Naiesha (Nana) Pearson Place (Bronx)
Present name:None
Location:Intersection of East 139th Street and Brook Avenue
Honoree: Naiesha (Nana) Pearson was killed at her neighborhood’s end-of-summer barbeque when two men got into an argument and a gun was fired. Her death led to the creation of the Walk Against Gun Violence rally, now an annual event in the South Bronx.
LL:2011/47

Naimah Bilal Way (Bronx)
Present name:None
Location:At the intersection of Macombs Road and Goble Place
Honoree: Naimah Bilal (1945-2018), born and raised in Harlem, began her community involvement at an early age when. under the leadership of other prominent community members, she marched for the construction of an overpass over the FDR Drive, a public safety effort that proved successful. Ms. Bilal continued to be active on several committees at Masjid Malcolm Shabazz. Ms. Bilal worked for the NYS Division of Housing & Community Renewal (DHCR) retiring after 22 years in October 2007. She also represented the clerical staff of this agency as a delegate to DC 37. Upon moving to the Bronx, she became involved with several community organizations, including the 44th Precinct Community Council, CASA (Community Action for Safe Apartments), the Tenant, Block, and Neighborhood Council for District 16, and Bronx Community Board 4. Naimah Bilal was the President of the 1515 Macombs Road Tenant Association. She was a model for civil engagement as a member of the Bronx Democratic Club and her local community board., as well as an active member of the DC37 Retirees. (Gibson)
LL:2021/14

Natale “Nat” Cerini Corner (Bronx)
Present name:None
Location:At the southwest corner of Belmont Avenue and East 187th
Honoree: Natale “Nat” Cerini was an immigrant from Rome, Italy. At 17, he opened the Roma Luncheonette, where he also helped local immigrants in filling out immigration documents. In 1977, he started Cerini Income Tax and later purchased the 17-family apartment building located at 2328 Hughes Ave. In the early 1970's he was a coach for a local soccer organization and went on to start the Arcobaleno Soccer Club. In 1983, he became the president of the Italian American Federation of the Bronx and lower Westchester. In the late 1970's he was instrumental in constructing the Enrico Fermi Cultural Center, located in the Belmont Library, which has served the area since 1981. (Rivera)
LL:2013/131

Nilda Velazquez Way (Bronx)
Present name:None
Location:At the southwest corner of West Fordham Road and Davidson Avenue
Honoree: Nilda Velazquez (1942-2020) moved to New York from Puerto Rico with her mother in 1948. In 1960, whwn she was 12, her mother died of cancer. She grew up in an orphanage, attended school and raised her family the best way she could. She organized with her fellow mothers for better housing, better schools, and better living situations. She carried out these efforts along with NYS Assemblyman Jose Rivera, and former NYC Council Member Maria Baez while serving in their state and city legislative offices respectively. She was renowned for her legendary constituent services. In addition to her being a public servant, she also was a community activist. She participated in the Creston Avenue Block Association, providing block parties. She started the Davidson Family Community Association. She was active in the Bronx County Democratic Party with Roberto Ramirez and Jose Rivera as a judicial delegate and also served as the Democratic District Leader of the 78th Assembly District, running the North End Democratic Club. She ran for State Committee Member, and won with the highest plurality amon those running with her. She fought for Criminal Justice Reform; protested cancer clusters stemming from the United States Naval bases in Vieques, Puerto Rico; as well as campaigning for basic living conditions in the West Bronx. (Cabrera)
LL:2021/14

Nos Quedamos Way (Bronx)
Present name:None
Location:At the intersection of Melrose Avenue and 158th Street
Honoree: WE STAY/Nos Quedamos (NQ) is a South Bronx-based Community Development Corporation. NQ began its work in 1992, when NYC proposed a Melrose renewal plan that designated 35 blocks to be developed for middle-income New Yorkers. This site, however, was already home to roughly 6,000 low-income Melrose residents. Outraged by the injustice of their proposed displacement, the local community banded together to create the We Stay/Nos Quedamos Committee in 1993. This Committee drafted and passed an alternative proposal, the Melrose Commons Urban Renewal Plan, resulting in the development of affordable housing for over 4,000 families and seniors and nearly one million square feet of commercial real estate space. NQ was the first nonprofit to successfully utilize the City’s 197a process to create a plan for our own community that preserved all that was valuable to long-time residents. (Salamanca)
LL:2022/54