Honorees The Folksbiene Playhouse- for performing the rich legacy of Yiddish Theater every season since 1915. Founded with the merging of several immigrant drama groups, the theater has entertained audiences for 85 continuous seasons and is the oldest Yiddish theater in the country. In its early days, amateur actors rehearsed and performed without salary after long hours at day jobs. As productions became increasingly professional, the Folksbiene helped raise the quality of Yiddish theater.
Performances are in Yiddish with simultaneous English and Russian translation.
Virginia Hall- for fostering the artistry of African American quilting in the senior centers of Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. As a child in North Carolina, Ms. Hall learned the art of quilting in her mother's quilting bees. She preserves that tradition in circles she organizes in Brooklyn's senior citizen centers. Louis Mofsie- for bringing the traditions of the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers to all New Yorkers. Mr. Mofsie is a dancer, musician, choreographer, artist, and retired elementary school art teacher.