Benjamin Wright Way (Queens)
Present name:None
Location:At the intersection of 158th Street and 140th Avenue
Honoree: Benjamin Wright Jr. moved to New York City in 1950. He was employed by the City of New York for 27 years, retiring as Assistant Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) in 1996. After retirement, he founded and served as chairman Green World Unlimited, Inc. Hespent the rest of his life organizing and working with community organizations in Southeast Queens. He served as president of the Southeast Queens Democratic Club, president of the Thurgood Marshall Regular Democratic Club, chairman of the board of the S.G.G.C. Community Service Agency, an afterschool program providings tutoring and free meals five days a week, and served on Queens Community Board 12. He was a lifelong member of the NAACP and was a board member and treasurer of the Jamaica Branch. He was also a board member of the United Black Men of Queens where he served as vice president and treasurer; was a member of the Advisory Board of the Emblem Health Insurance Plan; the York College Community Advisory Committee; the administrative board of the Springfield Gardens United Methodist Church; and served as administrator of a GED Program for Adolescents in the Riker’s Island Correctional Institution for Women. (Richards)
LL:2021/14