On Tuesday evening, March 11, community members gathered at Schwartz Brothers on Queens Boulevard for an event hosted by Events on the Boulevard. Jennifer Martin, Funeral Director, greeted everyone and introduced the guest speaker. She noted that the Events on the Boulevard hosts events monthly as a special service to the community. In May, a concert is scheduled.
Next, Patricia Alcivar, professional boxer, spoke about her new book, Courage, a memoir. She shared some of her life challenges and how she overcame them with faith and perseverance.
The book is part of a two-part series about her life. She is the two-time New York City Golden Gloves winner and the first female to win Athlete of the Year in boxing from the USA Olympic Boxing Committee. Patricia was born in Elmhurst, Queens. She said, “I’m grateful for everything, the good and the bad, because it’s made me a fighter inside and outside of the ring.” She shared her prologue and also her definition of courage. Courage is being willing to do things that frighten you and to be brave in the face of hardship. “It means being a hero of your own life.” Courage means being a fighter in life and standing up for what is right. It means not giving into fear and it means getting up each time life knocks you down. It means to help others and to give to others without judgment.
She noted that everything in life begins with courage. She spoke about the fact that when you do things you fear, then it becomes easier to do them. She boxed for ten years professionally, and for six years before that as an amateur.
She told the story of how her mother came to America from Colombia at age 18, and worked hard to eventually earn enough money to bring over her whole family. Her mother married a man whom she discovered was violent but shed hoped that he would change. Sadly, Patricia shared that she and her sisters were abused by him and, when she was ten years old and felt they were indeed in terrible danger, she called the police and they took her father away. She hasn’t seen him since then.
Patricia left home at age 15, found a job in a sneaker store, and eventually ended up working for an agency that helped give shelter and counseling to victims of domestic violence. She works now as a Spanish translator for the New York City Health Commissioner. She said that the discipline she learned in sports spread to all areas of her life.
She shared, “I always knew I had a purpose, and writing this book helped me define my purpose.” She read aloud a part of a chapter she wrote. She said that she owes it to the little girl that no one valued to do the best with what G-d gave her. Her parents didn’t protect her. Her motivation is to honor the little girl that no one protected and her higher power.
She spoke about how she has been able to heal from abuse, and that involved forgiveness. She was able to forgive her parents and others who hurt her, and she didn’t allow herself to dwell in sadness.
She moved on from boxing and is currently aiming to climb the seven highest mountains in the world. She already climbed four of them. She also has participated in the New York City Marathon since she was 16 and worked for the New York Road Runners club. Her goal is that her book should become a movie like the movie Rocky. She has worked as a model and an aspiring actress, as well.
It was inspiring to see how someone can grow from such difficult challenges and rise above them and even give to others.
By Susie Garber
