COPAIGUE, NY, May 21, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Silas W. Kelly has been approved as a subject of biographical record in Who's Who in America. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Kelly thanks his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for blessing him with this clear vision of the road he is meant to travel. He says that he is a product and a beneficiary of the Social Work profession. Mr. Kelly says he is grateful for the never-ending support of his lovely wife, Dr. Corinthia Price Kelly and he consistently draws inspiration from their 3 beautiful daughters, Ashia Ruth, Zenzele Silisa, and Uchenna Tina whom are affectionately referred to as the "Kelly Girls".
In 2009 after having a discussion with his wife, who suggested he go for his Masters in Social Work. Mr. Kelly returned to college in 2010 at Adelphi University. This turned out to be sound advice and to this day this decision continues to pay dividends as described below.
Mr. Kelly is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). He graduated from Adelphi University's School of Social Work (MSW) in 2014, with "Honors", after being inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) https://odk.org/ National Leadership Honor Society. Upon graduation he was voted as the "Social Work Advocate of the Year" through his graduate alma mater for his tireless dedication to the profession. He was the recipient of 3 major scholarships while attending Adelphi. Mr. Kelly was one of the featured students in Adelphi's Commencement YouTube Profiles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFK1-rJQ9V8. He credits the profession with rescuing him from traumatic childhood experiences. He knows first-hand the profound impact Social Work can have on the life of an individual. Mr. Kelly sees his early childhood experiences and the help he received from the Social Work profession as the reasons he chose the Social Work profession. Mr. Kelly acknowledged that impact by writing the following two articles to pay tribute:
https://www.socialworker.com/extras/social-work-month-2020/social-work-foster-care-day-i-was-rescued/
https://www.socialworker.com/extras/social-work-month-2019/my-sister-and-i-connected-by-social-work/
Driven to remain aware of changes in the field, Mr. Kelly aligns himself closely with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). He has been a member since 2011. Throughout the course of his career, Mr. Kelly gained valuable professional expertise as a National Association of Social Workers, (NASW) NY State Board of Directors member from 2017 to 2019 https://naswnys.org/. In that role he represented Nassau and Suffolk County on Long Island, NY. From 2015 to 2017 Mr. Kelly served as the NASW-NYS Suffolk County Division leader. In 2013 Mr. Kelly was appointed as the Recruitment and Retention Chair, serving in that role until 2015.
On May 28, 2021 The Press Club of Long Island – Society of Professional Journalist announced that Kelsunn Communications, Inc. was awarded "1st Place in its annual Media Competition in the "Radio Section" in the "Podcast Category". Click the link below for a list of all this year's winners.
https://www.pcli.org/2021/05/28/2021-pcli-media-award-winners-announced/ The episode, titled "Destigmatize to Normalize" was released in January of 2020. (https://anchor.fm/kelsunn-on-the-air/episodes/From-Destigmatize-to-Normalize-eacud5). The episode featured an "in depth and compelling discussion about mental health and wellness", said company CEO & Founder, Silas W. Kelly.
In March 2021, Mr. Kelly was selected as the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Long Island, NY (Nassau & Suffolk Counties) "Social Worker of the Year". Mr. Kelly calls this one of his greatest honors.
https://naswnys.org/long-island-awards-night/
On February 5, 2021 Mr. Kelly was one of several Social Workers featured in the NY State Chapter's "This Is Social Work" campaign launched to educate the general public about Social Workers. https://naswnys.org/this-is-social-work/
On May 4, 2021 The Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts (AIVA) Kelsunn Communications, Inc (Mr. Kelly's Media Company) was honored with a Communicator's "Award of Distinction" For this Video Montage, A Tribute to the late, Mrs. Ruth Alexandra Cox, Mr. Kelly's Foster Mother.
https://www.communicatorawards.com/winners/list/?event=1044&category=1923&award=9&_p=2
The link to the winning piece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8e87IQK4Pk
In 2020 Mr. Kelly was one of the Social Workers featured on the NASW NY State site discussing his role as a HUD-VASH Case Management Social Worker working with the Homeless Veteran Population. He currently works in this capacity for his current employer. https://naswnys.org/generations-strong-silas-w-kelly-lmsw/.
In October of 2020 Mr. Kelly was 1 of 15 candidates Nationally, and 1 of only 5 in the NY Metropolitan area to be selected as a 2020 – 2021 Network of Social Work Management (NSWM) Policy Fellows Cohort. https://socialworkmanager.org/2020-2021-policy-fellows-cohort/ Mr. Kelly's presentation is geared towards raising the profile of Social Workers as a way to bring about more equitable salaries in the profession.
Mr. Kelly excels today in numerous positions. He is currently a Podcast Host & Producer, an independent radio public affairs producer and an on-air topic facilitator. His company, Kelsunn Communications, Inc,© (Website: www.kelsunn.org) a Registered 501(c)(3), features as its flagship offering the award winning, "Kelsunn-on-the-Air" Social Work Podcast https://anchor.fm/kelsunn-on-the-air which "Promotes, Highlights, and Uplifts the Social Work Profession". In 2020 and 2019 two of Mr. Kelly's independently produced podcasts received awards in the annual "Press Club of Long Island" Media competitions. In 2020 Mr. Kelly's interview with a freelance journalist who talked about the growing national phenomenon of public libraries hiring professional social workers won the 2nd Place award. https://anchor.fm/kelsunn-on-the-air/episodes/Emily-Nonko---Social-Workers-in-the-Library-2nd-Place-PCLI-2020-Media-Awards-ebc4bs. In 2019 "From Denial to Discussion" won 3rd Place https://anchor.fm/kelsunn-on-the-air/episodes/From-Denial-to-Discussion---Facing-The-Truth-Finally-e4i1il. This podcast detailed Mr. Kelly's guest struggles against mental health issues and how he tried to hide it initially.
As an independent producer Mr. Kelly has achieved much, producing and co-hosting several segments on New York's Z-100. Mr. Kelly produced and co-hosted a public affairs program on the station highlighting Sarah O'Connor's cross-country bicycle ride from NY to LA. She rode to raise money and awareness about hunger and homelessness on Long Island. The segment subsequently won 1st Place for "radio" in the 2018 "Press Club of Long Island media competition. https://anchor.fm/kelsunn-on-the-air/episodes/Z-100-Get-Active-Public-Afairs-Show--1st-Place--2018-Media-Award---Sarah-O-Connor--The-INNcredible-Bike-Ride-evl0mf. Adelphi University's Alumni Office highlighted, Class of '16, alumnae, Ms. O'Connor's fund-raising efforts in this article. https://www.adelphi.edu/news/alumni-get-inn-step-for-a-cause/.
Mr. Kelly co-produced and co-hosted many other segments on Z-100, several of which were highlighted in this Adelphi University Magazine Alumni special https://www.adelphi.edu/news/reaching-out-with-z100/. Several of Mr. Kelly's segments appear Nationally via NASW's PR Website http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/?s=Silas+Kelly+&x=0&y=0.
Mr. Kelly arranged to write and voice a public service announcement in 2018 regarding an upcoming workshop about reintegration after incarceration. https://anchor.fm/kelsunn-on-the-air/episodes/Silas--your-EJournalism-Social-Work-Advocate-Promoting-NASW-on-WHPC-90-3--Nassau-Community-College-evl6fk. This workshop was co-sponsored by the National Association of Social Workers and Nassau Community College's Human Services academic department. In December of 2017 Mr. Kelly was a guest on Radio Station WHPC 90.3, Nassau Community College Radio Station. Once again Mr. Kelly was invited as a guest to discuss the profession of Social Work and the importance of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) as a professional advocacy organization.
In 2016 Mr. Kelly was invited to be a guest on "Radio Jobline" produced and hosted by veteran media personality, Scott Passeser on LI News Radio 103.9 to discuss career opportunities in the Social Work field. This segment was honored in 2017 with the NASW's Media Award in the category of "Radio" http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/hollywood-connection/and-the-2017-nasw-media-award-winners-are.html. Since November of 2020, Mr. Kelly's Podcast episode, "Promoting the Social Work Profession", is rated #1 in Melbourne, Australia in the "Education Category" https://www.owltail.com/podcast/RHVmv-E-Journalism-Social-Work-Advocate. Due to the success of the previous show in 2016, Mr. Kelly was invited back in 2017 to be a guest to discuss qualifications a Social Worker needs, licensure, and salaries among other things. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bckqoh4l1uX/?taken-by=radiojobline.
This past August Mr. Kelly was, for a third time invited back to be a guest, virtually to discuss "The Pandemic & The Protests" once again from a Social Work viewpoint. https://anchor.fm/kelsunn-on-the-air/episodes/LI-News-103-9-Radio-Jobline--Scott-Passeser--Silas-Kelly-The-Pandemic--The-Protest-ei8ghd.
A frequently sought out public speaker Mr. Kelly has served as a keynote or guest speaker for a number of New York colleges and universities. He has been an invited Social Work speaker or panelist at Adelphi University, Stony Brook University, Long Island University, LIU – Brentwood, and Molloy College. At Suffolk Community College Mr. Kelly was featured in this Alumni YouTube video sharing his Foster Care Story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ipHImVDLdQ.
Outside of his work, he devotes himself to lifting up individuals going through temporary difficult times. He does this as a volunteer for Zion Gospel Church of which he is a member, and an Ordained "Christian Worker". Mr. Kelly volunteers in their food pantry, works with church and community youth, and as the director of their Media Ministry. Looking toward the future, he intends to take Kelsunn Communications to the next level and continue making his family proud. Moreover, without the love and guidance of his amazing foster parents, the late Mr. & Mrs. Oden & Ruth Cox, Mr. Kelly would not be where he is today. Mr. Kelly also pays homage to his late biological parents, Mr. William Kelly, Sr. and Ms. Johnsie Mae Witherspoon.
Mr. Kelly attended Brooklyn College from1993 to 1997 where he earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Broadcast-Journalism, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Public Communications. During his time at Brooklyn College he worked as a News Production Assistant for 1010 WINS, NY, and also a Morning Show Producer for WBLI 106.1 in Medford, NY. While at Brooklyn College. Mr. Kelly became very involved in the campus radio station, WBCR 590 AM. He served as News and Public Affairs Director creating both departments from scratch. He managed the news department for two years. Mr. Kelly also founded a public affairs program called "Viewpoints" where he conducted in-depth interviews on campus, local, and national topics for four years. Mr. Kelly was featured on the front cover of the Summer-1995 edition of the Brooklyn College Magazine as one of 10 students that represented academic excellence. He was awarded 9 academic/extra-curricular scholarships there. Six of those scholarships were broadcast-related. Among those were all three Radio/TV departmental scholarships, a Scripps-Howard Foundation scholarship, a Press Club of LI scholarship, and a Bayless Broadcast Foundation national radio scholarship. Mr. Kelly's finest accomplishment there was being elected as the first-ever African-American to serve as President and General Manager of the college radio station and ushering the station into the digital production age. He was inducted into the Alpha Epsilon Rho (AERho) National Broadcasting Society and graduated with honors. After graduation Mr. Kelly spent 3 years as a non-paid staff news reporter for WBAI 99.5 FM, working at the station one day a week. After demonstrating sound news judgement and technical skills he was promoted to a paid per diem reporter.
In 1990 Mr. Kelly returned to school after working for many years and earned an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Broadcast Telecommunications from Suffolk Community College. During that time Mr. Kelly was awarded a full Minority Achiever's Scholarship, inducted into Who's Who, among Students in American Junior Colleges, and elected to the Colleges Board of Trustees as the Student Trustee, representing over 15,000 students on three campuses. While attending school Mr. Kelly secured a job as a Board Operator at a small local radio station. He also secured a role as a public affairs producer and host. This was an invaluable experience for him. However, Mr. Kelly counts as his greatest achievement, having a poem published that he wrote in honor of his late Foster Mother, Ms. Ruth Alexandra Cox. In 1993 he graduated with Honors and Distinction.
Furthermore, he oversees all marketing matters as a chief marketing and public relations consultant at Workforce Career Readiness Inc. www.workforcecareers.net.
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