February 13th, 2024 – February is National Black History Month… an opportunity for all residents to celebrate and acknowledge the numerous contributions of their neighbors, volunteers and professionals from the Black community who help to enrich the Town every day.

As Rosa Parks once said, “Each person must live their lives as a model for others.” In that spirit, the Islip Town Board celebrated by highlighting the outstanding members of the Town whose lives and careers serve as a model in the community.

The Town recognized Marine Corps Veteran and retired NYPD Officer, Axel Dodson.

Axel Dodson has dedicated his life as a guardian to all we hold dear. Axel has served 6 years within the Marines Corps and over a year and a half with the New York Army National Guard’s “Fighting 69” Infantry.

During his military service, Axel served a year-long deployment in Iraq, and upon his retirement from the military, began a decade-long career within the New York City Police Department, serving valiantly as a patrolman.

While on a vacation along with his brother in Atlanta, Georgia, Axel would once again answer the call to serve as a hero, when observing a young woman attempting to set fire to the historic childhood home of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Thanks to the quick efforts of he and his brother, the arsonist was stopped, apprehended, and the historic home of Dr. King was saved.

In addition to Mr. Dodson, the Town also honored the following residents below, who unfortunately were unable to attend due to the weather.

Kelly Schaeffer
Kelly Schaeffer was born and raised in Central Islip, and graduated from Central Islip High School before beginning a decade-long career working as an educator and advocate for those with disabilities.

In her early career, Kelly worked at Eastern Suffolk BOCES and for the Town of Islip’s Division of Handicapped Services. Having left to travel abroad, Kelly moved back to Central Islip in 2007 to raise her family, and in 2008, began serving on the Suffolk County Board of Elections. For 15 years she has helped curate and establish curriculums to educate, train and certify Suffolk County’s 4,000+ election inspectors. She also coordinates outreach visits to local high schools and community organizations throughout the county, providing educational resources on voter requirements, registration, and the voting process.

In 2016, Kelly founded KindSight Coaching, providing personal development and group programs to empower the public to excel, grow and conquer limiting beliefs and behaviors. As a life coach, she has authored two books, and her third book is nearing completion.

Kelly has truly done it all, and has served to make her community a better place while doing it.

Dr. Teresa J. Bryant.
Dr. Teresa Jeanette Bryant, a Central Islip native and retired nurse, is the founder of Global Leaders Outreach Network Inc., where she has helped foster local and global education scholarship opportunities.

Under Teresa’s leadership, the organization has adopted two schools in Ghana, and has built computer labs for students. Through her continued ministry work, Teresa has also provided motivational and directional speeches at detention centers and schools for women abroad in Suriname, Curacao, Aruba, as well as French Guyana.

As a Global Outreach Coordinator for the Kindest Hearts Foundation, Teresa has also raised funds to build a school and medical center in Haiti, and currently serves as the CEO of JPL Associates, where she focuses on counseling and consulting, and has been recognized by Psychology Today as a leading certified counselor.

Through it all, Dr. Teresa Bryant has remained actively involved with many local community organizations, and serves currently as: Chairperson of the Islip Town Women in NAACP, Long Island Regional Chairperson for Women in NAACP; 3rd Vice President of the Islip Town NAACP; Treasurer of the Central Islip Civic Association; Treasurer of the Central Islip/Islandia Rotary Club; Rotarian of the Islip Town Rotary Club (serving as the Executive Board Member and Literacy Chair); and serves as the Director for Gift of Life Rotary International.

Conrad B. Johnson.
Lifelong resident of the Town of Islip, Conrad Johnson graduated Bay Shore High School in 1976, before going on to attend Nassau County and Suffolk County Community Colleges.

In 1980, under the encouragement from Suffolk County Police Detective John Thomas, and Police Officer Robert Belliteri, Conrad began working with the Suffolk County Police Department as a Community Service Aide. In this role, he would travel to local schools providing education to students on a range of health and safety topics including: avoiding strangers, drug awareness, and the like. Conrad was also involved with outreach programs for local civic associations as well as local churches, to inform residents on the issues most impacting their community.

In 1985, Conrad entered the Suffolk County Police Academy, and upon his graduation, served in the Second Precinct. As an officer within the Suffolk County Police Department, Conrad served the Narcotics Division, First Precinct Uniform Patrol Division, as well as the Third Precinct’s Crime Section, where he served until retiring.

Conrad has dedicated over 33 years to the protection and service of the community, and as a longtime resident of Brentwood, serves the community still.

“Congratulations to all our honorees, and thank you for the hard work each of you do to enrich our community day after day. We are proud to live alongside such devoted hard-working neighbors, proud to recognize Black History this month, and encourage all to celebrate our diverse neighbors each and every month throughout the year,” said Islip Supervisor, Angie Carpenter.