5081 FBC Inside MLK 2019 test

CHRISTY BANKS
Christy Banks, currently the Assistant Director of Campus Activities
and Multicultural Affairs at Suffolk County Community College’s
Brentwood campus, has spent her career inspiring, supporting and
assisting others in their journey for personal and professional growth.
Christy’s parents, Nadine and Gerald Jean, are natives of Haiti who
immigrated to America and made Brentwood home. Her parents
ingrained in their three children that hard work and education were
both vital tools for their future. Mr. and Mrs. Jean kept their cultural
roots alive throughout Christy’s childhood even while living in a new
country. Christy attributes much of her successes to the foundation
her parents gave her.
Christy’s passion to bring forth the struggles and injustices of
marginalized and underrepresented groups to a larger audience began
early in her college career while she was obtaining her Bachelor of
Arts degree at St. John’s University. She visited underrepresented
communities to gain a real sense of their concerns, and it was through
her writing that she found ways to share and push to the forefront
the issues of those less fortunate.
Christy’s journey always led her to work with those in need. After obtaining her master’s degree in journalism
from Syracuse University, she went on to work with homeless veterans for a Salvation Army grant funded
program. Christy assisted homeless veterans with their reintegration into the community by providing them
with workshops that included writing, goal setting, and self-development. It was her affection for writing that
helped her advocate for the veterans of these programs to gain better support and much needed assistance.
As Ms. Banks’ career continued, she was later hired by St. Joseph’s College to create an inclusive campus
environment that fostered diversity through the education and empowerment of students from diverse
backgrounds. Christy brought to the school, opportunities for students to engage in a variety of programs,
interactive workshops, and events that allowed for intercultural and cross-cultural dialogue, understanding and
respect. Over a span of almost 13 years, she played an integral role in providing St. Joseph’s Long Island campus
with ways to explore diversity and cultural humility.
Christy’s dedication to equality carries over in every aspect of her work. In addition to her role in higher
education, she obtained her real estate sales license to help underrepresented groups buy or sell homes on
Long Island. Through Christy’s careers in both higher education and real estate, she has observed the lack of
access to homeownership, education and jobs and tries to ensure there is equal opportunity for all. Whenever
possible she also collects donations for her homeland of Haiti, mentors underrepresented youth, and provides
underrepresented groups with first-time homebuyer information.
Christy is now sharing her diversified knowledge with her own daughter, Angelique. She hopes that she can pass
along the values that were once shared with her, and apply them with not only her daughter, but to her students,
colleagues and clients.
22 34th Annual