Southampton - Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) is pleased to announce that the 2011 "Woman of Distinction" recipient from the 2nd Legislative District is Brenda Simmons of Southampton. "Simmons is an exceptional woman who has demonstrated leadership, involvement and commitment to our community and I am proud to have her as my choice for this year's Woman of Distinction" said Schneiderman.

Legislator Schneiderman presented Simmons with a proclamation lauding her dedication to the area at the Official Sign Unveiling Ceremony for the African American Museum of the East End in Southampton.

Simmons is a professional businesswoman and a compassionate humanitarian who has extended herself to assist others within her local community for many years. She helped establish and is one of the founding members of the non-profit museum, East End African-American Museum and Center for Excellence, founded in 2005. She is the chairwoman of the African-American Board, a group that advises the museum. The East End African American Museum and Center for Excellence is a group that serves Long Island communities with a mission to promote an understanding and appreciation of African American culture, by creating programs that will help youth succeed in school and life. The group further seeks to enhance learning in families, encourage lifelong learners, and to advocate for the preservation of cultural resources. They currently host an annual Black Film Festival and other programs to help promote their cause. Simmons is also a writer and poet and serves the museum as curator for various art exhibits.

Simmons is also the assistant to Southampton Village Mayor Mark Epley and a member of the Village of Southampton's Affirmative Action Committee whose sole purpose is to develop and administer the Southampton Village Affirmative Action Program. The committee administers a number of positive and specific actions, taken to increase the utilization of minorities, women and handicap where they are under-represented in the Southampton Village Departments.