RSS Feed
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Mary Anne Sallustro, President Of The South Canarsie Civic Association
“The mission of my organization is to improve the quality of life for the current residents of Can-arsie and for future generations. Even though members are spread out, we are all one voice,” says Mary Anne Sallustro, president of the South Canarsie Civic Association . Before this native Canarsien headed meetings addressing various issues in the community, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Music at Hunter College. She then taught music in Brooklyn schools and retired after 34 years. She is proud of the students she taught and added that some have become music teachers in public schools. Even now she enjoys playing the piano in her spare time. Above all, her love for Canarsie always motivates her to fight for the community’s quality of life. Music wasn’t the only passion Sallustro had when she was younger. She had an interest in civics as a student at Prospect Park High School, where she was on the debate team and enjoyed history classes. The first civic action Sallustro took was in the 1980s when a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) project was set to be built on her mother’s block in the East 80s. Along with elected officials and residents from neighboring blocks, Sallustro gathered petitions against the project. She says in an effort to foster growth and stimulate interest in the continuing issues affecting the community, she and other community activists started the SCCA in November of 1993. Sallustro continues to circulate petitions against projects and proposals she believes will not necessarily help Canarsie. Sallustro works closely with many other civic activists, like Steven Kaye, who is the vice president of the SCCA, Mercedes Narcisse, president of the Avenue L Merchants Association, and members of the Breukelen Houses Tenants Association. There are currently over 30 people on her board and the association covers the Canarsie shoreline to Avenue D and from Ralph Avenue to East 108 Street. “The hardest part of my job is when people call and demand a meeting – but we only hold meetings as needed,” she says. “It’s a lot of pressure, but I rely on local newspapers like the Canarsie Courier to get the word out and help me when we need to get things together at the last minute. That’s why we’re grateful to have so many civic groups in Canarsie – everyone is reaching out,” she adds While Sallustro feels Canarsie needs more help from elected officials, she says passion for the community is what inspires her unwavering contributions. She also has a supportive family. She is married and has one son.
|
for larger version       Ads have a Patent Pending. Click Here for More Information |
||||||||||||||
