Brooklyn’s Best Honors kicks off 2016 with a festive affair at Bedford-Stuyvesant’s premiere venue Grandchamps. Sponsored by Our Times Press, Grandchamps and Urban ID Media, the event will include delicious dishes and live performances from singer/songwriter Darryl Copeland and friends. Proceeds will benefit Safe Horizon’s Jane Barker Brooklyn Child Advocacy Center, which provides an essential community response to New York City's most vulnerable victims of violence and abuse by giving child victims the foundation they need to move from crisis to confidence. Our special March 2016 honorees are civic leader Henry L. Butler; husband and wife business owners Lenworth and Maxine Stephenson; and Brooklyn’s Best Honors very own Art & Entertainment professional Darryl Copeland.
Born & raised in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn’s own Henry L. Butler is a humbled leader who serves his community proudly. As the District Manager for CB3, Mr. Butler monitors the delivery of community services from various city agencies and plays a vital role in preparing the Board’s annual capital and expense budget. He currently serves as President of the Vanguard Independent Democratic Club, and Chairs Brooklyn Branch NAACP Labor Committee. In 2006, Butler became a Block President and member of CB3 serving as its VP of the Police, Fire & Safety Committee and Financial Secretary before being elected Chairman in 2008 where he has successfully procured funding for the Utica Ave train station Elevator and reconstruction of the Nostrand Ave thoroughfare. His commitment to the village of Bed Stuy has earned him a congressional merit award and the “People’s Community Empowerment Hero” award. An enterprising entrepreneur, Butler’s most important role to date has been husband to his wife Lalena and father to his two boys, Kevin and Miles.
Bedford Stuyvesant’s own Maxine and Lenworth Stephenson are the enterprising force behind Zeen Incorporated, a cost effective human resources management and recruitment consulting agency that help small businesses integrate solution while enhancing organizational culture and mitigate risk. The home business was founded in 2010 by the husband and wife duo and has helped a variety of organizations in such areas as job placement, recruitment, policy development, talent acquisition management, training and other areas. Lenworth, ZEEN Inc. Founder & CEO graduated from Pace University Graduate and holds a MSA from Central Michigan University in Human Resource Administration. Chef Operation Office Maxine is a graduate received her BA in Political Science from Pace University.
Brooklyn’s own Darryl Copeland began his musical journey singing in the choir at the tender age of 7. By the time he was 10, he was performing solo and by the age 14 became the choir director. After graduating high school he joined the US Navy, which afforded him access to the world. Upon returning home from active duty, Copeland moved to New York City and emerged himself in the world of entertainment where he has shared the stage with a variety of contemporary artist and later performing in and written numerous off Broadway productions. He is a sought after vocal coach, teacher and community leader. However, he never forgetting his gospel root and as an ordained elder at Refuge Church of Christ, Copeland provide bereavement, general council and advocate for black veteran.
Brooklyn’s Best Honors is an Urban ID Media production, a Brooklyn-based media and event-marketing agency. The quarterly receptions capture the wealth and diversity that profoundly exists in the County of Kings. Each affair is held exclusively at a Brooklyn-based venue where honorees, tastemakers from all over get to create an authentic cherished Brooklyn experience while supporting a small business. For additional information, visit our Facebook page, click here or call (718) 399-7016.