Community Works in association with New Heritage Theatre, two local nonprofits, announces the official launch of Community Matters NYC on September 27, 2012 at 5:30 PM at The Interchurch Center, located at 475 Riverside Drive @ 120th Street, New York, NY 10115.
Community Matters NYC (CMNYC) is the first and largest network of major anchor institutions and community partners to honor and celebrate Upper Manhattan ‘s rich history, culture, traditions and connections to the global community through performances , exhibitions and public programs.
To accompany the CMNYC launch will be the debut of Harlem Is…Activism, an exhibition that profiles 30 individuals, from elder statesman and veteran grassroots organizers to artists and neighborhood historians, whose dynamic lives and meaningful work helped define the Harlem community. Generations of activists, from street-corner orators to preachers in the pulpit to elected officials have shaped the significance of Harlem . Harlem Is… Activism illustrates the important role of community leadership at this pivotal time in America ’s history as it demonstrates strength, perseverance and hope.
Among the evenings’ notable honorees are jazz historian and author Albert Murray, producer and publisher Vy Higginsen, sculptor Inge Hardison, historian Yosef ben-Jochannan, Pan-Caribbean dancer Marie Brooks, legendary actress and producer Gertrude Jeanette, business leader Lloyd Williams , renowned jazz vocalist Gloria Lynne, esteemed political and community leaders Charles Rangel and Basil A. Paterson, the late Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton, the late jazz drummer Max Roach, the late designer and Harlem African-American Wax Museum owner Raven Chanticleer, and the late author Rosa Guy (a honoree list is included).
The exhibit also features a magnificent 30-foot photographic timeline of Harlem, developed in collaboration with the Schomburg Center for Research and Black Culture, that highlights the major events and turning points of this world-renowned community from 1900 to the present. The exhibit will be free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5pm at The Interchurch Center through November 23, 2012.
Christopher Paul Moore, senior researcher and curator of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, said in his introduction to the exhibit that Harlem has been “a haven for immigrants who sought the promise of the American Dream – and an oasis for people of the African Diaspora who long sought the promise too… The history of Harlem is the history of the American Dream – and activism.”
The launch will be attended by over 200 guests, including heads of Harlem-based cultural institutions, educators, historians and elected officials.
“Community Works is proud to convene anchor institutions and community partners who are deeply committed to preserving and building cultural equity in Upper Manhattan ,” says Community Works NYC Founder and President Barbara Horowitz .
The six anchor institutions are the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, City College of New York, Columbia University School of the Arts, The Interchurch Center, Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center , and Supportive Children’s Advocacy Network (SCAN). The community partners are Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, Harlem Arts Alliance, Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance and Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
The evening’s public program will include performances by cutting-edge composer/trombonist Craig Harris, a tribute to the exhibit honorees, anchor institutions and community partners who have joined forces with Community Works to tell Upper Manhattan ‘s story, and performances by members of the Oscar- and Grammy-Nominated IMPACT Repertory Theatre.
From September 27th through November 23rd, The Interchurch Center will be the residence for additional programming featuring a companion exhibit Spirit of Community: Art and Activism, weeklytours, performances and workshops (a list of events is included).
At its anchor institutions, CMNYC exhibition and public programs will continue to highlight renowned and emerging artists, accomplished scholars and legendary cultural pioneers in more than 100 public events. The calendar encompasses six visual art and historical exhibitions, 50 school-time performances , monthly Saturday family programs, film screenings, a folk art series, a children’s literature initiative and a slate of evening art talks, openings and performing arts events (a select listing is included).
CMNYC Programming @ Interchurch Center
Free and low-cost events for the public. Reservation is required and accepted by calling Community Works at (212) 459-1854 or via email at qc@communityworksnyc.org.
Date: Thursday, September 27, 2012 through Friday, November 23, 2012
Time: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Venue: The Interchurch Center
Event: Harlem Is… Activismexhibition
Profiles 30 individuals from elder statesman and veteran grassroots organizers to artists and neighborhood historians whose dynamic lives and meaningful work helped define the Harlem community.
Produced by Community Works and The Interchurch Center
Date: Thursday, September 27, 2012
Time: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Venue: The Interchurch Center
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Event: Community Matters NYC launchand the debut of Harlem Is… Activism exhibit
Honors 30 individuals whose dynamic lives and work helped shape and define the Harlem community. The event includes a tribute to the honorees and special performances by cutting-edge composer/trombonist Craig Harris and Oscar- and Grammy-nominated IMPACT Repertory Theatre.
Produced by Community Works, The Interchurch Center and New Heritage Theatre Group
Date: Thursday, October 11, 2012
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (Art Walk)
Time: 1:00 PM ( Harlem Memorabilia Demonstration)
Venue: The Interchurch Center
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Event: Art Walk and Art Demonstration with Dingda McCannon
Be a part of a guided tour of Harlem Is… Activism followed by a visit with Dindga McCannon and friends as they put the finishing touches on their Harlem Memorabilia quilts, transforming personal mementos into textile art to tell visual stories that are a part of the fabric of Harlem.
Produced by Community Works and The Interchurch Center
Date: Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Time: 11:00AM-12:00 PM (Art Walk: Guided Tour)
Time: 12:00 PM (Musical Performance)
Venue: The Interchurch Center
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Event:Guided tour of the Harlem Is… Activism exhibition
Experience the rich legacy of activism in Harlem from its origins in the 1900s to the heroes that keep the legacy alive today, followed by a musical performance by Coda Duo: Music for Classical Guitar.
Produced by Community Works and The Interchurch Center
Date: Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Time: 11:00AM-12:00 PM (Art Walk: Guided Tour)
Time: 12:00 PM (Musical Performance)
Venue: The Interchurch Center
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Event:Guided tour of the Harlem Is… Activism exhibition
Experience the story of activism in Harlem from its origins in the 1900s to the heroes that keep the legacy alive today, followed by a musical performance by City Winds Trio: Music for Flute, Oboe and Piano.
Produced by Community Works and The Interchurch Center
Date: Thursday, November 1, 2012 through Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Time: Time: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Venue: The Interchurch Center
Event: Spirit of Community: Art and Activism exhibition
A glimpse into art from the 1950s through today, featuring the remarkable talents of 15 visual artists and illustrating the timeless role that arts continue to play in shaping, informing and documenting culture. Artists include Andrea Arroyo, Kwame Brathwaite, Myrah Brown-Green, Bryan Collier, Noreen Dean Dresser, Tafa Fiadzigbe, Inge Hardison, Omo Misha, Ruth Morgan, Faith Ringgold, David Shrobe, Emmett Wigglesworth, Grace Y. Williams and Hubert Williams.
Produced by Community Works
Date: Thursday, November 1, 2012
Time: 5:30 PM-7:30 PM
Venue: The Interchurch Center
Event: Opening reception of the Spirit of Community: Art and Activism
Join us for the opening celebration of this exhibition, featuring the remarkable talents of 15 visual artists. Art & Activism illustrates the timeless role the arts continue to play in shaping, informing, and documenting culture. Tour the companion historical exhibit, Harlem Is… Activism.
Produced by Community Works and The Interchurch Center
Date: Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Time: 11:00 AM (Art Walk)
Time: 12:00 PM (Musical Moments)
Venue: The Interchurch Center
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Event: Art Walk & Musical Moments
Experience an intimate tour of the Spirit of Community: Art and Activism exhibition with curator Omo Misha. Art & Activism offers a glimpse into art from the 1950s through today, illustrating the timeless role the arts play in shaping, informing, and documenting culture. Tour the companion historical exhibit Harlem Is… Activism. Follow the tour with a musical performance by Stephanie Rooker, vocalist: A Concert of Sacred Healing Sound.
Produced by Community Works and The Interchurch Center
Date: Thursday, November 8, 2012
Time: 10:15 am and 12:15 am
Venue: The Interchurch Center
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Admission: $7
Event: Griots in Concert
A “Griot” is the person who guards the history and culture of a people and passes on the oral traditions from generation to generation. Griots in Concert continues this tradition by combining interactive and participatory storytelling, dance, music, drumming, and song to create an inspirational, educational, and motivating performance from Africa, the Caribbean, and America . Grades K-6
Produced by Community Works
Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Time: 11:00 AM (Art Walk)
Time: 12:00 PM (Musical Moments)
Venue: The Interchurch Center
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Event: Art Walk & Musical Moments
Experience an intimate tour of the Spirit of Community: Art and Activism exhibition with curator, Omo Misha. Art & Activism offers a glimpse into art from the 1950s through today, illustrating the timeless role the arts play in shaping, informing, and documenting culture. Tour the companion historical exhibit Harlem is….Activism. Follow the tour with a musical performance by Stephanie Rooker, vocalist: A Concert of Sacred Healing Sound.
Produced by Community Works and The Interchurch Center
Date: Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Time: 11:00 AM (Art Walk)
Time: 12:00 PM (Musical Moments)
Venue: The Interchurch Center
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Event: Art Walk & Musical Moments
Experience an intimate tour of the Spirit of Community: Art and Activism exhibition with curator Omo Misha. Art & Activism offers a glimpse into art from the 1950s through today, illustrating the timeless role the arts play in shaping, informing, and documenting culture. Tour the companion historical exhibit Harlem Is… Activism. Follow the tour with a musical performance by Stephanie Rooker, vocalist: A Concert of Sacred Healing Sound.
Produced by Community Works and The Interchurch Center
Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Time: 5:30 PM
Venue: The Interchurch Center
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Event: Spirit of Community: Art & Activism Art Talk
View the Spirit of Community: Art & Activism exhibition, meet participating artists and engage in a dialogue with artists and guests, moderated by curator Omo Misha. Art & Activism offers a glimpse into art from the 1950s through today, illustrating the timeless role the arts play in shaping, informing, and documenting culture.
Produced by Community Works and The Interchurch Center
CMNYC Inaugural Month Programs
Free and low-cost events for the public. Reservation is required and accepted by calling Community Works at (212) 459-1854 or via email at qc@communityworksnyc.org.
Date: Sunday, September 30, 2012
Time: 3:00 PM
Venue: Dwyer Cultural Center
RSVP: (212) 926-2550 or lainiesvoice@gmail.com
Event: Roger Furman Reading Series: Big Al and a Few Brave Men – a powerful play about African-American men who served in the segregated Marine Corps during World War II, written by John Mitchell.
Produced by New Heritage Theatre Group in association with Community Works
Date: Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Venue: Aaron Davis Hall Theater B at City College of New York
Event: Harlem Lore: Pigfoot Mary Says Goodbye to the Harlem Renaissance– “Pig Foot Mary” remembers the stories of friends and Harlem icons she has encountered on her corner at 135th and Lenox Ave. This delightful piece performed by Daniel Carlton brings to life one of Harlem’s most successful entrepreneurs through poems by Langston Hughes and other Harlem greats.
Produced by City College of New York and Community Works
Date: Thursday, October 4, 2012
Time: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Venue: Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Event: Harlem Is… Children’s Literature: A Community Dialogue – explores Harlem ’s tradition of literature that enriches the way children see themselves and the world. A select group of educators, librarians, parents, students, writers, technology specialists, and others share their ideas for carrying on this important Harlem tradition.
Produced by Community Works
Date: Thursday, October 4, 2012
Time: 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Venue: Aaron Davis Hall Theater B at City College of New York
Event: Opening reception for the Colors of Change exhibition and the annual Arts and Culture Award Ceremony – feature the works of Danny Simmons, Leopold Fuentes and Ghariowkhu Lemi. Invited honorees include Stephen and Ruth Hendel and Russell Simmons.
Produced by City College of New York
Date: Saturday, October 6, 2012
Time: 4:00 PM
Venue: Aaron Davis Hall Marian Anderson Theater at City College of New York
RSVP: (212) 926-2550 or lainiesvoice@gmail.com
Event: In the Spirit: What’s Your Groove? – do-wop, be-bop, Afro-pop, R&B and blues performed by Kwame and the Uptown Shakedown band and Laura Mann.
Produced by New Heritage Theatre Group in association with Community Works
Date: Sunday, October 7, 2012
Time: 2:00 PM
Venue: Dwyer Cultural Center
RSVP: (212) 926-2550 or lainiesvoice@gmail.com
Event: Blues & Jazz: From Plays, Poems and Narrative Writings of Bill Harris 2011 – Bill Harris, a recipient of the Kresge Eminent Artist Award, will perform excerpts from his work. Produced by New Heritage Theatre Group and New Federal Theatre in association with Community Works
Date: Saturday, October 20, 2012
Time: 3:00 PM
Venue: SCAN at Johnson Community Center
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Event: Bomb Shelter by Luther Media Productions – today’s hottest young poets, spoken word artists and musicians mix it up slam style through verse, rhyme and song.
Produced by Community Works and SCAN
Date: Saturday, October 27, 2012
Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Venue: Countee Cullen Library
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Event: Saturday in Harlem: Speaking in Rhythms Youth Ensemble – global sounds from Belize , Peru , Africa and Puerto Rico as well as original musical arrangements and compositions by the ensemble.
Produced by Community Works
Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Time: 10:15 AM & 12:15 PM
Venue: Countee Cullen Library
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Admission: $7
Event: Hip Hop Aesop – classic literature meets hip-hop rhythms in a contemporary adaptation of Aesop’s Fables written by renowned playwright J.E. Franklin and performed by D. Cross.
Produced by Community Works
Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Time: 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Venue: The plaza of Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building
Event: Harlemween: A Holiday Celebration – come celebrate Halloween, Harlem style. Dress in costume and enjoy a live DJ, storytellers, games and more!
Produced by Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building and Community Works
Date: Tuesday, November 6, 2012 through Thursday, December 27, 2012
Time: Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Venue: The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center
Event: Latin Roots: Washington Heights/Inwood exhibition – honors four local heroes and celebrates the diverse cultural and historical importance of Washington Heights and Inwood.
Produced by Community Works
Date: Thursday, November 15, 2012
Time: 6:30 PM
Venue: The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Event: Opening reception of the Latin Roots: Washington Heights/Inwood exhibition which celebrates the diverse cultural and historical importance of Washington Heights and Inwood by honoring its local heroes. The event includes a tribute to the honorees and music of the community.
Produced by Community Works and The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center
Date: Friday, November 16, 2012
Time: 10:15 AM & 12:15 PM
Venue: The Malcolm and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Education Center
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Admission: $7
Event: Oye Mi Canto with Bambula is a presentation of the Bomba musical expression, developed in the Caribbean by West Africans who worked the colonial sugar plantations. This musical form expressed the people’s emotions, and Bambula uses this tradition to preserve history for future generations.
Produced by Community Works
Date: Friday, November 16, 2012
Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Aaron Davis Hall
Event: Opera Ebony is considered one of the world’s great cultural treasures. The company will perform from its expansive repertoire. Don’t miss “Sass’ N Class.”
Produced by Aaron Davis Hall
Date: Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Time: 11:00 AM
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Venue: The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center
Event: Art Walk – Explore the Latin Roots: Washington Heights/Inwood exhibit through an interactive tour. Discover the rich history of this diverse community and its many local heroes.
Produced by Community Works and The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center
Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Time: 11:00 AM
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Venue: The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center
Event: Art Walk – Explore the Latin Roots: Washington Heights/Inwood exhibit through an interactive tour. Discover the rich history of this diverse community and its many local heroes.
Produced by Community Works and The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center
Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Time: 10:15 am & 12:15 pm
Venue: The Countee Cullen Library
RSVP: (212) 459-1854 or qc@communityworksnyc.org
Admission: $7
Event: RumbaTap with Max Pollak – Max Pollak draws the audience into his world of rhythm, dance and shared musical experience via Afro-Cuban folklore, body percussion, tap dance and lots of humor. He explores history, narrative and the ingenious improvisation of dance. All elements flow together into a completely unique virtuosic expression that always includes the audience. All ages
Produced by Community Works
Harlem Is… Activism Honorees
Betty Allen· President Emeritus, The Harlem School of the Arts
James Allen· Director of Addicts Rehabilitation Center (ARC)
Eloise Banks · Community Leader and President of West 138th Street Block Association
Dr. Yosef ben-Jochannan· Historian
John Bess · Founder and Director of The Valley
Warren & Marguerite Blake· Detectives and Funeral Directors
Marie Brooks· Founder, Marie Brooks Caribbean Dance Theatre
Raven Chanticleer· Founder, The Afro-American Wax Museum Sculptor
Joe Cuba· Afro-Latin Jazz Musician, The Salsa Museum
Rosa Guy· Writer and Co-Founder of Harlem Writers Guild
Inge Hardison· Sculptor
Vy Higginsen· Musical Theatre Producer, The Mama Foundation
John Isaacs· The Harlem RENS Professional Basketball Team Member
Gertrude Jeanette· Founder/Director of The H.A.D.L.E.Y. Players
Yuri Kochiyama· Civil Rights Activist
Gloria Lynne· Singer
Joe Merenda· Owner, The Flash Inn
Lorraine Monroe· Educator and Founder of Frederick Douglass Academy
Albert Murray· Critic, Novelist, and Historian
Basil A. Paterson· Attorney
Muriel Petioni· Doctor and Community Leader
Charles Rangel· U.S. Congressman
Max Roach· Jazz Legend
Tunde Samuel· Producing Director of The National Black Theatre
The Silver Belles· Cotton Club Chorus Line Dancers
Sister Miriam Cecelia· The Franciscan Handmaidens of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Convent
Percy E. Sutton· Businessman
Grace Williams· Visual Artist
Lloyd Williams · President, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce
Ruth Williams· Founder, The Ruth Williams Dance Studio
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