Sag Harbor multi-disciplinary artist and Queen Consort of Eti-Oni, the oldest cocoa plantation in Osun State Nigeria, Queen Angelique-Monet, received the President’s Call to Service Award from US President Joseph Biden. The award recognizes the lifetimes achievement of those who complete more than 4,000 hours of service throughout their lifetime.
The honor was presented on November 15 at the historic Friars Club in New York City. The civil award was presented for Queen Angelique-Monet’s lifelong work for world peace and tolerance through the arts, and the work she has achieved in the United States with her Non Governmental Organization New Generation In Action’s (NGIA) A.F.I. World Peace Initiative that is supported by the United Nations in Consultative Status through the Economic and Social Council.
Presenting the award, and also representing the organization, was Friar and Emmy Award winner, Lucia Kaiser. Kaiser was the former executive for the late Johnny Carson. Also in attendance at the ceremony were Singer-Comedian Mark McLaughlin, Friars Club General Manager Anthony Trombetta, and Riverhead Town Councilman Kenneth Rothwell.
”Receiving this honour for a lifetime commitment from the White House is beyond an honor. Seeing my humble beginnings as the shy girl who did not talk until age five, I endured a lot of challenges in life from learning issues to being bullied and told I was ugly and would not be much in life. Thank God I was taught from my family and the church family about charity and service to others being one of the greatest rewards in life,” said Queen Angelique-Monet.
“Finally, I found causes I believed in once I found my voice through the arts. As an adult I can honestly say the American dream is real, and is filled with hope, goodwill, charity, family, friends, giving, and sharing with others. It is filled with bringing each other up and a place where we are all supposed to be equal and together, we can work to make this happen, despite all the challenges we have faced from the pandemic to social unrest. Our dream goes further to show that anyone can be anything as long as you believe in yourself,” she continued.
A final celebration ceremony is scheduled for February in Washington, DC, leading to Queen Angelique-Monet’s attending and hosting parallel events during the United Nations 67th Commission on the Status of Women from March 6 to 17.