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2February 2023 Join a health plan made just for New Yorkers. 855.809.4073 metroplus.org Call Visit WE STAND WITH YOU Thank you to The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce for 125 years of dedication to improving the quality of life for all of Harlem. MKT 23.009 MetroPlus Health Plan, Inc.
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4February 2023 Harlem is as bold as it is strong, and despite its many ethnic revolutions and the migrations of the Dutch, the British, the Italians, Jews and Irish, it is the Africans (mainly Blacks and Latinos) who have elevated this northern Manhattan neighborhood to the global stage as the Black Mecca of the African diaspora. This revolution began with the great Black migration in the early twentieth century. World War I had ended, and the Great Depression had begun. Black Americans have long been in a war of our own, and what was a great depression for White Americans and the countries of Europe was a way of life imposed upon African Americans by their European oppressors. Physical slavery ended but psychological oppression continued. The chains were gone, but the slave masters’ grip remained; our fore parents’ bodies were physically strong from their years of toil and hard labor, but their minds remained shackled after those hundreds of years that White slave masters and governments like America, Britain and the Netherlands played paddle ball with their psyche. Slavery, lynching, Jim Crow and a pervasive culture of economic suppression, social repression and political oppression were intended to push these freed slaves and their children into psychological depression. But no – it inspired hope and fueled resilience. After these toilsome years of free labor and thousands of uncredited inventions, these sons and daughters of Africa were denied their 40 acres and a mule and walked away emptyhanded. They migrated north from the American south, and many came to Harlem. The new Negro movement gave hope and sparked a renaissance for change and transformation. A people divinely gifted, spiritually imbued and pregnant with possibilities now shaped a new community. They had left behind the scars from the oppressors’ whips and thrust ahead to define a future that is theirs to own – and Harlem became a “state of mind.” Harlem now gives rise to an explosive outpouring of artistic eloquence and a Black cultural revolution that blew the lid. Like a covered pot of boiling water, the power could not be contained, and Harlem rose to become the cultural, political, and spiritual capital of Black America. And the impact is deafening. America’s first megachurch – Harlem. The street talks that motivated men like Kwame Nkrumah to go back home and help free Ghana – Harlem. The CONTINUED on p. 22 CONTINUED on p. 22
5February 2023 At 92, retired Congressman Charles Bernard Rangel is still an energetic and influential Harlemite. Born June 11, 1930 – the year the Great Depression started and the year Haile Selassie was crowned emperor of Ethiopia, Rangel’s life started with uncertainty. A truant who initially dropped out of high school, Charles Rangel gained insight and found his direction in the U.S. Army. By 1950, he was in combat with the Chinese in Korea. Shot and left for dead, young Rangel mustered every ounce of courage and prayed to God to let him live. “God spared my life and rescued me, and I’ve never had a bad day since,” Rangel noted. When he got back to Harlem, everything changed. “I was exposed to a different life, and even though that new life was a difficult tour in the US Army, I knew that I could not go back to the old life I once loved,” Rangel retorted. Back in Harlem, Rangel was renewed, revived, and ready for a new life. He proceeded to complete two years of high school in one year, and utilizing the benefits of the G.I. Bill, Rangel went on to earn his Bachelor of Science from New York University. By the age of 30, Rangel had completed law school at St. John’s University, and began to practice law. As the Charles B. Rangel story unfolded, Harlem, America, and the world would experience a man who would later serve as a counsel to President Lyndon Johnson, co-founder with the Honorable Percy Sutton of the Martin Luther King Democratic Club (formerly the J F Kennedy Democratic Club), a New York State Assemblyman and the enduring husband of 58 years of Alma Carter Rangel. A resilient man and civil rights pioneer, Charles Rangel dispenses irrepressible energy, taking his advocacy to the US Congress where he would serve for 46 years after 23 elections. Through those years, the Congressman from Harlem would gain great prominence as one of Capitol Hill’s leading deal makers and power brokers. He co-engineered the Empowerment Zone, helped to draft the Affordable Care Act, worked to advance trade deals with Africa and the Caribbean, and was a huge proponent of sanctions against American corporations that did business with South Africa’s apartheid regime. With charisma, persistence, and his innate ability to carve deals, the “Lion of Lenox Avenue” rose to become the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, considered to be one of the most influential positions in the US Congress. Rangel is a member of the historic “Gang of Four” – which also included Basil Paterson, David Dinkins, and Percy Sutton – whose members ascended to top political posts. Reflecting on their impact, Rangel sums it by declaring, “We had the ambition to do and to uplift. We didn’t have a political agenda – we had a people agenda. We didn’t have a blueprint, just passion and conviction ...”. I n the midst of the Harlem Renaissance, only 2 years before the celebrated opening of the A Train subway service, a New York City mother whose roots were deep in rural Accomack County, Virginia, and a man from Puerto Rico gave life to a boy named Charlie. Little did they know that their Harlem son would become an American trailblazer, a Purple Heart and Bronze Star awardee, a Black history maker, a pioneer for racial equality, and a political stalwart for his community.
6February 2023 A decorated lawyer and First Amendment scholar, former chair of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Lee Bollinger is a 21st century American trailblazer who haa held presidency at two major U.S universities. A native of Santa Rosa, California, this bulwark of free speech and the freedom of the press is closing out his tenure as the 19th president of Columbia University in New York City. Bollinger assumed leadership at the Ivy League school in June of 2002. Under his leadership, Columbia is redefining what it means to be a great research university in the 21st century, distinguished by comprehensive academic excellence, an innovative and sustainable approach to global engagement, two of the largest capital campaigns in the history of higher education, and the institution’s most ambitious campus expansion in over a century. President Bollinger is Columbia’s first Seth Low Professor of the University, a member of the Columbia Law School faculty, and one of the nation’s foremost First Amendment scholars. Each fall semester, he teaches “Freedom of Speech and Press” to Columbia undergraduate students. His latest books are Social Media, Freedom of Speech, and the Future of our Democracy and National Security, Leaks and Freedom of the Press: The Pentagon Papers Fifty Years On, both co-edited with Geoffrey R. Stone. As Columbia’s president, Bollinger conceived and led the University’s most ambitious expansion in over a century with the creation of the Manhattanville campus in West Harlem, the first campus plan in the nation to receive the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest certification for sustainable development. An historic community benefits agreement emerging from the city and state review process for the new campus provides Columbia’s local neighborhoods with decades of investment in the community’s health, education and economic growth. The first two buildings, the Jerome L Greene Science Center and the Lenfest Center for the Arts, opened in the spring of 2017. The third, The Forum, which hosts conferences, meetings, and symposia, opened in September of 2018. In 2022, Columbia Business School opened its new home, Henry R. Kravis Hall and David Geffen Hall, completing the first phase of campus construction. In January 2023, the Columbia Board of Directors announced that economist Nemat Minouche Shafik would succeed Bollinger in June of 2023 as the new president of the Ivy League school. The 76-year-old Bollinger, who also served for several years as the president of the University of Michigan, is retiring.
7February 2023 From community banking to community building At JPMorgan Chase we’re making a difference in the communities where we live and work by supporting the neighborhoods, businesses, programs and ideas that are moving our communities forward. We are proud to support the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce and celebrate their significant milestone. Happy 125th! jpmorganchase.com/impact © 2023 JPMorgan Chase & Co.
8February 2023 The poem “Mother to Son” is one of Langston Hughes’ most definitive poems. It portrays a mother telling her son not to give up because she is still going forward. Hughes’ words can very well represent the philosophy of ardent civil rights activist Dr. Hazel Dukes. The poem reads: “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair/it’s had tacks in it/ … but all the time /I’se been a-climbin’ on/ … so boy, don’t you turn back/…don’t you fall now—For I’se still goin’, honey...”. Dukes – at 90 years young – remains a committed activist, still fighting for racial equality and social justice. Like “Mother to Son,” she is the strong Black woman noting that the struggle continues and now is not the time to give up or become discouraged. After 70 years in the Civil Rights Movement, Dukes continues to actively work to improve conditions in the Black community. She is currently working with NYC Public Schools to bring STEM technology to public schools and the community. “Our children need to prepare for this new age of technology from pre-K to high school,” said Dukes, who noted that she loves working with young people because they keep her young and full of inspiration. “In the future there will be new job opportunities in technology and our students must be prepared.” Her dedication to activism and social justice has earned her an abundance of awards, including the Candace Award for Community Service from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and the Economic and Business Award, presented by the Women’s Black Agenda. In 2018, she was recognized by the New York State Senate, and in 2019, she was honored with a plaque that was placed on 137th Street and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard in Harlem by The Migdol Organization. Dr. Dukes will once again be honored for her years of service and dedication to the Harlem community by the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce during the celebration of their 125th anniversary on February 25th at the Great Hall at The City College of New York. “I am excited and honored to be receiving this award from the Harlem Chamber because of its history and service to our community,” said Dukes. Some are wondering what does such a busy woman do in her spare time. Fact is, Dukes doesn’t have lots of spare time, but these days, she makes time for herself which is spent with her family and a hobby or two. She enjoys reading, which was one of her favorite hobbies as a child. “I love reading books. It’s very satisfying reading about our history and the contributions we have made to this society,” shared Dukes. The native of Montgomery, Alabama, who has resided in Harlem for many years, also takes pride in attending plays produced by Voza Rivers and New Heritage Theater, while also making it downtown to see Broadway shows. She noted that going to JazzMobile and listening to the great musicians is a very relaxing experience. “I love my exercise classes because it keeps me in shape.” Two of Duke’s mentors were former Secretary of State of New York Basil Paterson and former Manhattan Borough President and businessman Percy Sutton. “I have seen progress made at the local level with men and women of color on the City Council educating our community on issues that set the framework for establishing policy for education, health, and the police department,” said Dukes. And like Langston’s “Mother to Son,” she declares, “I am still going, still fighting.”
9February 2023 Join the NYPD Step forward. Serve the public. Make New York better. For more information, and to speak with a recruiter, visit NYPDRECRUIT.COM or call 212-RECRUIT
10February 2023 Creating a lasting impact is just as much about the people we hire as it is about the programs we implement. More diverse teams allow us to generate better ideas and better outcomes. We also are able to enjoy a stronger corporate culture and deliver a more transformational banking experience to our customers. We want our branches to represent the neighborhoods they serve, which is why we continue to hire from our local communities. During this time, we’ve hired more than 300 people into community-focused roles: nearly 150 Community Managers, 150 Community Home Lending Advisors and 25 diverse Senior Business Consultants. _________________________________ Sponsored content from JPMorgan Chase & Co. ________________________________ Nestled in the northern part of Manhattan, Harlem remains one of New York City’s most culturally diverse neighborhoods. Harlem’s story is indelibly etched into the foundation of American history and has become the epicenter of Black excellence in art, entertainment, culture and business. From the iconic Cotton Club to Sylvia’s on 126th Street, minority-owned businesses have been an economic engine of the community since the Harlem Renaissance, a golden era of creativity and innovation that has enormously shaped American culture today. JPMorgan Chase recognizes the impact of Harlem, its businesses, and its residents, and is investing in the community. In 2019, we opened our first ever community branch in the heart of Harlem at 55 West 125th Street, a neighborhood spot where we host events and workshops focused on supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, potential homeowners, and students. We’re increasing financial health in Harlem and actively sharing resources with the community to address the key drivers of economic injustice through our $30 billion racial equity commitment. As part of this commitment, we made a long-term equity investment of approximately $6 million in Carver Federal Savings Bank, a Black-owned bank headquartered in Harlem focused on underbanked and unbanked communities. Since its launch in October 2020, we have deployed or committed more than $18 billion toward our $30 billion goal. To sustain this progress, we must measure this effort and listen to feedback so we can have even greater impact in closing the wealth gap. Here is just some of the progress we’ve made toward our commitment while working alongside our community partners in Harlem and across the country: • Helped homeowners save money on their monthly mortgage payments by refinancing 19,000 of our 20,000 incremental loans goal • Approved funding for approximately $13 billion in loans to help create and preserve more than 100,000 affordable housing and rental units across the U.S. • Expanded our homebuyer grant program to $5,000 to help with down payment and closing costs • Helped customers open over 200,000 low-cost checking accounts with no overdraft fees • Spent an additional $155 million with 140 Black, Hispanic and Latino suppliers • Invested more than $100 million of equity in 15 diverse financial institutions that serve more than 89 communities in 19 states and the District of Columbia • Mentored more than 1,000 Black and Latino small businesses The Community Manager, in particular, is a new role within the bank with a goal of serving as local ambassadors to build trust and nurture relationships with community leaders, nonprofit partners and small businesses. In fact, our first community manager, Nichol King, was hired in Harlem in 2019. She partnered with dozens of community organizations from our 125th branch and has deepened our level of impact on a local level ever since. Over the last year our Community Managers have hosted more than 1,300 community events nationally reaching more than 36,000 people through discussions ranging from ways to increase homeownership, to building generational wealth and stability. JPMorgan Chase is committed to strengthening the Harlem community and supporting its residents that have built and sustained the cultural institutions, entertainment venues, places of worship and restaurants that are the backbone of New York City. A More Diverse Workforce
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15February 2023 On Jan. 30, Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala announced a temporary amnesty program for overdue water bills. Amnesty means forgiveness, and in this context, it means partial or complete interest forgiveness for qualified customers. “Nearly one in four customers is behind on their water bill. This program gives those New Yorkers who fell behind during the pandemic a way to catch up and save money,” explained Alfonso L. Carney, Jr., chairman, NYC Water Board. “The money collected from this program is critical to helping us pay for the vital operation and maintenance of the city’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, as well as funding the critical investments and upgrades we need.” The limited time program will forgive up to 100 percent of interest when customers pay a portion or all of their outstanding water bills. There are nearly 200,000 customers owing a combined $1.2 billion in water bill charges to DEP. This program intends to help New Yorkers both clear their debt and save money, while ensuring that the city can continue to invest in and maintain the city’s water infrastructure. This limited one-time amnesty runs until April 30, 2023, and allows you to have your accrued interest reduced or forgiven by paying your principal balance. The amnesty freeze date is Jan. 29, 2023. This is the date on which all eligibility criteria is locked in place, including your total delinquent balance, principal balance, and interest balance. Any additional interest that accrues after this date won’t be eligible for amnesty. All customers who participate in the water amnesty program and leave a remaining outstanding balance will be required to enter into a payment agreement with DEP. There’s no formal application needed to apply for this program. You simply use DEP’s Amnesty Look Up Tool at https://nyc.gov/dep/amnesty to confirm your eligibility, view your options, and make a payment before the program end date. While there, you enter your account number in the Amnesty Look Up Tool. If eligible, you can pay the principal amount as indicated on your preferred option. A credit for the interest forgiveness will be applied to your account within 10 business days. DEP notes that your balance may not go down to zero if you receive new charges and interest. For additional information, you can call DEP during their extended business hours, Monday through Friday (8 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Saturday (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at (718) 595-7000, or email them at [email protected]. 855.217.3373 BANKI N G WI TH CARVE R . IT’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. @CarverBankNYC carverbank.com BEDFORD STUYVESANT • CROWN HEIGHTS • FLATBUSH • FORT GREENE • HARLEM • ST. ALBANS COMMUNITY PARTNERS Carver Bank salutes The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce on its historic anniversary and 125 years of service to the Harlem community. DEP Amnesty Program for Overdue Water Bills Closes Apr 30
16February 2023 The 40th Annual McDonald’s Gospelfest returns to New - ark’s Prudential Center on Mother’s Day Weekend, Satur - day, May 13, for the biggest and best gospel event of the year. This year’s event will celebrate the 40th anniversary of McDonald’s Gospelfest with live performances by Heze - kiah Walker and Love Fellowship Choir, the legendary Clark Sisters, award winning Stephanie Mills, a special word from Dr. Jamal Bryant and so much more! “Who better to bring us home than multi-award winning actress and singer Stephanie Mills,” proclaimed Emmy award winning producer and director Curtis Farrow, who marks his 25th year producing GospelFest this year. “Ms. Mills will perform her signature song ‘Home’ as well as other soul stirring hits, all backed by a 200-voice choir. This will be a celebration not to be missed!” Receiving this year’s McDonald’s Gospelfest Lifetime Achievement Award will be Newark, New Jer - sey’s very own Dr. Emily Cissy Houston. Dr. Houston has been a part of McDonald’s Gospelfest from the beginning; she has hit the stage yearly and has blessed and amazed sold out crowds. There will be surprise guests on hand to help celebrate her as she receives this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, the show will honor two local mothers with a Mother of the Year Award. McDonald’s Gospelfest tickets are on sale at Prudential Center Box Office or online at www.ticketmas - ter.com. McDonald’s GospelFest 2023 Returns Home to Prudential Center Celebrating 40 Years of Culture and Community
17February 2023 In the Summer of 2019, JPMorgan Chase opened its community banking center in Harlem, the first of its kind in the nation. The uninitiated may have mistakenly believed the occasion marked a sort of new engagement with the banking institution and the Harlem community. Wrong! In fact it is more accurate to say that the community banking center came out of the bank’s 40 years plus “marriage” to Harlem with vows of closing the racial equity wealth gap and reimagining the community as an oasis of home ownership and upward financial mobility. With its rich history in Harlem dating back to the 1960’s, Chase is credited with putting the first ATM in the area on 135th Street. To achieve its wealth equity goals, the bank focused on creating partnerships with community organizations the likes of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI), Carver Federal Bank and The New York Christian Times. Together with these stakeholders, Chase continues to engage with the community and evaluate what resources are needed to sustain Harlem’s accelerated growth. An outshoot of these partnerships are initiatives like the community banking center among others which opened with an announcement of a $550,000 commitment to Harlem non-profits and minority- and women-owned businesses, with an emphasis on Black-owned businesses. This was part of the bank’s $150 million Small Business Forward initiative. The programs and services at the community bank run the gamut from workshops on budgeting, using credit wisely, growing and managing credit and first time home buying. Nichol King serves as Executive Director for Community Banking of the Northeast at the branch located at 55 West 125th Street in the heart of Harlem, USA. She has more than 15 years history with the bank, starting in the retail division and working her way up through the ranks to her current position. She spoke to The Christian Times about the fertile community partnerships the bank has forged over the years. “My role as the community banking manager is to be a bridge between the community and the bank,” she said. “So the first thing I would like Harlem residents to understand is that JPMorgan Chase is truly the bank for all,” she said, adding, “It doesn’t matter where you are on the financial spectrum – we are here to help you realize your financial goals, whether it’s home ownership, starting or growing a business, increasing savings or retiring comfortably.” This year the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce – one of the longest continuously active Chambers of Commerce in the nation – is celebrating its 125th Anniversary. The organization has been a legacy partner with Chase Bank for more than 20 years and together they have created a lot of initiatives aimed at improving the financial health of Harlemites. This partnership stems from the shared vision of both organizations to help the residents of Harlem advance and grow the area’s economy. “We are very proud of our relationship with GHCC and we are so happy to be celebrating this milestone anniversary with them during continued on pg 37 JPMorgan Chases hosts team of student volunteers during the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce’s annual Harlem Week
18February 2023 CHERYL WILLS AUTHOR Tyler Perry pledges $2.75 million to help older Atlanta homeowners Tyler Perry is donating $2.75 million to elderly residents near his Atlanta studio to ensure they can keep their homes. Reports indicate that the success of Tyler Perry Studios is causing a rise in the property values in proximity to the studio, and Perry immediately took action. Perry, who is listed third among the world’s top 10 highest paid entertainers by Forbes, reached out to Atlanta Mayor Andrew Dickens about offering assistance for residents on fixed incomes who could lose their homes due to climbing real estate taxes. “Atlanta’s growth and prosperity should not come at the expense of our legacy residents—many of whom have been priced out of their homes in previous years,” said Mayor Dickens. “Tyler Perry has been engaged in our ongoing conversations around legacy resident retention, and he told me he wanted to do something to support these efforts. Thanks to his generosity, more Atlantans will be able to remain in the communities they built.” The assistance will cover city, county, and school taxes. Perry will also cover any surplus in taxes over the next 20 years for 100 low-income older residents. The funds will be given by Invest Atlanta Partnership, the nonprofit wing of the city’s economic development authority. After reports were released, the filmmaker and studio owner took to social media to speak on the matter and thank those involved. “So… I knew that the success of my studio would affect all the property values around it,” Perry captioned the post. “But make no mistake, the seniors on fixed incomes around the studio will not lose their homes because of past due or rising taxes… no, sir!! We ain’t doing that to our legacy.” He ended his post by saying, “Thank you, Mayor Dickens, and Invest Atlanta, for caring about our folks. God bless.” Raised in Atlanta, the city he calls home, Perry has found several ways to give back to his community since finding success in the TV/film industry. A few years ago, Perry hosted a food giveaway to feed 5,000 families in Atlanta. Before the event, his studio tweeted that they would distribute “non-perishable food items and gift cards” to 5,000 families “in need during this holiday season.” Cars began lining up for the drive-thru event the day before and were eventually handed meals by workers wearing protective equipment. The giveaway started at 8 a.m. and was out of food two hours later. TYLER PERRY
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20February 2023 The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has resided on 135th Street in Harlem for almost a century. Opened in 1925 as a special collection of the 135th Street local branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL), it has expanded into a world distinguished research library and cultural institution devoted to the preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences. Named a national historic landmark in 2017, The Schomburg holds over 11 million items including books (one a signed first edition book of poems by Phillis Wheatley), manuscripts, photographs and the personal archives and papers of figures such as Harry Belafonte, James Baldwin, Sonny Rollins, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, and Malcolm X. Under a special arrangement, the Center is the acting literary representative of the heirs of writer and poet Claude McKay. The negative comments of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg’s grade school teacher – declaring that Black people were devoid of any history, heroes or accomplishments – changed his life, pushing him on a road of research to find and document the accomplishments of Africans and African Americans throughout the diaspora. Upon moving to the United States from Puerto Rico in 1891, he collected literature, art, slave narratives, and other artifacts related to African history. In 1926, The New York Public Library purchased Schomburg’s private collection for $10,000, using funds from the Carnegie Foundation. This purchase ignited the transformation of the 135th Street’s branch into The Schomburg Center. The NYPL appointed Schomburg as curator of the Schomburg Collection of Negro Literature and Art, named in his honor. He remained in the position until his death in 1938. The expansion of the Schomburg Center in 1991 created spaces for exhibition galleries, the renovated American Negro Theatre, and the 340-seat Langston Hughes Auditorium in which concerts, forums, lectures, and performances take place. The most interesting addition is the Langston Hughes Lobby, under which his ashes are buried. It is also home to Rivers, a site-specific public art installation and peace memorial in honor of Langston Hughes. The terrazzo floor is marked by a brass cosmogram bearing song lines, texts, and literary signs paying ancestral tribute in the tradition of African ritual ground markings, weaving a web of connections between people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, the past and the present. The Schomburg Center is one of the great historic institutions in Harlem being honored by The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce during the Chamber’s 125th anniversary celebration. “The Schomburg Center isn’t just pleased, it’s thankful because together [with the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce] we have been extremely important to Harlem’s past and will be to its future,” said K. C. Matthews, the center’s Deputy Director.
21February 2023 For the first time in history, an allBlack team is heading to the national high school championships in the sport of squash – and they are from Harlem. The Panthers from the Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Change are proudly stepping to the national stage. The nearly 200-year-old sport has historically lacked diversity, often categorized as an “elitist” sport with courts within private members-only clubs. Their coach, Simba Muhwati, grew up playing squash in Zimbabwe before coming to the United States in 2005 to compete at the collegiate level. He explained tha the sport looked a lot different than back home. “It was super affluent here, but in the rest of the world, it’s not,” Muhwati observed. “Everywhere else, it’s actually pretty middle class and below.” The young men from Harlem learned the game at StreetSquash, a nonprofit after school program that introduces middle and high school students to the sport. During league play with StreetSquash, team members traveled across the country and even to England to compete against players from all different backgrounds. Last semester, after playing recreationally for several years, the students at Thurgood Marshall Academy petitioned their school for squash as an official sport so that they would be able to compete on a national level. “Being the only all-Black team, we broke a lot of stereotypes, and yet it’s deeper than squash,” said Harlem Jones. “Squash has opened a lot of doors for me.” Win or lose, they are learning to enjoy the ride. “If I don’t shed a tear, I’ll be shocked,” said Muhwati. “It’ll be probably the most proud moment of my career in squash. To walk into that facility with these young men is going to be super special.” The TMA Panthers currently have an 8-2 record within their league. They are slated to compete in the U.S. High School Squash Championships in Philadelphia from February 24-26. Are you an aspiring content creator, journalist, or communications expert who is interested in amplifying Black voices? Put your story-finding skills to the test! Join Chevrolet and the National Newspaper Association as content creators and journalists for the Discover the Unexpected Fellowship. HBCU students can apply to receive a $10,000 scholarship and $8,000 stipend for a 10-week summer internship with Chevrolet and Black-owned newspapers. Applications close March 17, 2023. Vsit www.nnpa.org/chevydtu to apply. Apply Now for Paid Journalism Fellowship with Chevy & NNPA
22February 2023 rise of soul and R&B, jazz and hip hop – Harlem. The Apollo, The Savoy, The Cotton Club – Harlem. And, of course, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce – Harlem. The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce has been and continues to be a transforming institution for Harlem and the Harlems of the world, and I can hardly imagine a modern-day Harlem without this great anchor institution led by this modern Harlem renaissance man. Let me back up a moment. If I could, I would like to remove myself from any involvement and knowledge of Dr. Lloyd Williams and The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce. In this literary moment – and this moment only – I am not a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors! I wanna be an outsider looking in – a curiosity seeker, party crasher, and an information gatherer sneaking into Harlem and hanging out on the corner of West 136th Street and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard. This “pen to paper”, “finger to keyboard” moment requires this brief self-exclusion from the Board to lift this tribute above selfpraise, intra-aggrandizement, the tooting of our own horns, and any sense of a self-applauding spirit of “braggadociousness”. And then, like an African griot, let’s tell the story fully informed by the facts of history – handed down through oral traditions, the history books, the artifacts, and pictorial images that lace the walls and halls of the historic Schomburg Library and The Chamber’s office. For more than one hundred and twenty-five years, this organization – the oldest continuous business organization in Upper Manhattan – has been impacting lives and working to transform community with indelibly planted footprints over these 12 decades. And the leadership of Lloyd Williams has been defining. Lloyd has an unquenchable thirst to make a difference and to lift the Harlems of the world. He possesses a deep inner passion for people; he is sagaciously gifted with a broad body of knowledge and is a pillar of influence and a reservoir of resources. He took the helm as president some 40 years ago, and with his childhood friend Voza Rivers, a retired NYPD detective, and a cadre of other leaders, staff, and influencers, The Greater Harlem Chamber has grown to become a multifaceted, multipurpose, multidimensional business, civic and community development organization too capacious to be narrowly defined as a business chamber. As their slogan goes, “the business of business is PEOPLE!” The scope of The Chamber’s impact is immeasurable: hundreds of scholarships to young people and a heavy focus and promotion of higher education; strong support for HBCUs; endless work with seniors; millions of tourists coming to Harlem; linkage and collaboration with other countries – Cuba, Martinique, South Africa, Greece, etc.; annual health conferences and wellness initiatives; technology and cybersecurity; partnerships with the NYPD and the DA’s offices; real estate development projects and property ownership and management; the endless impact of HARLEM WEEK and empowering small businesses; and yes, GHCC’s ever-engaging work and perpetual efforts to highlight the cultural heritage and richness of Harlem and the Black/African culture through the arts – theatre, fashion, music and sports. If there is a cause worthy of embrace, Lloyd Williams and The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce are there. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Chamber started the Support Harlem Now initiative that offered broad support and tens of thousands of meals. Additionally, Mr. Williams called together top stakeholders – leaders of most key organizations and government entities – to ensure that Upper Manhattan was fully abreast of all developments. Lloyd – who knows every block, historic site, and landmark in Harlem – is a pioneer and a trailblazer of this new Harlem Renaissance, and The Chamber and HARLEM WEEK continue to play key roles in the revitalization of Harlem. His godfather Malcolm X would be proud, and mentors and collaborators like the “Gang of Four” – Paterson, Sutton, Dinkins and Rangel – have all played key roles in helping to shape this new renaissance. I am having a spiritual moment, a thank you pause, and a hallelujah interlude. An old worship song comes to mind that rings true for Lloyd, The Greater Harlem Chamber board of directors, and the organization’s dedicated staff and volunteers: “May the work I’ve done, speak for me.” In their case, their work sings and shouts loudly – and it’s not a solo, trio or quintet, but a Harlem-style mass choir releasing rhythmic sounds. The “Gang of Four” : David Dinkins, Basil Paterson, Percy Sutton, Charlie Rangel Well done, Mr. Williams and GHCC. Happy 125th anniversary! Tribute to GHCC and its Leadership... CONTINUED FROM P. 4
23February 2023 Two centenarian survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 – Viola Fletcher aka “Mother Fletcher”, 108, and her 101-year-old brother, Van “Uncle Red” Ellis – will acquire Ghanaian citizenship in a ceremony at Ghana’s embassy in Washington, DC on Tuesday, February 28. “The family is honored to be receiving Ghanian citizenship for our priceless Black icons,” shared Ike Howard, Mother Fletcher’s grandson. “Mother Fletcher wanted to visit the Motherland before she caught her wings,” Howard stated. “Now she has the option to live in the Motherland.” The Tulsa Race Massacre, also known as the Tulsa race riot or the Black Wall Street Massacre, was a two-day-long massacre that took place during Memorial Day weekend of 1921. Mobs of White residents – some of whom had been appointed as deputies and armed by city government officials – attacked Black residents and destroyed homes and businesses of the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event is considered one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history. The attackers burned and destroyed more than 35 square blocks of the neighborhood, which at the time was one of the wealthiest Black communities in the United States, colloquially known as “Black Wall Street.” Three hundred people were killed, hundrds more injured and 10,000 African Americans were left homeless. In 2021, the Ghana Tourism Authority, Diaspora Africa Forum, and Osu Traditional Council honored Fletcher and Ellis in Accra with a naming ceremony. Fletcher received the name Naa Lameley. Ellis was given the name Bio Lantey. Both received certificates with their new African names. “The naming ceremony is for our brothers and sisters to reconnect with them and welcome them back home, and also to review their identities as Africans and Ghanaians, to be precise,” Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, and Tourism Mark Okraku Mantey said. “Ghana is a hospitable country, and I am sure you have seen places, worn Ghana, eaten Ghana, and heard Ghanaian music. Share the word that Ghanaians love people, especially Black people,” Mantey declared. Tulsa Race Massacre survivors set to receive Ghanaian citizenship Viola Fletcher, 108, and her brother, Van Ellis, 101
24February 2023 “The Bridge Through the Years” was the title of a commemorative publication marking the Uptown Chamber of Commerce’s 95th Anniversary Gala Celebration in 1991. The publication, which is now a collector’s item, highlighted the lengthy history of civic service and achievement of the Harlem institution. The Chamber’s story started in 1896 when it was known as the Harlem Board of Commerce. It used its monthly periodical, Harlem Magazine, to draw attention to opportunities and the untapped potential for business development Uptown. The Chamber’s work paid off and, by the late 1800s, large numbers of middle-class German, Irish, Italian, and Jewish immigrants had made Harlem their home. Harlem would soon also become home to a growing number of Black people migrating from southern states and immigrants from the West Indian islands, Cuba, and Panama, whose combined arrivals would ultimately spur the period known as the Harlem Renaissance. The Renaissance continued to grow in the early 1930s as several major Black organizations, such as the UNIA, the NAACP, and the New York Urban League, moved to Harlem. During this period, records show that the Executive Committee of the Harlem Board of Commerce influenced the renaming of the new “Hudson River Bridge” connecting uptown and New Jersey to the “George Washington Bridge” instead. Shortly afterwards, in 1932, the Harlem Board of Commerce changed its name to the Uptown Chamber of Commerce and expanded the organization’s focus to include supporting Harlem’s infrastructure. The Uptown Chamber of Commerce championed the city’s new IND Eighth Avenue Line subway, which opened in 1932, connecting Harlem to other parts of the city. The Chamber also supported the building of a “Tri-Borough Bridge,” aided by federal Works Progress Administration funds, that connected Queens and the Bronx to Harlem’s 125th Street. The Triborough Bridge (now the RFK Bridge) opened in 1936 and, once it did, the Uptown Chamber — one of the civic sponsors of the upcoming 1939 World’s Fair — developed a novel “Gate Way to the World” marketing strategy, promoting the new bridge that connected Harlem to Queens, the soon-to-be site of the international World’s Fair. This was a time of great influence and prestige for the Chamber, which played a leading role in Harlem business affairs up until the early 1960s. But by the mid-’60s, urban
25February 2023 decay and the flight of White families and businesses caused a decline in Chamber membership. Facing a drop in membership but experiencing an energizing growth of Black political and business leaders in Harlem by 1969, the Chamber appointed its first Black president — distinguished internationally renowned attorney Hope R. Stevens. In 1970, Stevens recruited Lloyd Williams, a young entrepreneur and community activist, to become the Chamber’s first Black vice-president of programs. I was a pre-law student at the City College of New York when attorney Haywood Burns, my professor and mentor, secured an internship for me in the Harlem law office of Stevens, who was his mentor. Hope later appointed me as the first Black director of programs for Uptown Chamber. The membership of the Chamber started to grow again under the new leadership. The Honorable Percy E. Sutton, Manhattan Borough President and board chairman of the Chamber, believed that the tourism industry would be a major economic revitalization tool for New York and his beloved Harlem. Sutton asked the Chamber to produce a community-wide event that would focus on the positive aspects of the world-famous community. And in August 1974, the first HARLEM DAY was produced, under the theme, “The Beginning of The Second Harlem Renaissance.” Upon the passing of S t e v e n s , business and political leader Lloyd Dickens served as Chamber president in 1976, while Williams became the executive vice president. And in 1983 after the passing of Dickens, Williams became president of Uptown Chamber of Commerce, and I served as executive vice president. The Chamber’s name changed again in the mid-1980s to the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce. A major influence for the name change was the “Greater Harlem Informational Map and continued next page
26February 2023 Guide” published by Uptown Chamber of Commerce in 1979. The detailed tourism map (another collector’s item) showed more than 84 places of interest in the greater Harlem area — from 90thStreet on the south, to 179th Street on the north, from the East River to the Hudson River. The Greater Harlem map was based on old New City maps of the Harlem area. As the years passed, HARLEM DAY grew to become HARLEM WEEK, one of the nation’s largest urban cultural and economic development festivals. Today, HARLEM WEEK is a major tourist attraction, allowing millions of New Yorkers, outof-towners, and international visitors to discover and rediscover this world-famous community. Throughout its long history, the Harlem Chamber of Commerce has played a major role in the economic and social development of the Harlem community. During the recent COVID-19 health crisis, the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce organized community, business, civic, political, educational, religious and health leaders, along with governmental agencies to form a Greater Harlem strategic planning body. One of the Chamber’s pandemic-related efforts was its Harlem Community Relief Fund, which helped feed families, provide masks and other personal protection equipment, and get internet connectivity and digital literacy classes for residents of all ages. So, from 1896 to the present, the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce has continued its tradition of being “The Bridge Through the Years.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25
27February 2023 In America, breaking generations-old glass ceilings are always tremendous triumphs that sadly come with consequences – such as societal pushback, criticism, onslaughts from naysayers, and emotional and psychological hurt caused by smashing through the barriers of prejudice. But increasingly, there are examples of success, such as Fashion Institute of Technology President Dr. Joyce F. Brown and others like Dr. Claudine Gay, incoming president of Harvard University; Dr. Nemat Minouche Shafik, president of Columbia University; State University of New York Chancellor Dr. John B. King; Dr. Johnathan Holloway, president of Rutgers University; and Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Brown, president of New York Theological Seminary – all qualified individuals who have worked hard to break ceilings. These education pioneers – who have burst through barriers of race, gender, or both – are contributing to an atmosphere where the possibilities, such as leading an American institution of higher education, are finally becoming common place. Cynics may believe a breakdown in the “system” might be the cause of the historic appointments of Black men and Black women to the presidencies of some of America’s most esteemed universities and colleges. But what seems like an unexpected surge to skeptics is the result of decades of hard work and dedication from proven professionals in the field of education. continued next page
28February 2023 I n 1998, New Yorkborn DR. JOYCE F. BROWN became the first Black person and the first woman to hold the post of president at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). And like the fashion industry, Brown – who has been at helm of the university for a quarter of a century – always keeps up with the times. Brown’s achievements during her tenure include “building the faculty,” increasing technology for faculty and students, improving facilities, and “invigorating its culture with ground-breaking initiatives in diversity and sustainability.” In “Dr. Joyce F. Brown Used Technology and Intuition to Revolutionize How Students Learn at F.I.T.”, a 2018 Time magazine article penned by Brown, she detailed her thoughts on the “opportunity to lead such a creative institution,” and the efforts she made to keep students, faculty and staff thinking forward. Before her presidency at FIT, Brown was a professor teaching counseling psychology in the PhD program at the Graduate Center of City University of New York. But prior to the professorship at the Graduate Center, Brown was aptly handed the sizable responsibilities for the university system – first as CUNY’s vice chancellor for Student Affairs, Urban Affairs and Development Programs, and then as the acting president of Bernard Baruch College. In the mid-1990s, on a break from her CUNY duties, she was picked by then-Mayor Dinkins to become deputy mayor for public and community affairs. Bolstered by these impressive previous positions, Brown utilizes her pioneering and innovative leadership at FIT to improve the environment for the school’s more than 8,000 full- and part-time students and its 1,700-plus faculty and staff. n July 1, when B r o n x - b o r n DR. CLAUDINE GAY takes the position of the president of Harvard University, she will be the first Black president in the 386-year history of America’s oldest university. Gay is also the university’s second woman president, and that’s big news for Harvard and the other Ivy League schools: with Gay’s appointment, five of the Ivy League’s eight institutions are now headed by women. In addition, Gay is the daughter of Haitian immigrants, bringing a new and novel dimension to O
29February 2023 Harvard’s presidency, recognizing the university traditions while navigating the institution through an increasingly diverse world. Gay had great preparation for her Harvard presidency prior to the post. Starting in 2018, she served as the Edgerley Family Dean of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences – a wide-ranging university department that encompasses physical and biological sciences to engineering and even in humanities, the arts and social sciences. On a personal note, Gay is a cousin of renowned writer and author Roxane Gay. nother historic occasion is being marked on July 1 at Columbia University, when Egyptian-born DR. NEMAT MINOUCHE SHAFIK will become the university’s first woman and first African-born president. At least for now, academ-ics has won out over economics for Shafik, who is a distinguished veteran international economist. Major media touted Shafik coming as Columbia’s first woman president in the school’s 268-year history, but she’s much more. Jonathan Lavine, chair of the Columbia Board of Trustees, called Shafik “the perfect candidate: a brilliant and able global leader, a community builder, and a preeminent econA omist who understands the academy and the world beyond it,” in a letter to university students, faculty and staff, adding, “What set Minouche apart as a candidate is her unshakable confidence in the vital role institutions of higher education can and must play in solving the world’s most complex problems.” Columbia boasts 21 schools, including four undergraduate institutions and 10 graduate schools, with an estimated 33,000-plus students. Shafik, who’s held leadership roles at the World Bank (as the bank’s youngest-ever vice president), the Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania, and then served the International Monetary Fund as its deputy managing director. She was educated in the U.S., graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and politics in 1983. From there, she went international, attaining a Master of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics in 1986, followed by Doctor of Philosophy in Economics from St. Antony’s College, Oxford University, in 1989. continued next page
30February 2023 ast month, Brooklyn-born DR. JOHN B. KING became the first Black chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), a massive collection of research universities, academic medical centers, liberal arts colleges, community colleges, colleges of technology and an online learning network. That’s a total of 64 institutions, currently serving close to 1.3 million students. L Before becoming SUNY chancellor, King was president of The Education Trust, a nonprofit group helping to close educational and opportunity gaps plaguing preschool, elementary, middle school, high school, and college students. It could be said that King was born in the education field, since his parents were both New York City public school educators. Sadly orphaned by age 12, King said he relied on other public school teacher– highlighting staffers at Brooklyn’s PS 267 in Canarsie and Mark Twain Junior High School in Canarsie – to provide the educational and emotional assistance to get through his hard times, and move on to a hopeful future. From the start of his professional life, King went back to public education, which played an important part in his life. He began his career in academics as a high school social studies teacher and took an administrative turn, later becoming a middle school principal. King earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Harvard University, a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School, and with education in mind, he attained a Master of Arts in the Teaching of Social Studies and a Doctorate in Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College. In 2016, President Obama selected King to be Secretary of Education, head of the U.S. Department of Education. Historian DR. JONATHAN HOLLOWAY made history by being named the first Black president of Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey, in 2020. Before Rutgers, Holloway was a provost at Northwestern University, and a Yale University faculty
31February 2023 member, serving as the dean of Yale College and the Edmund S. Morgan professor of African American Studies, History, and American Studies. Founded in 1766, Rutgers is the oldest, largest, and top-ranked public university in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. As of Fall 2022, there were 67,620 undergraduate and graduate students attending the university from all 50 states and more than 120 countries. In a “Message to the Rutgers Community” when he assumed the presidency in 2020, Holloway shared his thoughts on the university, which included the repair and rebuilding of the university community in post-COVID times, operating in “a moment of global racial reckoning,” and making sure that the Rutgers community knows phrases such as “social justice” and “Black Lives Matter” are not “assaults on the common good, but declarations that we should be a country that lives up to the aspirations in its founding documents.” Today, Holloway, who is also a university professor and Distinguished Professor at Rutgers, is making his presence known in the community, speaking last month at the launch of Equity and Inclusion Week at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, and also at Jersey City Temple Beth-El’s 38th annual MLK, JR. tribute. An expert in post-emancipation U.S. history, King has authored a number of books on the era. EV. DR. LaKEESHA BROWN WALROND, the first woman and first Black person to become president of New York Theological Seminary (NYTS), made headlines when she took command of the Manhattan institution in 2019. “A First at a Century-Old Seminary: A Black Woman Takes Charge,” read a New York Times headline announcing Walrond’s ascendance to the leadership of the institution. She came to NYTS from Central Harlem’s 90-yearold First Corinthian Baptist Church, which she successfully ran with her husband, Pastor Michael A. Waldron, Jr. The Times article was one of many media reports heralding the arrival of Walrond. Once at NYTS, Walrond immediately tackled the seminary-wide trend of declining enrollment and other challenges, and she’s been busy with activities on and off campus. For example, she was guest speaker at last month’s “Justice and the Church: Women and the Social Gospel” session at Marble Collegiate Church, and last year she kicked off the expansion of NYTS’s master’s program for prisoners to include incarcerated women in New York State. She’s community-minded and quite active outside, but the NYTS institution’s workings remains her primary focus. Founded in New Jersey in 1900 as the Bible Teacher’s Training College, the school moved to New York two years later and was renamed first to The Biblical Seminary, and ultimately to New York Theological Seminary. From its New Jersey beginnings to today, the institution maintains “its unique urban focus, its openness to all, and its diversity in denominational and cultural traditions,” according to the NYTS website. Students have the opportunity to achieve doctorate and master programs and certificates. And supporting the students and guiding the institution is Walrond, the “chief advocate” for the Seminary’s “mission to prepare faith and thought leaders to engage in relevant, restorative, and revolutionary ministry.” A graduate of Spelman College, Walrond earned a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, and a Master of Arts in Teaching, Master in School Administration, and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of North Carolina at R Chapel Hill.
32February 2023 Episcopal Relief & Development has received a 5-year, $5 million grant from Trinity Church Wall Street to respond to disasters and strengthen the resilience of marginalized communities around the world. With the support of this grant, Episcopal Relief & Development will work with community-based Anglican partners to meet the immediate needs of one million people impacted by disaster and bolster the economic stability of an additional 125,000. “The recent layering of devastating events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate-influenced disasters and human conflict, has created increased economic instability for families worldwide,” said Rob Radtke, President & CEO, Episcopal Relief & Development. “This flexible funding will allow us to respond to a broad range of emergencies as they arise.” Episcopal Relief & Development, with the support of Trinity Church Wall Street, will work with partners around the globe to deliver robust and rapid responses in the face of major disasters by providing cash, food, and other supplies to the people most affected. This grant will also support responses to crises that may not gain as much international attention, including climate-related emergencies and conflicts that create an increased number of refugees, migrants, and internally displaced people. Additionally, partners will work with families in their communities to strengthen economic resilience by promoting Savings with Education groups. These member-led groups equip people with financial literacy, small business skills and disaster risk reduction strategies to enable them to prepare for and recover from future emergencies without the need for outside assistance. Over the past three years, Episcopal Relief & Development and Trinity Church Wall Street have partnered to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 Haiti earthquake. These response and resilience projects are on track to reach over three million people in 40 countries. Episcopal Relief & Development and Trinity Church Wall Street Announce 5-Year Partnership to Build Resilience for One Million People Worldwide
33February 2023 What does Black History Month mean to you and how are you celebrating? Black History Month is a time for both reflection and celebration across communities; a time where we honor the history, legacy and contributions of Black Americans to our society. With my children, we research and discuss the achievements of Black people who have made significant advancements in their field. We will pick an industry like farming or aeronautics, learn about it together and talk about how that person made a difference. This year, they chose space exploration and we’re learning about the accomplishments of “Hidden Figure” Katherine Goble Johnson and her contributions to NASA during the Space Race. In celebration of Black History Month, we sat down with Jason Patton, Divisional Director, Northeast, Community Banking at JPMorgan Chase, to discuss what Black History Month means to him, how the firm is advancing racial equity and how his team is working to make a difference in New York. How is JPMorgan Chase making an impact to advance racial equity? Diversity, equality and inclusion have been an important part of the culture at JPMorgan Chase, and we wanted to take a look at what else we can be doing. While our work to advance racial equity has been longstanding, in October 2020 we made a $30 billion commitment to advance racial equity that took a look at additional ways to address affordable housing, small business and financial health, among other critical financial needs within unbanked and underbanked communities. We’ve opened 14 Community Center branches – locally-inspired and built with extra space to host free community events and financial health workshops – across the country and hired nearly 150 Community Managers. The firm’s first ever Community Center branch and Community Manager began in Harlem in 2019. Since that time and as part of our commitment to New York, we’ve hired 28 from Flatbush to the South Bronx to Mt. Vernon and Rochester. These leaders connect community members with the many free resources we’ve created to support financial health education, first-time homebuyer education, and many other resources. We’re invested in making an impact in New York, throughout the city and around the state, and are committed to supporting underserved communities, helping them reach their financial goals. How should other companies and individuals be thinking about advancing racial equity? We all can make an effort to help advance racial equity within our community – including by investing in or shopping with local diverse-owned businesses, supporting philanthropic efforts in our community and participating in community events. Consider looking for diverse initiatives and business resource groups within your company that focus on supporting underserved or underrepresented communities, and asking if there are opportunities to support those initiatives or groups. For instance, JPMorgan Chase’s Advancing Black Pathways initiative (www.jpmorganchase.com/impact/people/advancing-black-pathways) works to support the economic empowerment of the Black community globally. Through our Global Supplier Diversity program, we’re using our purchasing power to build economic equity in diverse communities, foster the success of underrepresented business owners, and promote equity, inclusion and sustainability across the wider business community. We also have initiatives focused on other communities, and business resource groups that share our company commitment to equity and equality and create opportunities for employees to be engaged. Sponsored content from JPMorgan Chase & Co.
34February 2023 BY GLENDA CADOGAN Senior Staff Correspondent With more than three decades of experience in banking, Michael T. Pugh, President & CEO of Carver Federal Savings Bank, expressed his opinion about what he sees as a discrepancy between talent and opportunity. This, he said, is a contributing factor in the sidelining of minorities in the banking industry. “When you think about talent, it is something fairly distributed in that we all have some degree of a gift to offer,” said the veteran banker. “But not so with opportunity. Hence, the issue is that minorities and women are not given the opportunity for advancement despite having great skills. My decision to join the Carver family was influenced by a desire to be a part of the solution to that problem,’ said Pugh. “At Carver, I not only have the opportunity to mentor but also uplift and promote other minorities and women to senior level positions.” At present Carver boasts of a Board of Directors composed of 100 percent African and Caribbean Americans, 30 percent of whom are women. According to Pugh, they are all people with skills and talent backed by a commitment to seeing the Carver mission being served every day. “There is no greater place to be than with an organization that stands behind what it believes,” he said. To fully appreciate the Carver mission, it’s important to take a peep into the history of the institution that started back in 1948 in a climate where the color of your skin trumped the zeros in your bank statement. As such, big banks weren’t lending money to anyone in Harlem, even the middle class. But the need for home and business loans was real. Instead of rolling over to the prevailing culture, some local civic leaders, small business entrepreneurs and faith leaders came together and started their own bank. Among them was Attorney Hope Stevens who was the first Black president of the Harlem Chamber of Commerce and also a founding member of Carver Bank. After the group’s application was denied by New York State, they appealed to Washington D.C and finally gained federal approval. The first branch opened in 1949 and was named after contemporary era scientist George Washington Carver. Carver Bank was not only a pioneer in the banking business but its original board included women of color. Now 75 years later, the bank still continues to focus on economic empowerment for communities of color, growth and expansion of small business enWinners of the 2022 Minority Women-Owned Business Pitch Competition, Princess Jenkins of The Brownstone (2nd from left) and Diana Da Costa of Simplee Beautiful (2nd from right), with Greater Harlem Chamber President Lloyd Williams (far left) and Carver Bank President Michael Pugh (far right).
35February 2023 terprises ,and has the distinction of being the largest African-American-managed bank in the United States. With seven branches located in Harlem, Brooklyn and Queens, Carver continues to be laser focused on minority- and women-owned businesses and is a champion for their growth and sustainability. In addition to the brick and mortar branches, Carver has account opening capacity in nine states from Massachusetts to Virginia through Carverbank.com. The bank’s asset base of $620 million and 135 employees has earned it the label as a community development financial institution (CDFI). CDFI is a designation made by the US Department of Treasury that requires at least 60 percent of every dollar on deposit to be reinvested in the community served. “I am proud that at Carver we have exceeded this minimum requirement and today 80 cents of every dollar we have in deposits is reinvested in the community,” Pugh said proudly. Faith-based institutions have not been excluded from Carver’s helpline as the bank has designed programs to help clergy leaders think about operating with and reaching their congregations in this virtual era. In terms of the general community, Carver is working in cooperation with CBOs such as the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club to make sure that youth and families have the support they need. The two years of a global pandemic created deep fissures in the lives of many people and institutions. But through it all, Carver Bank remained as a beacon of light in the community, illuminating the financial path of its customers. According to Pugh, there are many lessons we have all learned during that time. One of them is that a relationship with your financial institution is much more important than being able to walk into a bank branch on every street corner. “While that is important, so too is being able to have a relationship with senior level people at your bank who are able to respond and make a decision about what you need at that moment,” he said. The named “father” of the bank ,George Washington Carver – as though looking through a crystal ball – once decried what he saw as people becoming “money mad.” He said: “The method of living at home modestly and within our income, laying a little by systematically for the proverbial rainy day which is due to come, can almost be listed among the lost arts.” No doubt, with that future view he would have also been proud to see that his namesake, Carver Bank, is doing its part to recover that art for its customer base. A new partnership with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Mastercard Inc. to create the largest public-private loan fund for small businesses in the city’s history is so overwhelmed with applications weeks after its launch that the Department of Small Business Services is “pausing” the program. The $75 million NYC Small Business Opportunity Fund expected to serve 1,500 businesses with loans up to $250,000 at a below-market interest rate of 4% – but more than 10,500 small businesses from all five boroughs have submitted applications. “Small businesses represent a vision, a unique set of skills, the fulfillment of the American Dream, and, just as importantly, key services to New Yorkers. Small businesses kept our city running during the pandemic, and they are leading the way on our economic recovery,” said Mayor Adams. “The unprecedented success of the NYC Small Business Opportunity Fund is a testament to the value of public-private partnership, along with the robust on-theground outreach led by Commissioner Kim and his team at SBS. The response to this initiative is further proof that New York City is not coming back — New York City is back.” “The impressive demand for the Opportunity Fund shows that we are delivering the right resources at the right time to small businesses that need them the most,” said Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development. “With new businesses and jobs emerging across the city, this injection of funds is just the fuel our businesses need to thrive as we head into spring.” “When opportunity knocked, more than 10,500 small business owners answered like true New Yorkers — fast,” said SBS Commissioner Kim. “This unprecedented positive response is the direct result of robust door-to-door outreach, and historic coordination between eight community development financial institutions, elected officials, business associations and grassroots community groups. As we pause intake of applications, our partners are working as quickly as possible to process those in the pipeline and disburse funds to eligible small businesses. This high level of demand demonstrates the importance of designing programs centered on equity, and we stand ready to help all business owners with a full suite of additional free services — including help with permits and violations, commercial leases, hiring workers, and more.” Small businesses can visit sbsopportunityfund.nyc to sign up to be notified of the status of the NYC Small Business Opportunity Loan Fund. City Hails Successful Rollout of NYC Small Biz Oppty Fund More than 10,500 businesses applied for just 1,500 available loans, the city says Mayor Eric Adams and SBS Commissioner Kevin D. Kim (left)
36February 2023
37February 2023 this Black History month,” said King. “Through our involvement with GHCC and its President/CEO Lloyd Williams, we have been able to gain a lot of insight into the Harlem community. In fact, GHCC was at the table in the brainstorming discussions about creating the community branch and the programming we were going to make available. We leaned heavily on Lloyd and the story of how The Chamber has been embedded in the fabric of Harlem for over 125 years. In addition, JPMorgan Chase has been a legacy sponsor of Harlem Week for 25 years. As such we have been locked in arms with The Chamber every step of the way in order to double down and support community residents to thrive economically,” said King. Recognizing that the Black Church is an anchor in communities like Harlem, Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights, King said that Chase reached out to form a partnership with The New York Christian Times. “Rev. Dillon is a trusted partner who we rely on to gut check us and make sure we are connecting with the community and at a very local level,” she said. “In 2021 we did a media listening tour and there again we turned to the guidance of Rev. Dillon and The Christian Times. We value this partnership not just to help us tell the story of JPMorgan Chase and our racial equity commitment but to provide a gateway into the Black churches, which is where community residents put their trust.” Adding substance and action to talk and desire was the JPMorgan Chase investment in Carver Bank, the largest African American-managed bank in the United States. Chase committed $40 million to Carver to uplift and amplify its operations. “We are very proud of the work we do with Carver,” said King. “When there were no banks in Black and Brown communities there was Carver, and so we understand and respect that long history. Therefore we want to ensure that we continue to support them in growing and expanding operations, opening new branches, investing in technology and digital capabilities as well.” Deborah Jackson is another Chase stalwart who is central to the bank’s community involvement in Harlem. She has a 40- year history with the bank and was there since the era when shopping in Harlem mainly centered at the mini mart on 125th Street. Today she is the Marketing Manager for Corporate Responsibility and Public Empowerment for New York. In her role, she is responsible for deepening Chase’s authentic relations with community stakeholders. She recalls that the creation of community development groups came out of the late Mayor Dinkins’ administration and was specially created to work in communities like Harlem. She has the benefit of a bird’s eye view, having been at the table during those embryonic discussions with groups such as The GHCC, HCCI and Abyssinian Development Corp., among others. “We understood the importance of working at a community level in partnerships with nonprofits, “said Jackson. “It is those public and private sector partnerships which have enabled Harlem to look the way it does today. All the work Chase is doing now started more than 40 years ago by giving people access to credit even though initially there was some community resistance.” According to Jackson, part of the problem was that people could not envision themselves as homeowners. “Community development groups supported programs that could allow for people to buy a home for $1 at that time, she said. “But yet people were reluctant. The work Chase is continuing to do with programs like business mentorship is meeting people where they are and helping them to advance.” Together with Carver, Chase has stayed the course over the years and has emerged as much more than a banking institution – bank some say has gone above and beyond to support its neighbors. As such no one can say it’s an idle boast when Chase is saluted as “being the best bank on the street.” MARRIED TO HARLEM ... continued from pg. 17 JPMorgan Chase hosts entrepreneurship panel in 2022 at the Harlem Community Center Branch with, from left to right, Nichol King, executive director, Community Banking Northeast division, Chase; Michael Pugh, President/CEO, Carver Federal Savings Bank; and Princess Jenkins, founder, The Brownstone. Harlem leaders join together at Chase’s Community Center Branch to celebrate the vibrancy of the neighborhood and its neighbors, including, from left to right, Melba Wilson, founder and owner, Melba’s Restaurant; Nichol King, executive director, Community Banking Northeast division, Chase; Curtis Archer, President, Harlem Community Development Corporation
38February 2023 A life well lived and more than 50 years of committed service to the State of New York and the causes of economic equity, educational parity, and racial justice sums up the career path of the Honorable H. Carl McCall. In his memoir TRULY BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED, McCall unravels the story of his life and journey, starting with his grandparent’s migration from the rural south to the industrial north. His mother Caroleasa was born in Boston and so was he. Caroleasa married Herman “Skinny” McCall, and Carl was their first born. By the age of 11, the family – including his 5 younger sisters – were abandoned by their dad and husband, and their struggles intensified. The resilience of his mother, the strong support of friends, mentors and church are colorful threads that are woven within the pages of this book. Carl’s drive to succeed, his will to rise above the trauma of paternal abandonment and his commitment not to succumb to the negative influences of the street corners of Roxbury and the cheap thrills of overproof cheap wine fueled his rise to success. The importance of having trusted friends who share sound advice is clearly demonstrated in this memoir. The advice shared by Vernon Jordan – “you should control your exit and make plans for when you step down” – was fully embraced by Carl and helped him proactively manage his career. As the old adage goes, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Failure to plan one’s exit may result in being desperate and anxious, leading to making wrong choices. Carl highlights in his memoir that throughout his career, he was working in a job that he enjoyed; this suggests that his job was a vocation or calling. At one point, Carl even took a pay cut for a position that was mission critical. Imagine how much better this world would be if people operated in positions they enjoy rather than holding a job simply for the money it offers. Nurturing and honoring relationships is another strength demonstrated by the author. He shares about having a friend, Calvin Pressley, who became the inseparable big brother that he never had. Their relationship was expanded to include both families and taking vacations together. McCall’s leadership experience, influence and impact in government, church and business including his finesse in navigating the dynamic relationship and complexities of these three, is very unique. This must-read book for African Americans carries key messages including that we can still rise up against all odds, including being abandoned by a father, raised by a single mother in a poor community, and having no deep family history to rely upon. From his local community in Boston to the Ivy League halls of Dartmouth College, the U.S. Army, church ministry, the New York State Senate, the first Black NYS comptroller and the chair of America’s largest higher education system, McCall rose. He impacted lives and communities despite the roadblocks and setbacks along the way. McCall does not like to talk about himself and confessed that he gets a bit uncomfortable with past assessments and reflections. He prefers looking ahead and strategizing the next conquest, the next opportunity, the next victory. Notwithstanding, this book tells the story of a man who rose to a place of immense power driven by his faith. The title to his book goes back to his early years in ministry … “I would ask, ‘Sis. Harris, how are you doing? And she would respond, ‘I am truly blessed and highly favored.’”
39February 2023 Last year, Governor Kathy Hochul did what her predecessor refused to do: she approved a cost-of-living adjustment for the human services sector, which spans many industries including foster care agencies, food pantries, and domestic violence shelters. These are workers who keep New York moving every day, who work on the issues our state needs help with the most, such as homelessness and the mental health crisis. They are heroes, yet they are being grossly underpaid for their life-saving work as the cost of living in New York continues to rise. Most human services nonprofits are paid for their important work through government contracts which determine how much their workers make. The less we pay the nonprofits, the less they can pay their workers. Many of the contracts barely cover the costs associated with the services they provide, let alone provide workers with a living wage. Twelve consecutive years of denying the sector a cost-of-living adjustment has left it in shambles. Although we finally funded a COLA last year, it was not enough to make up for the harm that has been done. Human services workers are still making poverty wages in an increasingly expensive state. Human services workers make about $20,000 a year less than public sector workers with similar levels of education, and many are unable to make ends meet. Many work long hours and are forced to rely on assistance themselves, even though they spend each day providing help to others. In fact, 15% of workers in the sector qualified for food stamps between 2016 and 2108. That is unconscionable. Other human services workers make just enough money that they do not qualify for public assistance – but not enough to pay their bills. They are left foundering by a system that works against them, all while they work for us. Members of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, which I chair, are particularly concerned about the issue because people of color constitute the majority of employees in the human services sector. About 66% of human services workers are women, and 68% are people of color. There is no equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic without an investment in the vital human services workforce. We cannot allow the underfunding of this essential sector to continue. #JustPay campaign That is why we in the Caucus are announcing our support for the Human Services Council’s #JustPay campaign, which calls for an annual, automatic COLA and a living-wage floor of $21 per hour for all government-funded workers in the industry. Racial equity is key to an equitable pandemic recovery, and the council’s campaign is an important step toward the goal. The beginning of the current legislative session is a great time to move forward on this important issue. We are calling on our colleagues in the State Legislature to join us in supporting the #JustPay campaign. Assembly Member MICHAELLE SOLAGES (22nd A.D.) Help those who help us with a cost-of-living raise for grossly underpaid human-services employees OP ED
40February 2023 Black Lives Matter is not just a cliché, a modern “Black Power” movement or a couple of organizations formed to advocate on behalf of Black people in America. This stand alone statement is a declaration of the power, the impact, and the resilience of a people who have sojourned slavery, Jim Crow, multiple layers of discrimination and brutality, and have yet endured. Today, the political, economic and social landscape for Black Americans has shifted, and gone are the years when every now and then a Black person makes history. Way back in 1975 when President Gerald Ford became the first U.S. president to officially recognize Black History Month, he commented that Black Americans were making great strides and are being fully integrated into American society. Some 47 years later and the progress continues. Blacks have infiltrated and excelled in almost every sector in American society, and these days, Blacks are creating history every day – whether it’s the first woman Vice President of the United States; the first Black president at Harvard, America’s oldest university; or the first athlete to cross the billion dollar threshold, Blacks are striding. No place in America is this sense of power stronger than here in the New York tri-state area. In New York City, there is a Black mayor, a Black City Council speaker and a Black public advocate; a Black police commissioner and a Black schools chancellor. At the state level, there is a Black lieutenant governor, a Black attorney general, a Black speaker of the Assembly and a Black leader of the Senate. The heads of three of the region’s largest health systems are Black, and the nation’s largest state university system is also headed by a Black man. The U.S. House of Representatives’ minority speaker is also a Black New Yorker. The following is The New York Christian Times’ top 30 list of Black influencers, in alphabetical order. EDITOR’S NOTE: Our annual list of trailblazing New Yorkers is carefully selected in collaboration with The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce and key leaders from the New York Urban League, National Action Network, NAACP, The Black Media Network, and 100 Black Men of New York.
41February 2023 ADRIENNE E. ADAMS is shattering glass ceilings. The Speaker of the New York City Council is the first woman to represent the 28th Councilmanic District in Queens, NY, and she is the first-ever Black City Council Speaker. Prior to government service, she worked as a corporate trainer for several Fortune 500 companies. She has also been an appointed member of the Queens Public Library Board of Trustees and was appointed to then Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Local Planning Committee (LPC) for the Jamaica Downtown Revitalization Initiative. A product of New York City public schools, this wife, mother, and grandmother is also a Spelman College graduate. ERIC ADAMS has served the people of New York City as an police officer, State Senator, Brooklyn Borough President, and now as the 110th Mayor of the City of New York. During his career with the NYPD, Adams vowed to change the department from within. He founded 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, an advocacy group focused on fighting the injustices between the Black community and their interactions with the NYPD. He became a national leader on public health policy after developing Type 2 diabetes. After successfully reversing the disease by changing his diet, he launched a personal mission to educate New Yorkers about preventative care and wellness. DAVID BANKS is Chancellor of the NYC Department of Education, the largest school system in the nation. Prior to his current position, Mr. Banks served as the President and CEO of the Eagle Academy Foundation, and the founding principal of The Eagle Academy for Young Men, the first school in a network of innovative all-boys public schools in NYC and Newark, NJ. In 2019, he partnered with Scholastic to create the Rising Voices Library, a collection of books that features underrepresented communities in children’s literature. Due to his dedication to education, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in education from Wheelock College in May 2014. HON. ALVIN BRAGG makes history as the first Black District Attorney in the city of Manhattan. Alvin restructured the Manhattan DA’s Office to focus more resources on prosecuting serious violent crimes, meeting the needs of survivors, reducing recidivism by addressing the underlying causes of criminal behavior, protecting everyday New Yorkers from abuses by the powerful, and correcting past injustices by vacating wrongful convictions. Prior to his current position, Bragg served as an Assistant NYS Attorney General. He is also a former member of the Board of Directors of the New York Urban League. DR. A.R. BERNARD is a visionary whose teachings have lifted his church, the Christian Cultural Center (CCC), to become New York’s largest house of worship. With more than 45,000 active, engaged members, CCC has emerged as one of America’s fastest-growing churches, one that nurtures and embraces members from all walks of life. Dr. Bernard was mentioned as one of NY’s 50 Most Powerful People in Brooklyn in 2019. In 2017, he was featured on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday. He has been awarded honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from Wagner College and Nyack College/Alliance Theological Seminary. HON. YVETTE CLARKE represents the 9th Congressional District of New York. In this role, she has dedicated herself to continuing the legacy of excellence established by the late Honorable Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman and Caribbean American elected to Congress. As the proud daughter of Jamaican immigrants, she co-chairs the Congressional Caribbean Caucus and works to foster relationships between the United States and the Caribbean community. Prior to being elected to the United States House of Representatives, Clarke served on New York’s City Council, representing the 40th District.
42February 2023 REV. DENNIS DILLON has been in pastoral ministry for almost 40 years and leads Rise Church Global. He is a Bible scholar, community strategist, and the publisher of The New York Christian Times newspaper, books, magazines, and periodicals. He is well regarded for his activism related to the spiritual and economic empowerment of the Black community and the global African village. He’s been a frequent guest and commentator on media outlets in Africa, the Caribbean, and the US. In recognition of his work as a journalist, community strategist and clergyman, he has been honored with well over 200 awards. He co-founded several organizations including The Black Church Means Business, DOOR Of Our Return and the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce. He serves on many boards including the historic and impactful Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce. DR. HAZEL N. DUKES is an important civil rights activist of the 1960s and 1970s and a campaigner for over 30 years. She is President of the NAACP New York State Conference, and is a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors, a member of the NAACP Executive Committee, as well as an active member of various NAACP board sub-committees. Her dedication to human rights and equality is exemplified by her role in linking business, government, and social causes. Dr. Dukes was incorporated in 2007 as a Pi Beta Kappa Fellow and her biography has been selected for publication in many journals and directories. Dr. Dukes is an active and dynamic leader who is known for her unselfish and devoted track record for improving the quality of life in New York State. GEORGE GRESHAM is president of the New York-based 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, a position he has held since 2007. He also serves as an executive vice president for the national Service Employees International Union (SEIU). His position as president has made him a prominent figure in New York politics. In 2017, after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Mr. Gresham was one of the few men who spoke at the Women’s March in Washington, D.C. Mr. Gresham has built a powerful voice for healthcare workers in local, state, and federal government, and is a national leader for social justice. He believes strongly that the union movement must work together with coalitions to advance progressive causes. HON. CARL HEASTIE is the 100th Speaker of the New York State Assembly. He has the historic distinction of being the first African American to serve as leader of the Chamber’s 150 members representing communities across the State of New York. He has been instrumental in pandemic recovery, and has passionately advocated for the transformative power of education and for common sense gun safety reform measures. Under Speaker Heastie’s leadership, New York has ushered in criminal justice reforms. During the SFY 2017-18 Budget, Speaker Heastie, alongside his Majority colleagues, successfully negotiated a measure passed by both houses to strengthen New York’s indigent legal defense program and finally raise the age of adult criminal responsibility. HON. HAKEEM JEFFRIES represents the diverse 8th Congressional District of New York and is serving his sixth term in the United States Congress. Rep. Jeffries is the Democratic Leader, having been elected to that position by his colleagues in November 2022. In that capacity, he is the highest-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives. Rep. Jeffries is a tireless advocate for social and economic justice. He has worked hard to help residents recover from the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, reform our criminal justice system, improve the economy for everyday Americans, and protect healthcare. Since President Biden took office in January 2021, Rep. Jeffries has been instrumental in lowering costs, creating better-paying jobs, and fighting for safer communities. HON. LETITIA JAMES is a lifelong public servant. She is the 67th Attorney General for the State of New York. When she was elected in 2018, she became the first woman of color to hold statewide office in New York and the first woman to be elected Attorney General. She has been a national leader in the fight to defend access to reproductive health care, leading dozens of legal actions across the country to protect and expand access to this lifesaving care. Prior to serving as Public Advocate, Letitia James represented the 35th Council District in Brooklyn in the New York City Council for ten years.
43February 2023 JENNIFER JONES AUSTIN, ESQ. has more than 20 years of leadership, management, and advocacy experience working for the advancement of underserved children, individuals, and families. A fourth-generation leader of faith and social justice, Ms. Austin is the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), a prominent social policy and advocacy organization comprised of 200 human services agencies operating throughout New York City. Jennifer also chaired the NYC Racial Justice Commission, the first of its kind in the nation created to develop ballot proposal to revise the City’s charter to dismantle structural racism in government functions and ensure equity for Black, indigenous and other persons of color. HON. GREGORY MEEKS is known for his compassionate and tenacious representation of his constituents and for his coalition-building skills. From public housing to the Nation’s capital, he proudly serves the constituents of New York’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Meeks is the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He formerly served as the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Rep. Meeks was the first Black member of Congress to serve as Chair of that committee in the 117th Congress. Throughout his tenure in Congress, Congressman Meeks has fought to make New York City accessible and full of opportunity for all New Yorkers. HON. H. CARL MCCALL was the first African American elected to statewide office in New York – winning a special election in 1993 for the position of NYS Comptroller. His career has covered a broad range of fields, from high school teacher to State Senator and ambassador to the United Nations. Though his positions varied, his advocacy on behalf of the poor and underprivileged has remained constant. In 2011, McCall was appointed chairman of the State University of New York Board of Trustees. He is the recipient of nine honorary degrees and was awarded the Nelson Rockefeller Distinguished Public Service Award from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University of Albany in 2003. DR. PHILIP OZUAH is a nationally recognized physician, leader, executive, researcher, teacher, and author. He currently serves as the President and CEO of Montefiore Medicine, the umbrella organization for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System’s 13 member hospitals. In his role, Dr. Ozuah has expanded access to care for underserved communities, recruited and cultivated outstanding talent, advanced programs of excellence, fostered innovations in medicine and science, and improved financial and operational performance. In addition to his research and clinical accomplishments, Dr. Ozuah has been recognized repeatedly by Modern Healthcare as one of the “Top Physician Executives” in the country. HON. DAVID PATERSON was New York’s first African American and legally blind Governor. Since his graduation from Hofstra University Law School, Paterson has dedicated most of his adult life to public service. In 2002, he became the minority leader of the New York State Senate, the first non-White legislative leader in New York’s history. Hon. Paterson was made governor in 2008 after Eliot Spitzer’s resignation. As governor, Paterson reduced New York’s budget deficit by $40 billion and increased the welfare allowance for needy individuals for the first time in 20 years. He is nationally recognized as a leading active advocate for the visually and physically impaired. MICHAEL PUGH is President and CEO of Carver Bancorp, one of the largest Black-run banks in the U.S. Headquartered in Harlem, Carver has 7 full-service branches and 24/7 ATM centers located in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods. Michael’s interest in the relationship between finance and well-being sparked while working as a bank teller to fund his education. This began an almost 30-year career in banking and finance. In 2012, Pugh started with Carver and was promoted to CEO in 2015. He has since overseen a digitalization drive that has helped expand the hyperlocal community bank’s reach to 9 states. Shortly before the eligibility period for the Paycheck Protection Program ended in May 2021, Pugh rallied Carver’s team to support access to more than $55 million in capital for small businesses, preserving more than 5,000 jobs in the greater New York City area.
44February 2023 DR. PATRICIA RAMSEY is the first woman and the first scientist to be appointed president of Medgar Evers College. Distinguished as a “National Role Model” by Minority Access, Inc., Dr. Ramsey is a leader and a scholar with a deep commitment to excellence and a passion for making a difference. After only six weeks at the helm, Medgar Evers received the single largest grant in its history – a $20 million commitment developed by Ramsey and her team members in response to a call for proposals as part of NYC’s Juneteenth Economic Justice Plan. A biologist by training, Dr. Ramsey has a research interest in the biological activity of plants used in folklore and has collected 110 species of agave in the Sonoran Desert. Globally, Dr. Ramsey was also one of four provosts in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) delegation to Liberia, where she served in an education advisory capacity to the country’s leader, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. HON. CHARLES RANGEL is an American politician who served as a U.S. representative for districts in New York from 1971 to 2017. Congressman Rangel made history in 2006 as the first African American to head the powerful Ways and Means Committee which oversees international trade, health care, economic policy, and other major political issues. With two military honors and two degrees, Congressman Rangel served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in New York and began his career in politics as a member of the New York State Assembly. Congressman Rangel believes that the diversity of America is one of its biggest strengths in creating a more harmonious global society. ARVA RICE has more than 15 years of experience in the non-profit arena, ranging from working with New York City entrepreneurs in a micro-lending program to working with young people as a counselor, mentor, and tutor. She has extensive experience in collaboration building, strategic planning, fundraising, and marketing. Arva is President & CEO of the New York Urban League (NYUL), an organization that has a rich history and a long legacy of service to New Yorkers. Arva is a member of the Women’s Forum and the Greater New York Chapter of The Links Incorporated. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of First Corinthian Baptist Church. REV. AL SHARPTON has been at the forefront of the modern civil rights movement for nearly a half-century. He is an internationally renowned civil rights leader and founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN). Rev. Sharpton has taken the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and applied them to a modern civil rights agenda. He has been a tireless advocate for everything from police reform and accountability to the protection of voting rights and education equality. He notably organized the One Thousand Ministers March for Justice, which was held in 2017 on the 54th anniversary of the historic March on Washington. His direct-action and civil disobedience campaigns have brought attention to injustice in many areas. HON. ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS led the most productive legislative session in state history in just her first year as Senate Majority Leader. She has been widely recognized as a trailblazer in local and state government and a champion for progressive action. In 2012, she became the first woman, and African American woman, to lead a New York State legislative conference. In 2019, she shattered the glass ceiling when her peers elected her as Temporary President and Majority Leader of the State Senate. She is a proud member of Pi Alpha Alpha, a Public Administration Honor Society. ELINOR TATUM is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of the New York Amsterdam News, the oldest and largest Black newspaper in the City of New York, and one of the oldest ethnic papers in the United States. Ms. Tatum was appointed to Editor in Chief in 1997, becoming one of the youngest publishers in the history of the Black press. She began at the newspaper as a journalist, covering local and national issues affecting Harlem and the Black community. Under her watch, the Amsterdam News has evolved from typewriters to total computerization and undergone several new layouts with refocused content relevant to a wider African American community in New York and across the nation with the creation of Amsterdamnews.com, the paper’s online edition. Ms. Tatum is also a prolific keynote speaker with expertise on topics of media, race, politics, and culture.
45February 2023 BILL THOMPSON is an American politician who served as the New York City Comptroller from 2002 to 2009. Born and raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, the son of a judge and a teacher is the proud product of the New York City public school system. Thompson has earned a reputation as a tough advocate for New Yorkers and has stood on the side of working people seeking a living wage and fairness on the job. He served as a 5-term president of the New York City Board of Education. In his role as the City’s chief financial officer, Thompson led a team of 720 employees, managed a $66 million annual operating budget and the country’s 5th largest pension fund, a multibillion-dollar fund that was rated among the top 20 in the world. He has also served on the boards of the American Museum of Natural History, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Queens Public Library, and the New York Wildlife Conservation Society. HON. RITCHIE TORRES is a fighter from the Bronx who has spent his entire life working for the community he calls home. In 2013, at the age of 25, Hon. Torres became New York City’s youngest elected official. During his seven-year tenure in the Council, he tenaciously tackled problems big and small for the Bronx and New York City. Hon. Torres passed over forty pieces of legislation, including legislation protecting the City’s affordable housing stock and tackling the city’s opioid epidemic. Rep. Torress is currently the U.S. representative for New York’s 15th congressional district, and he is a member of the Committee on Financial Services and serves as the Vice Chair of the Committee on Homeland Security. DR. SELWYN M. VICKERS is the President and CEO of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and is an internationally recognized pancreatic cancer surgeon, pancreatic cancer researcher, and pioneer in health disparities research. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars. He has served as president of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract and the Southern Surgical Association. Dr. Vickers is the immediate past president of the American Surgical Association. Prior to taking the reins of Memorial Sloan Kettering, this native of Alabama was the senior vice president for Medicine and Dean of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Schools of Medicine and the CEO of both the UAB Health System and the UAB/Ascension St. Vincent’s Alliance. DARREN WALKER is the 10th president of the Ford Foundation, a $16 billion international social justice philanthropy with offices in the United States and ten regions around the globe. Under his leadership, the Ford Foundation became the first non-profit in US history to issue a $1 billion designated social bond in US capital markets for proceeds to strengthen and stabilize non-profit organizations in the wake of COVID-19. Before joining Ford, Darren was vice president at the Rockefeller Foundation, overseeing global and domestic programs, and chief operating officer of Harlem’s Abyssinian Development Corporation. Earlier in his career, he worked as a lawyer and investment banker. Darren has received many recognitions, including Wall Street Journal’s 2020 Philanthropy Innovator and Time magazine’s annual 100 Most Influential People in 2016. In July 2022, he was awarded as Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire for “services to US/UK relations”. HON. JUMAANE WILLIAMS has served as New York City’s Public Advocate since 2019. Since becoming Public Advocate, the second highest-ranking office in New York City, Jumaane has restructured the office to empower staff to prioritize community engagement, outreach, and service. He has also passed more legislation in his first 2 years in office than any Public Advocate in history, including key bills that protect New Yorkers in the workplace and those looking for work, shield struggling homeowners from undue tax burdens, promote public safety, and fight discrimination in our housing systems. Throughout his over a decade of service in government, Jumaane has continued standing with marginalized communities to fight for justice and equity for all. LLOYD WILLIAMS is the President and CEO of The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce (GHCC), a local organization established in 1886 as the Harlem Board of Trade. He is the Vice-Chairman of Harlem Arts Alliance (HAA), an organization dedicated to artistic growth and development in Harlem and surrounding communities. Mr. Williams also teaches courses on economics, tourism, small business, and urban development at multiple colleges. He is the Chairman and Co-Founder of Harlem Week, Inc., an organization that promotes a series of events to remember the past, celebrate the present, and embrace the future. He is not just a prominent figure in the community, but also a leader and role model.
46February 2023 As a result of her love for the business, passion for soul food, and commitment to community, Manna’s Restaurant has grown and at one point had 4 locations in Harlem and Brooklyn, all utilizing the buffet style of service with food purchased by the pound. And in addition to a salad bar, a dessert station and a fish fry, Manna’s locations carry a wide variety of hot and cold food items that span the scope of soul, Cajun, West Indian and African cuisine. Her proven success is noted by the fact that most of the staff and management team that started with her are still there. Betty Park, who is from Detroit, says that coming to Harlem wasn’t strange as she is from a multi-racial neighborhood with a strong and progressive population of African Americans. To this devoted and hardworking businesswoman, Harlem is like her hometown. It was in Harlem that she learned how to make soul food from a man from North Carolina. He taught her how to cook food like potato salad, collard greens, and spareribs. And to Betty, soul food is similar to Korean food because of the deep seasoning and spices. According to her, it doesn’t matter if it’s soul food, Italian food or American food – the main thing, she noted, is that you have to like being in the kitchen and have an interest in cooking, and you must cook with your soul. Betty says she cooks with feeling and that 99% of the time when she cooks with feeling and then later tastes her food, it comes out just the way she expected. Betty says that her lifestyle is always positive and that she gives thanks to God that she can get up in the morning and make a living, and that her employees can also make a living. She always looks forward to doing what she has to do and firmly believes in living right. “People are people. No matter where you go, people are good, people are bad. Some people may steal from you, but keep on doing what you think is right.” Betty has shown that having a strong sense of community, cooking with soul and staying positive are what has helped her and Manna’s to thrive for nearly 40 years. Entrepreneur Betty Park was born in Korea, but Harlem is in her heart, and cooking soul food is for her an almost daily aspiration. Back in 1983, she opened her first restaurant in Harlem, and beyond the regular struggles of growing a small business, a Korean-American serving soul food to African-Americans had its own set of challenges. “The Black community has long held concerns about Korean businesses not hiring from within the community, not doing business with Black suppliers, and not giving respect to the Black consumer. I came well aware of these concerns and wanted to make a difference,” Park shared. True to her commitment, most of Ms. Park’s staff at her Manna’s Restaurant locations are from the community and the company makes it a matter of principle to help and support community non-profit organizations, youth sports clubs and local groups, and people in need. “I never refuse,” Betty explained. “Any kind of non-profit organization that asks me for help, I do.” Betty Park … Soul, Passion and Conviction
47February 2023 Louis Katsos’s love affair and commitment to Harlem started some 35 years ago when he was the executive vice president of Tishman Construction. A meeting with Lloyd Williams, president of The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) led to both men working and consulting on the 135th Street Strivers Row Project. Years later, Katsos is a board member of GHCC. As the Greater Harlem Chamber celebrates its historic 125th anniversary, Mr. Katsos will be honored for his years of working on major construction projects in Harlem and for being a resource to the community. “I’m honored and humbled to receive this award from such an outstanding organization,” said Katsos. “I am accepting this award on behalf of all the board members, who are all distinguished individuals.” The native of Greece is president of Jekmar Associates, Inc., a construction and development consulting firm providing services to New York’s top developers and real estate owners, and is involved in various residential, mixed use and hotel projects. With over 40 years of construction project experience, he has been involved in the development of over 15 million square feet of various types of high rise buildings. He is a member of the NYIFund which raise and lends foreign investment funds (+$500 million) to real estate developers for various projects currently being built in the New York area. Post-COVID, Katsos has been busy working on a variety of multi-use residential and commercial construction projects, including a highrise in St. Petersburg, Florida, and buildings in Long Island City and Brooklyn. After being in the construction business for 50 years, Katsos says he is still excited creating new structures that are always different and unique. “It’s exciting to coordinate, work with and manage hundreds of people, from architects to engineers,” he shared. Even during his leisure time, his work continues. “I like working with non-profit and cultural organizations,” he says. He is the president/founder of the East Mediterranean Business Culture Alliance (EMBCA), an executive board member of The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, and a board member of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine. He served as co-chair of the the Greek Independence Parade in New York in 2020, and was a 2020-2021 recipient of the Who is Who International Award as World Eminent Man Lou Katsos (right) with Ted Klingos, president of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) Chapter 25, and His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America of Real Estate and Construction Management Market Award. “Harlem is one of my passions and being a board member of the GHCC has been some of the best years of my life. I love working with the organization’s membership, assisting them with start-up businesses and consulting with various construction jobs, working on design and structure layouts,” said Katsos. “Harlem is a most important community that is known and respected on both a national and international level.”
48February 2023 LATEST COVID-19 BOOSTER AVAILABLE AT ALL LOCATIONS OUR LOCATIONS 752 St. Nicholas Avenue New York, NY 10031 2602 Fredrick Douglass Blvd New York, NY 10030 1976 2nd Avenue New York, NY 10029 • Open 7 days a week 8am - 8pm • For more information, call 212-206-8000 Coming March 1st: Launch of Primary and Women’s Health at Frederick Douglas location. Extended hours to 11pm at St. Nicholas location ZipCare Urgent Care is proud to be a co-sponsor of this joyous event recognizing the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce for 125 years of continuous service to the businesses and residents of the Greater Harlem community.