John McBeth Sr.

John McBeth, a lifelong Staten Islander, is a graduate of McKee High School. In his earlier years he could regularly be seen working in local bodegas where he turned his Spanish language study into fluency in the language. At McKee High School, he regularly submitted articles to the school newspaper and to the local newspaper; The Staten Island Advance as a budding journalist. Upon graduation, he joined the United States Navy where he traveled the world as he served aboard the USS Nimitz as a Machinist Mate Nuclear Operator. Passing Nuclear Power School, and serving in the Navy are his proudest secular moments. John McBeth completed Cittone Institutes Network Engineering Certificate Program where he received the Directors Award for Excellence. He holds numerous Certifications related to computing including Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator and A-Plus Certification from COMP/TIA. Mr. McBeth began his own retail, service, and repair business, PCRX, with zero startup capital. He would eventually expand into four neighborhood sites often providing first jobs for many neighborhood teens. As a small business owner, he used his success to give back by coordinating with The Staten Island Advance (they provided the tickets) where he would provide transportation for disadvantaged neighborhood youth to visit the Circus that made Staten Island a regular stop, at one time filling 2 full-sized school buses. John McBeth has been an employee of Consolidated Edison of New York (Con Ed) since 2004. He began this new career as a Junior Designer, quickly moving into management after only 14 months. He now works at Con Edison's Learning Center in Long Island City where he is responsible for scheduling safety classes for over 15,000 employees. Occasionally, he still teaches both new and existing employees OSHA safety, Emergency Response, a Hazardous Materials Technician Course, Incident Commander Course, Permit Required Confined Space Program, and CPR with First Aid. Even in secular work, John McBeth's integrity and willingness to listen and help are recognized; he was chosen to be a Values in Action Advisor for his work area encompassing all employees of The Learning Center providing ethical guidance to employees with questions or facing ethical dilemmas. Mr. McBeth also enjoyed success and responsibility within the church. At Shiloh AME Zion Church in West Brighton, where he first gave his life to Christ at the age of 12, he would eventually be appointed the youngest Steward to the Board of Stewards. John McBeth now proudly serves at St. Philips Baptist Church in Port Richmond where he has been a Deacon since 2005. He has served as Vice Chair of the Deacon Ministry, Adult Sunday School Teacher, Young Adult Sunday School Teacher, Vice Chair of the Sunday School Ministry, and Men & Women's Day Chairperson. He has presented sermonettes and Bible studies regarding faith and love. He has coordinated for the St. Philips HEAT drumline, and was often be seen leading them in parades and performances. Mr. McBeth ensures that St. Philips social media presence reflects the happenings at the church he loves. Through affiliations created in the church, Mr. McBeth has aided in food distribution with Project Hospitality, chaired the Port Richmond Ant-Violence Task Force, now known as Port Richmond Proud, participated and facilitated in Port Richmond Outloud (a community theater group), lead and moderated community discussions on violence, race, and justice; been a founding member of the Verrazano Civic Engagement Table, Staten Island Inter-Religious Leadership, Building Bridges Interfaith Group, and a member of Communities United for Respect and Trust. Deacon John McBeth completed a course in Racial Dialogues from the US Department of Justice Community Relations Service. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Project Hospitality their Executive Committee, and their Governance Committee. John is on the Board of Trustees for New World Preparatory Charter School, and serves on their steering committee. Mr. McBeth is a member of the District Attorneys Hate Crimes Task Force and a member of the committee to bring the Staten Island Justice Center to Staten Island. John McBeth is often called to represent the community in panel discussions on race, justice, equality, etc. most notable he was a panelist participant with The Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice (charged with reaching out to communities to consider closing Riker's Island), and more recently, participating in a Theater of War post presentation discussions around race relations and police-community relations. Mr. McBeth is a life-long Democrat. He serves on the County Committee, participates in candidate forums, moderates candidate debates, performs candidate outreach, GOTV operations, voter registration drives, provides advice to candidates, and attends multiple Democratic club meetings. Mr. McBeth has created and presents upon request, two civics lessons programs, one secular, and one relevant to Christians. He also served on the non-partisan Community Board #1, and served as the chair to the local area committee encompassing Port Richmond, Mariners Harbor, Graniteville, Elm Park, and Arlington until 2023. In the wake of the death of Eric Garner, he lead youth in protest at the Staten Island Mall, organized and participated in peaceful demonstrations against police brutality and marched on Washington. He created the group Staten Island YOUTH4justice to amplify the voice of Staten Island youth in their demand for justice. Staten Island YOUTH4justice, under his guidance, initiated a march to highlight the importance of voting on the anniversary of the March on Selma 50 years ago. Dubbed Selma2StatenIsland, his group, along with Island Voice and EyeOpener's (Youth Against Violence) registered voters as they marched to Borough Hall. Staten Island Youth4justice received recognition for their work from the New York City Council via proclamation. Mr. McBeth continues to represent the community's voice in deep discussions on police reforms and community-police relations with other community leaders, elected officials, and the US Department of Justice. He is a regular attendee of the 121st Precinct Community Council meetings and an occasional attendee at the 120th Precinct Community Council meetings. He is a registered community partner of the NYPD and a liaison within the NCO philosophy to sector A of the 121st Precinct. John McBeth is a proud recipient of the following awards: 2015 - Fellowship Baptist Church's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award 2015 - NAACPs William A. Morris Humanitarian Award 2015 - Young Democrats of Richmond County Community Organizer of the Year Award 2016 - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority's inaugural Dorothy Irene Height Social Action Award 2016 - Project Hospitality's Reverend Roland Ratmeyer Founders Award 2017 - EyeOpener's Youth Against Violence Helping Hands Award 2019 - Community Service Award of Recognition from St. Philips Baptist Church Senior Usher Ministry 2019 - National Council of Negro Women's Harambee Humanitarian Award Central Family Life Center Honoree as well as numerous other certificates and recognition he shares with YOUTH4justice and Occupy the Block including; 2015 A Better Me, A Better You Certificate award 2015 Community Board #1 Certificate of Appreciation 2015 Fellowship Baptist Church's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award 2015 Honoree at Debi Rose Annual Black History Event (Proclamation) YOUTH4justice 2015 Peace Action of Staten Island Make Food Not War Award 2015 Staten Island Black Heritage Day Parade Honorees 2017 - Central Family Life Centers Making a Difference Community Service Award 2017 Community Days of Staten Island Working Together Award 2017 Honoree at Debi Rose Annual Black History Event (Proclamation) Occupy the Block 2017 - Staten Island Democratic Association Tyrone Butler Political Action Award 2018 ACTS Lodge #506 Community Service Award 2018 - Central Family Life Centers Outstanding Grassroots Community Organization Award Certificates, Letters, and Recognitions from: former Governor Andrew Cuomo, former Mayor Bill de Blasio, former Comptroller Scott Stringer, former Borough President James Oddo, District Attorney Michael McMahon, former Councilwoman Debi Rose, former State Senator Diane Savino, former State Assemblymember Matthew Titone, former State Assemblymember Michael Cusick, former State Assemblymember Nicole Maliotakis (now Congresswoman), John McBeth is a co-founder and the creative architect behind Occupy the Block Staten Island where he served as President. He and other men of the community, occupied dangerous street corners to avert violence and offer viable alternatives to neighborhood youth. Honorary members included: former Councilwoman Debi Rose, current Judge, then Assemblyman Matt Titone, former Assemblyman Michael Cusick, District Attorney Michael McMahon, former State Senator Diane Savino (our primary benefactor), former Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams (now NYC Mayor), former Comptroller Scott Stringer, and Tamar Manesseh founder of Chicago's Mothers Against Senseless Killings. From within our ranks, under my leadership, has come two candidates for congress, including our former Congressman, Max Rose who John McBeth had the honor to introduce during his inauguration and two candidates for Assembly, including our current Assemblyman; Charles Fall. Mr. McBeth cares deeply for all people, the community, and the greater good. He is the creator and administrator of Staten Island North Shore Community Calendar, a 11,700 member Facebook Group that regularly posts free events, job opportunities, and low cost or free training opportunities. John McBeth is the proud father of 6 children and surrogate father to many others whom he has helped raise throughout his life. Mr. McBeth reserves the majority of his passion for his rock; Reverend Dr. Agnes McBeth, and has dedicated his life's mission to saving and bettering lives one encounter at a time. Where others just say, he does. John McBeth is following all of the members of his immediate family by pursuing a degree in General Studies with a concentration in Leadership. He hopes to use his education to advance at work and to improve himself.