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    United Methodists of Upper New YorkLiving the Gospel. Being God's Love.


    news article

    Agnes Sweets Jacobs-receives the 2020 CONAM Four Directions Humanitarian Award

    June 15, 2020 / By Dan Cook, Hogansburg United Methodist Church.

    Agnes Sweets Jacobs is the 2020 CONAM Four Directions Humanitarian Award recipient.

    Agnes Sweets Jacobs was born and raised on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation at Akwesasne. Sweets has three sisters and four brothers. Sweets and her loving husband Casey have four children and a foster son Louie age 1. Her parents Jerry and Angie were strong pillars in the church and community. Sweets learned at an early age strong family values, church participation, and community action.

    Sweets’ early career was completing LPN requirements and diabetes prevention training. Her desire for the health and nutrition of our people led her into the Reservation school to promote and demonstrate healthy snacks.

    While her daughters were growing up, Sweets coached softball and volleyball. She realizes the importance of sports for youth and the community. To this day, Sweets continues to support all sports activities at Akwesasne.

    In July 2017, Sweets was elected as a Chief of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council. Her compassion for others, organizational/management skills and leadership abilities were some of the gifts she needed to serve with honor. Sweets travels across the country attending various conferences and training sessions advocating for health, drug and alcohol addiction, education, housing, and employment issues. She represents Akwesasne but advocates for other Native communities as well. She strongly encourages everyone to complete the US Census.

    Sweets knows the importance of a high school education. She serves on the Salmon River Central School District Board of Education. She strongly supports the teaching of Mohawk language and culture in all reservation schools.

    Sweets realizes the importance of giving announcements and concerns to the community. This is why she serves on the Akwesasne Community Communication Society: CKON Radio.

    One of Sweets’ strongest passions is the need in the community for fresh produce/food. She established the Green Food Box program which provides fresh vegetables at a reduced price. Pollution has caused severe damage to gardening, hunting, and fishing at Akwesasne. We are slowly returning to safe levels.

    Throughout the years, Sweets has served on the administrative council at HUMC. She has an accounting background. She always gives valuable advice on church financial issues. Last year, Sweets secured a $4,000 grant to assist with cemetery/church groundskeeping and plowing.

    Sweets and her family are some of the best meat pie and fry bread makers on the reservation. They always donate dozens of baked goods to our fundraisers and church functions.

    Sweets served on CONAM for several years. She knows the challenges that we all face as Christian Mohawks. However, she faces challenges and continues to learn and grow with God serving as her strength and following his will.

    It gives us great joy to congratulate Agnes Sweets Jacobs as the recipient of the 2020 CONAM Four Directions Humanitarian Award. God the creator has blessed Sweets with many gifts and talents. Our spirits and lives are enriched at HUMC and the Akwesasne community due to Sweets' continuos efforts, and for that we are grateful. May God the Creator bless you all. Stay safe.


    With more than 100,000 members, United Methodists of Upper New York comprises of more than 675 local churches and New Faith Communities in 12 districts, covering 48,000 square miles in 49 of the 62 counties in New York state. Our vision is to “live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places."