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Community Works NYC and New Heritage Theatre Group are proud to announce the launch of harlem is…People in the Community, a series of digital storytelling interviews by young people with local storekeepers and others in their own neighborhood who make Harlem a “community”.
Building on decades of telling Harlem’s stories through our landmark exhibit on theater, music and dance at Harlem Hospital Center, to the profiles of local heroes during the pandemic, this project launches a program for young people to discover even more about what makes community work.
Much as the harlem is . . .Healing campaign reflected a response to the pandemic, this program guided by educator/photographer Tau Battice is a response to a present need, as democracy and community feel at risk.
Students had their first interview this week with Bunn of Hats by Bunn located at 2283 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd. Bunn, born in Brooklyn, came to Harlem and started as a street vendor in the 1980s with a table at 125th Street and Lenox Ave before opening his current store in 2002. He explained the opportunity and energy of Harlem back then: “Everyone was selling something, whether it be incense, jewelry, black soap or African fabrics. It was an exciting time.”
Almost four decades later, he not only has dedicated customers from Harlem but this landmark has customers from around the country coming for his beautiful hand crafted hats made right there in his shop.
The students were moved by their time with Bunn and touched by his warmth and a love for his craft and his community. He told them that they each must find their passion and that what was most important in life was hard work and not “money.” Finally he explained that yes, Harlem is changing and you the youth will make the difference.
The afternoon also included a community walk of the majestic Strivers Row with a stop at New Heritage Theatre and a short visit with its producer Voza Rivers and a look at the magnificent mural tribute to Dizzy Gillespie that adorns his building.
Future interviewees include Katrina Parris, owner of NiLu, a shop at 191 Malcolm X Blvd. selling African-based gifts; Leah Abraham, co-founder of the Italian restaurant Settepani on Lenox Avenue; Aliyyah Baylor, of the family-owned Make My Cake on 125th Street; Dr. Maurice E. Wright, chief medical officer, New York City Health and Hospitals, Harlem and the Medical Director of City University of New York; LaZette McCants, founder of Volunteer Divas & Divos Plus.
The hope is that this program will serve as a pilot for continuing student interviews and intergenerational learning across Harlem.
Our permanent harlem is . . .Music, Theater, & Dance exhibition at the Harlem Hospital Center offers free tours, workshops, and public programs including our Saturdays@harlem program series.
For further information on harlem is…, call Barbara Horowitz, Founder and President, 917-757-2242 or email bh@communityworksnyc.org.
The program is underwritten by the Harlem Community Development Corporation.
Harlem is..programming is dedicated to former Community Works Board chair Michael Davidson.
