To get to know the values of another is an experience one never forgets.

Reading the essays written by our scholarship candidates is such an experience. Essentially, one shares a heart reaching moment that has one gasp at the difficulties overcome by these young people and marvel at the potential ready to be developed as they go on to higher education. It is a humbling experience repeated every year when struggling to make selections from so many deserving students.

Doris Rita Solomon, is the scholarship sponsor for the Coalition since 2009. Doris became involved when Juan Tirado, her deceased sister's life partner (and V.P. of the Coalition) died. To honor Beverly Solomon and her late husband, Walter Zucker, a sculptor, Doris committed to the mission of the Coalition.

Doris has done many things in her life that have enriched the lives of others. Her background includes teaching first grade, working in publishing, becoming a social worker and and lastly, a therapist. As an editor for R. R. Bowker, she edited a yearly publication for schools and libraries, Best Books for Children. Leaving publishing, she attended Columbia University School of Social Work earning a degree in 1973.

While working as a geriatric social worker, Doris began to train as a psychoanalyst at NPAP, the Theodor Reik Training Institute in New York and was certified in 2000. She has been in private practice since 1987 working primarily with adults.

Singing since she was a child, Doris has performed at Don't Tell Mama and formerly sang with The Voices of New York chorus. She sings at various open mics. She is grateful for having a plot in the thirty year old uws community garden, the Lotus Garden, which provides a haven of beauty for New Yorkers. Doris also trained with Al Gore in 2017 as a climate change leader.

To quote Doris, sponsoring the scholarship for the coalition, is "one of the best things she has ever done".