ceremonial Unit which was created to address the planning of funeral ceremonies for the families of fallen responders and other formal departmental events, using her gift of singing at departmental functions, including the events on the anniversary of 9-11 when President Bush had traveled to New York for the occasion; and WHEREAS, Regina Wilson has also had the privilege of singing at numerous sporting events in the New York Metropolitan Area, and she sang the National Anthem at a Catholic charity event which was attended by Prince Harry of Great Britain; and WHEREAS, Currently, Regina Wilson is working in External Affairs for New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM); she is also an Operations Liaison and Leadership Specialist for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program; she is dedicated, working tirelessly to promote the well-being of her fellow firefighters and members of her community; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those individuals and organizations, which give positive definition to the profile and disposition of the communities of the State of New York, profoundly strengthen our shared commitment to the exercise of freedom; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Regina Wilson upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition at the Young, Gifted, & Black Entrepreneurial Awards 20th Anniversary Gala on February 26, 2025; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Regina Wilson.