20-02-2025
Elmira shoe store to receive Black Community Honor Award
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) —The Black Community Honors Awards will celebrate individuals who have made significant contributions to the African American community, both locally and nationally.
Rosland Geter is one of the founders of the Black Community Honors organization. This is the second year the organization is having an awards ceremony to honor people in the community. Picking winners is no easy task.
'All year long I am in the community attending events, talking to people and I'm watching. And I'm looking to see what people are doing. I'm looking at the heart of why they're doing it and so I just make that decision on oh this person is doing such great things,' Geter said.
Cairo Shazer, owner of Poet Customs, is the recipient of the Outstanding Business Award. With his business, Shazer provides affordable fashion styles for people in Elmira.
'My favorite thing I would say is to provide a market that we didn't necessarily have here like just carrying all these different shoes. You know what I mean just like stuff that's kind of like harder to get, but still keeping it at an affordable price that people can still afford it,' said Shazer.
Black Community Honors Awards to recognize local leaders
Poet Customs has had a physical home since 2018. From a young age, Shazer knew he had a passion for shoes.
'Definitely like the influence my dad had on me. My dad always loved sneakers so he's always like made sure we had good sneakers. Growing up I'm like I kind of didn't have a choice, but I fell in love with it at the same time. Growing up like always having different sneakers, like the different designs, different colors and things like that always sparked my interest so I don't know, it was kind of seamless to go into it because from elementary school through high school it was already what I was interested in,' added Shazer.
The awards ceremony takes place on Feb. 22 and Geter says it is a great way to connect people for years to come.
'It just showed me that people are about unity. You know it don't matter the color of your skin. It don't matter your religion. It doesn't matter what side of town you live on. Everyone was on one accord and wanted the same thing and that was to honor the individuals that they were there to honor,' added Geter.
Tickets are $25. Those interested in attending can contact organizers at geterosland@ or call (607) 425-6787 for tickets.
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