Doing Something About It

Doing Something About It Inc. held its sixth annual Cultural Empowerment event on March 2 at the Boys & Girls Club of the Bellport Area.

The event, which came near the start of Women’s History Month, is aimed at inspiring young women to reach their potential.

It included a Sista to Sister panel discussion among five prominent women leaders in different fields. The panelists were Dr. Alexea Gaffney-Adams MD, Stony Brook Medicine; Melissa Vega-Willis, an elementary school principal from Pennsylvania; Jeanette Permenter, chief operating officer RISELife Services; Tijuana Fulford, founder and executive director Butterfly Effect Project; and New York State Supreme Court Justice Hon. Valerie M. Cartwright.

Doing Something About It Inc. founder and executive director Baron Permenter was presented with a proclamation by Thalia Olaya, Suffolk County regional representative for Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The day also included spoken-word performances by area poets, a performance by vocalist Cori B., who sang “Lift Every Voice,” performances by Butterfly Effect Project and Bellport Youth Cheer, and an appearance by actress Roseanne Sorrentino, who played the role of Pepper in the movie version of “Annie.”