RLF Honors
On November 2, 2019, the Rohan Levy Foundation celebrated our programs, partners, everyday heroes, and the community at our inaugural gala. What a fantastic night! The RLF Honors 2019 Gala raised over $10 thousand for our youth and community programs.
The Weeksville Heritage Center was buzzing with over 100 people – a mix of guests and honorees sipped on cocktails, nibbled on foods from Brooklyn vendors, danced and mingled together at one of Brooklyn's most historic site dedicated to the preservation of one of America's first free black communities during the 19th century. You can relive it all in our photo album below.
Even though the gala has come to an end, there’s still time to support Rohan Levy Foundation with a donation. Click to donate below!
2019 Honorees
Luis hernandez
Luis Hernandez, 17 year old high school Junior, is a youth organizer and activist. He serves as the Executive Director of Youth Over Guns, the youth advocacy wing of NYAGV. He is a cause Ambassador with Boy Meets GIrl USA, a member on the 2019 women’s march Youth Empower Cohort, and the Youth Engagement Coordinator at The Gathering For Justice. He emerged as a young leader fighting for his brother’s freedom, and has since been a champion for justice reform and gun violence prevention. Leading major demonstrations like the Youth Over Guns march over the Brooklyn bridge, #Enough Walkouts across the country with Women’s March Youth Empower, and many more. After being personally impacted by the effects of the Criminal Justice System, and Gun Violence he has committed himself to combating all of the injustices that marginalized communities of color face.
Christopher underwood
Christopher lost his brother Akeal to senseless gun violence at a very young age. He has turned pain and anger into the desire to become a young leader of inspiration and action. He wants to dedicate his life to efforts so that nobody else ever dies from gun violence.
Christopher's loss of his beloved brother has inspired him to volunteer as a Junior Ambassador and Speaker for Mom Demand Action For Gun Sense In America, Not Another Child Organization and Carlton to Locksley Bennett Foundation Inc.
Christopher is a 7th grader, educated at Imagine Me Leadership Charter School and Eagle Academy II Ocean Hill. Where his favorite subjects are Science, History and Math. He loves Basketball, Football and playing the African Drums He is 5'4” and 90 pounds. In school, his favorite activities include Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI) and Building Engineers. He has also hosted events at his school to bring awareness and address the issues of gun violence and donated schools supplies and uniforms to kids that are less fortunate. Raising money to feed families in homeless shelters.
Christopher has been featured in The Guardian Newspaper, ‘They stole my big brother' violence turns child into champion for 'gun sense' May 8th 2016.
Quoted in Essence Magazine Guns In America: Stories Of Survival June 23rd 2016.
A Speaker at March For Our Lives Washington DC March 24th, 2018
Featured in Dazed Magazine Youth in Power: the gun control activists changing America summer 2018
Christopher admires Martin Luther King, Jr., Pastor Gilford Monrose, and the first black President, Barack Obama. And the person he most admires in the world is his mother, Natasha, who he says always puts him and his brother first in her life and loves them so much. He is the proud brother of Akeal Christopher, Rashawn Christopher and Tyrique Underwood.
Christopher Underwood was honored by these organizations:
Carlton Locksley Bennett Foundation Inc.
Award Christopher Underwood with the youngest advocate against Gun Violence on May 3rd in, 2014.
The Tayshana Chicken Murphy Foundation Inc.
The Lloyd Morgan Jr.
Junior Activist Award to Christopher Underwood, 2016.
Gangstas Making Astronomical Community Changes
Christopher Underwood Youth Advocate Award, 2016.
Not Another Child
Christopher Underwood with a Change Maker Award
For being a Junior Ambassador To Siblings Affected By Violence, 2017.
Lawyers Committee For Civil Rights Honored
Christopher Underwood with the Distinguished Civil Rights Advocate Award May 23rd 2018.
Marie delus
pastor gilford monrose
Marie Delus has been a vested employee, in New York City government for over twenty years. She currently functions as Deputy Agency Chief Contracting Officer. In addition, she is the president of T "Flip" R, LLC whose mission is to assist not-for-profit organizations, small businesses, and corporations with their community, national and international charitable initiatives. These initiatives provide basic humanitarian needs such as: advocacy for gun- violence prevention; promoting education, nutrition and medical care needs to orphans, destitute children and families.
Marie is an active volunteer for several organizations including the American Red Cross. She is the Director-at-Large for the New York City Managerial Employees Association (NYC MEA); a member of the New York Metropolitan Area Organization of Public Purchasing Professionals affiliated with the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP-New York, Inc.); on the Advisory Board of the Chelton Loft [an accredited voluntary clubhouse for adults with serious mental illness]; a volunteer [Title: New York Survivor Membership Lead] of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Greater New York Chapter [Gun-violence Prevention Advocacy Organization] and Member of the Board of Visitors of the Kingsboro Psychiatric Center [Advocate of clients who suffers from mental health disabilities].
Marie is a United States Marine Corp Veteran of Desert Storm and also a supporter of the 2nd Amendment; who traveled back and forth to Washington, DC; Albany and various States as an advocate for gun safety.
Gilford T Monrose, a native of the US Virgin Islands, founder of Brooklyn Center of Quality Life, moved to New York in 1999 to pursue his studies in the form of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology and Bible Studies at Nyack College and Alliance Theological Seminary, and to marry the love of his life, Dianne Thomas.
Gilford always had a lifelong dream of serving the church, especially the youths, and as such functioned as Youth Director for five years, developing programs for our young people at the now historic Mt. Zion Church of God 7th Day. He worked at their level, demonstrated that he understood their struggles, and worked tirelessly with them to enhance their spiritual maturity. In this capacity, Gilford flourished, and became a ministerial and visionary trailblazer, and spiritual shepherd to many. In May 2005, Gilford was ordained to the ministry as Pastor, where he continues to show great and unyielding love for his church and its members.
Pastor Gil's need to give in a capacity beyond himself, goes beyond the four walls of the church, and has motivated him to serve locally and beyond, to create, as well as partner with many organizations. He has established the Catch The Vision (CTV) Youth Conferences, which has empowered youths, leaders, and marriages, and has attracted youths and adults alike from around the world since 2002. He also initiated the Unity Gospel Fest at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center to bring together spiritual and physical wellness. Pastor Gil was instrumental in the establishment and development of the East Flatbush Ready When the Time Comes Disaster Team, which through the American Red Cross in Greater New York, provides disaster-relief training to volunteer teams from local community groups. Gilford serves as Team Leader for the local East Flatbush team.
Gilford's life of service is further portrayed through his work as Chaplain for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Serving as Director of the Faith Based and Clergy Initiative at the Brooklyn Borough President's Office, Pastor Gil proves that not only is there a thin gap between church and state, but that this gap can be bridged. He currently serves as a Board member for the Flatbush YMCA. Gilford, a man who puts no limits or restrictions on his life of service, currently chairs the Community Leadership Council of the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center and Habitat for Humanity NYC Leadership Council.
Pastor Gil has exhibited great interest in social justice and love for community work, and is the former Alumni Chair for We Are All Brooklyn, an organization that brings diverse leaders together to solve quality of life issues affecting their communities. He served as a board member of Community Board #17, on the Community Advisory Board for the Brooklyn Healthcare Improvement Project, as an Advisory Board Member for Explore Charter School, Boys Town and on the Advisory Board for Kings County Behavior Health Community Council. Pastor Gil also served as Team Leader for the Neighborhood Housing Services Invest in Brooklyn Initiative, and Chaired the Caribbean Tourism Organization's Inter-Faith Celebration.
Furthermore, Pastor Gil served as Vice President of various organizations; The St. Lucia House Foundation, Church of God 7th Day Pastor's Network, Inc., and, Churches United to Save and Heal. Pastor Gil's dedication to save youth from gun violence and gangs prompted him to become the founding President of the 67th Precinct Clergy Council – The GodSquad - which serves as a liaison between the police and the community. He is a graduate of the New York Police Department Citizen Academy, as well as the FBI Citizen Academy. Mr. Monrose has travelled extensively across the United States, and has partnered with groups across the Caribbean. Africa, Brazil, Moscow, England, and Israel, as a guest speaker to youth, and likewise adults, empowering them to become active in their communities, and to be responsible citizens of the world. Locally, Pastor Gil works with various elected officials and community leaders as a moral voice and spiritual counsel on issues affecting the community at large. As the loving husband of wife Dianne, and father to Gianne and Joshua, Gilford is a passionate advocate for families and children. Mr. Monrose and his family live in Weeksville, Brooklyn.
"We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done." Henry Wodsworth Longfellow.