2021 Christian Times Black History Month edition

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February 2021 P3

BY GLENDA CADOGAN

ho better to tell a
compelling New York
story that one whose entire
flavor of life is undeniably
New York? So, when
MetroPlusHealth went
looking for a Chief Brand
and External Relations Of-
ficer (CBERO) to magnify
its story, they found that
person in Lesleigh Irish-
Underwood.

Familiarly called “LIU” by peers and colleagues alike, Irish-Underwood
was named to the newly created position in early February. “I believe whole-
heartedly that beyond my work and educational history, my lived experience
uniquely qualifies me for this position,” she told The New York Christian Times.
“I am a born Brooklynite; I’m a woman of color and a daughter of immigrants
who come from very humble beginnings. These are my superpowers! This is
the experience that gives me an advantageous opportunity to connect with the
communities we serve. They were the people who were my neighbors, they
were the ones I went to high school with; they were my friends on the cheer-
leading squad. They are the people I know; they are who I am.”

It is through this unique lens that Irish-Underwood is banking on telling
the MetroPlusHealth story in such a way that she is also the voice at the table
who champions the many triumphs of its members. “It is an honor to be the

first of anything, so I admire the vision of our President & CEO, Dr. Talya
Schwartz, who recognized the importance of elevating the MetroPlusHealth
brand. As a result, she created this role focusing specifically on how the
company’s brand and the stories of the constituents we serve can be am-
plified.”
With the heightened awareness of the inequalities in health care
brought to bear through the pandemic, MetroPlusHealth fills a gap
in providing low-income New Yorkers with affordable health in-
surance coverage that is so critical at this time. “There are
many stories of triumph, especially when we think of how
COVID-19 has impacted our communities,” said Irish-Un-
derwood. “There are people who have been able to get

continued on pg. 7

P4 February 2021

WWhhaattWWasa, sW,hWat hIsa, t Is, and
WWhhaattIsIsToTCoomCeome ...

Reflecting on the past and pioneering the way forward

Wow! What a year 2020 was! A year marred by a pan- into the frontline to help ensure that quality healthcare, educa-

demic resulting in global economic and social disruptions, tion, technology, business services, food, shelter, arts and culture,

mass cancellations and postponements, and a worldwide lock- counseling, and pastoral care are available to all.

down that has crippled economies and brought tourism and travel Our Top 30 Black Influencers that grace this special edition

to a screeching halt. The toll from COVID-19 is still being tal- are among the men and women of whom we speak – and they

lied, but already two and a half million people have died to date. represent institutions of multiple convergences for the good of

America alone accounts for almost 520,000 of the global COVID our people and all humanity. They have refused to barrel down

deaths and close to 30 million cases. As the tragedy of all of this a bottomless pit of excuses and are blazing ahead on the escalator

unfolds, America gets reminded of the deep inequities in health- of opportunities. And this is that season! As we push together

care as we see the vast disproportionate number of Black and to help America reach the required “herd immunity” with the

Brown people impacted by the disease. coronavirus vaccine, we embrace our collective power as Blacks

The pandemic may have helped to thrust into the open the in America.

pressing need to equalize opportunities, but it was the vicious What would America be without the historic contributions,

public slaying of George Floyd on Global Africa Day, May 25, invaluable participation, leadership, creativity, and ingenious

that thrust into the open the demagoguery of systemic racism and power of Blacks? Where would America be without our hun-

the devastating impact of White privilege and historic racism dreds of years of slave labor and our marvelous inventions – vac-

perpetrated against Blacks in America and around the world. cine included? And as we look beyond the tumultuous year that

Millions of people around the world hit the streets – many for- was 2020, we look ahead knowing that the shaping of a progres-

getting social distancing, mask wearing and handwashing. sive future will include the millions of Blacks in America who

America’s racism and the global subjugation of Black, Brown, are the co-creators of tomorrow’s American story.

and indigenous peo-

ple of the world

Wwere an even bigger hat would America be without the historic contributions,
invaluable participation, leadership, creativity, and ingen-
pandemic, and in a ious power of Blacks? Where would America be without
matter of 30 days
there were more
than 11,700 demon- our hundreds of years of slave labor and our marvelous inventions –
strations around the

world. In America vaccine included?

alone, there was an

average of 140

demonstrations per day in more than 6,000 small towns and large Lloyd Williams is one of those trailblazing men who is a

cities – in red and blue states, and in Democratic and Republican leader beyond his years. I have never met a man who tries so

strongholds. The New York Times stated that this was the largest hard to live full so that he can die empty. Not by deliberate in-

movement of its kind in America’s history, noting that in our na- tent, but here lives a man in Harlem whose faith and conviction

tion for 30 continuous days more than a half million people gath- drive him to expend every ounce of energy, every gift and talent,

ered every day in a total of more than 550 different locations. every wave of intellect, and every sense of service for the good

In 2020, more than any other time in history, the world of humanity and the strength of community. Before many gov-

demonstrated its anger against the demonization of a people, and ernmental officials caught on, Mr. Williams and his amazing and

the cry became universal – BLACK LIVES MATTER! Black multi-talented Senior Associates and Board Members began to

people in America are being killed over loose cigarettes, a organize and plan weekly meetings with top leaders and the

twenty-dollar bill, and while jogging, walking, driving, sleeping heads of institutions across the city, particularly uptown Man-

or taking a leisurely stroll in your own apartment or neighbor- hattan, to offer guidance and to map solutions in the wake of the

hood. multiple pandemics. The SUPPORT HARLEM NOW! Initiative

The demonstrations and acts of solidarity from nations was launched and key programs were instituted to ensure food

around the world, corporate heads, and millions of peaceful security, student access to the necessary technology for remote

demonstrators of all races, ages, creeds, and cultures is a global learning, support for businesses, and a long list of opportunities

call for justice and an end to the savage crimes, acts of oppres- to assist struggling communities.

sion, and criminalization directed to Black people. This special publication highlights some of the key areas and

In the midst of all of this, individuals and institutions across developments, and is a proud collaboration of The Christian

America and here in New York are rising to the challenges. They Times with The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, guided

are delivering vital services, and many have thrust themselves by its great Board of Directors.

Please see page 47 for credits and additional information

February 2021 P5

P6 February 2021

February 2021 P7

LESLIE IRISH-UNDERWOOD (cont. from pg. 3) And to it she adds: “I am al-

back on their feet because of the strength and safety want to be deliberate in highlighting them. People

net of the health coverage provided by Metro- need to understand what it means to be saved from ways clear that everything I ac-

PlusHealth. These are the stories that must be told.” financial ruin when a family member becomes criti- complish and any blessing I have comes

In one hand, Irish-Underwood holds her pride cally ill and they are also a member of our Metro- from God.” Together with her husband,

in being the kind of New Yorker who thinks that PlusHealth family.” Irish-Underwood is part of the ministry at

the Big Apple is “the center of the Universe.” And The road ahead is wide open for Metro- their church, Jubilant Pentecostal Holy

in the other hand, she locks embrace with her title, PlusHealth’s “Corporate Griot.” But the good news Church in Brooklyn. So it is from this

which she intimates could be alternately called is she’s anchored on another story that seals her suc- platform she tells her most compelling

“Chief Story-teller.” cess. It’s one of an unwavering faith in God. “To story: “Even in this pandemic, God is in

One such story she tells with passion is that of whom much has been given much will be required” the blessing business.” To this we add the

the company’s partnership with the Hotel Fund. is her personal mantra that she touts without hesita- footnote: and there are no percentages or

“This is an area where we have made a tremendous tion. quotas!

difference,” she said, adding, “We all know

that the hotel industry has been decimated

by the pandemic. For the first time in

decades many hotel industry workers found “I Have A Dream,Too.”
themselves out of work and disconnected
from their healthcare coverage. Metro-

PlusHealth’s response was to partner with “As an African-American business owner,
the Hotel Fund which has taken such good one can only imagine how the
care of their employees through the years.
We have been able to not only connect the civil rights movement has Bffected my life and the
newly employed with health insurance but lives of each member of my firm.
provide gap coverage for the unemployed
until such time that our city comes back. Without the strength and conviction
And come back we will,” she said with the of those willing to fight for equal rights of all,
eternal optimism of a true New Yorker. In
addition to providing low-cost insurance to Infrastructure Engineering Incorporated
would not be where it is today.

For this reason we wish to pay tribute to
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Because he had a dream back in 1963,
I now can have a dream, too.”

— Michael Sutton, P.E., CEO

workers and families, the partnership also

makes critical health services available at

various Hotel Fund sites where workers’ Integrity Excellence Innovation

health care needs are met.

Though only about six weeks on the

job, Irish-Underwood has a clearly defined

vision and some strategies to help amplify

the already solid MetroPlusHealth brand.

MetroPlusHealth is a wholly-owned sub-

sidiary of NYC Health+Hospitals, the na-

tion’s largest public health system, and

provides access to affordable, high-quality

health coverage to over 600,000 New York-

ers. As her first move she looks to the digi-

tal world. “There is a lot to leverage here,”

she said. “So I want to connect with mem-

bers and, using our social media platforms,

give them the opportunity to tell their sto-

ries with dignity and in a way that empow- Civil Engineering Structural Engineering Program Management Traffic Engineering Construction Engineering & Inspection
ers others. There are a gazillion stories out

there right now during this pandemic. I www.infrastructure-eng.com

P8 February 2021

Distancing Measures Must Continue

During Vaccine Roll-Out: Study

The vaccine is here, but we still clude mask-wearing, remote work to want to relax the controls we have to 5 million doses per week with a
have a long way to go. New re- where possible, and limited travel. in place,” Shaman told the New York 95 percent effectiveness after two
search by Jeffrey Shaman and col- Times. “If we start thinking, ‘We’ve doses. It also assumes that neither
leagues at Columbia University The researchers used a computer got a vaccine, there’s a light at the those who have recovered from the
Mailman School of Public Health model of the pandemic to estimate end of the tunnel, we can stop in a disease nor those who receive vac-
and Pfizer finds that millions more that 105 million Americans have al- couple of months’ — that’s way too cinations could develop an infection
Americans will be infected and be- ready been infected with COVID- soon.” or pass the virus on again. The re-
come ill if policies to enforce phys- 19, well above the number of search was supported by Pfizer, the
ical distancing are lifted confirmed cases. If current restric- The research is based on a pre- National Science Foundation, and
prematurely. Results of their study tions are kept in place until late July, print article published in December the Morris-Singer Foundation.
are featured in an article in the New they project that a total of 158 mil- ahead of peer review. First author
York Times titled “Why Vaccines lion Americans will be infected. If Marta Galanti, a post-doctoral re- The New York Times article
Alone Will Not End the Pandemic.” measures are eased in mid-March, 6 searcher; senior author Jeffrey quotes several experts who back up
million additional Americans will be Shaman; and co-authors accounted the broad strokes of the Columbia
An estimated 29 million addi- infected. However, if restrictions for factors including the speed and findings with caveats that the pace
tional infections will occur in the are strengthened until February, 9 order of vaccine distribution, vac- of the vaccine roll-out and virulence
United States if current measures million fewer Americans will be in- cine effectiveness after one and two of the new virus variant could
are lifted in February compared to a fected. If they are strengthened until doses, current social distancing change the numbers.
scenario in which they are main- July, that number grows to 19 mil- measures, and virus transmissibility.
tained at least through July, the lion. Their model assumes vaccination The latest findings were pub-
study finds. Control measures in- will continue at a pace ramping up lished in collaboration with data
“There are people who are going journalists at the New York Times.
Previously, Shaman and members of
his team collaborated with the news-
paper twice in March of last
year and again in May. The March
articles were based on the team’s re-
search on the potential impact of the
pandemic in the U.S. and how the
virus initially spread outside of
China. In May, they estimated
that more than 30,000 American
deaths could have been averted had
distancing measures been put in
place one week earlier.

February 2021 P9

BY DANAYI MUSAMIRAPAMWE Black female – a doc- the suffering as we work long hours in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at
tor at that same institu- trying to save lives. We need to erad- Montefiore Medical Center in the
merica is tense as tion – inoculated her icate this pandemic, and this is the Bronx.
scientists, politi- with the first does of only way to get rid of COVID-19 and
cians, and citizens the Pfizer vaccine. get back to some degree of nor- Admitting that the COVID-19
alike debate the efficacy malcy,” Lindsay explained. pandemic has made life and the work-
of a vaccine and float This was a nerv- place challenging and sometimes
scores of theories about a pandemic ously anticipated event This Queens nurse and the doctor stressful, Kalathara, who migrated
that has crippled our world. for America and the from India, shares with passion the
As the death toll from the coron- world. Vaccine antici- pAMELLA commitment she and her co-workers
avirus was steadily mounting across pation was at an all- JOHNSON share as they support each other and
the US and new variants of the deadly time high, and for at work to save lives every day.
virus were detected, a devoted Black least this one woman, who injected her are Black history
female nursing administrator sat in vaccine hesitancy at an all-time low. makers who set America on the “Before the COVID-19 pan-
her place of work at Long Island Jew- Nurse Sandra Lindsay was ready, and course of a national campaign to demic, we worked with far more ease
ish Medical Center (LIJ) as another on Monday morning, December 14, break the stranglehold of this brutal and without fear. Now we are risking
the brave nurse practitioner rolled up disease. They know well the impact our lives to care for our patients. My
the sleeve of her nursing uniform and of the coronavirus on healthcare colleagues and I work as a unit and
took the shot. The nurse did not workers and the intense bravery of support each other. We put our all
flinch and her only sigh was one of re- their colleagues and co-workers who into our work and provide our patients
lief that a vaccine is finally here. are daily on the frontline with COVID with our best selves,” Ms. Kalathara
“I feel very hopeful today and patients. Now Ms. Lindsay, who mi- contends.
very relieved. Now we have a vac- grated from Jamaica, West Indies
cine and I know that it will put an end more than 20 years ago, is a symbol Nurse Mary Kalathara always
to the pandemic,” the history-making of hope and an ambassador of knew she wanted to be a nurse and to
nurse noted. Lindsay, a nurse for courage for fellow healthcare work- care for others. She holds a Bachelor
more than 26 years, is the director of ers. of Science in Nursing from mahatma
critical care at LIJ, a part of the North- Gandhi University in India and a
well Health System, and manages all And she is not alone. Thousands Master of Science in Nursing from
intensive care units at the Queens hos- of women and men are on the front-
pital. Having that responsibility to line in healthcare, helping to save continued next page
lead a team of nurses and support lives and resurrect hope – especially
staff, Lindsay knows well the devas- during this COVID-19 pandemic.
tating impact of COVID-19 on pa- Here are a few of them …
tients and frontline hospital workers
alike. MARY KALATHARA, a regis-
“Nursing during this pandemic is tered nurse and a board-certified
tiring and it is dark and painful to see neonatal nurse practitioner, has more
than 25 years of experience working
petralynn in high-risk clinical settings. This
ambrose dedicated practitioner currently serves

P 10 February 2021

Stony Brook University in New York. MARY and concerned about of the COVID-19 pandemic, includ-
She prays every day and main- KALATHARA their newborns,” ing not being able to meet face-to-
Johnson expressed. face with staff, much of the nursing
tains a strong faith in God, eats tionally stressful it was to watch so director’s routine is the same – but
healthy, stays connected to family, ap- many people die as they worked tire- Proud that they with greater intensity.
plies all safety measures and, of lessly to keep people alive during the have not lost a single
course, she got her vaccine shots. peak of the pandemic. “We fought mother to COVID, “We increased daily safety hud-
and worked nigh and day, and we Johnson attests to the dles to twice per day and 7 days per
Kalathara is a member of this elite never gave up. We fought to the fin- strength of her co- week instead of Monday through Fri-
team that has made it their life’s work ish.” workers and how dur- day. This help everyone to navigate
to help save lives every day. And to ing these difficult our state of emergency,” Pinder ex-
the rest of us, she simply says, “Don’t Petralynn Ambrose knows well times they huddle to- plained. Pro-active and assertive in
lose your optimism. Be brave and the great rewards of resilience and gether and work with her leadership, Ms. Pinder established
take heart, and above all, pray to God hard work. A single mother for 31 caring supervisors to get the job done.
to protect you and others.” years, she worked multiple jobs to put “We acknowledge the reality of the a command center with a hotline for
her daughter through Morgan State pandemic, and we pray together and easy access to the leadership team and
Nurse PETRALYNN AM- University, and has now realized her keep our focus on the parents in our a central location for all decision
BROSE has an amazing story. In dream of homeownership. care. We work to make it a positive making.
1983, she came to New York from stay for them,” Johnson explained.
Port of Spain, Trinidad, with a dollar As Ms. PAMELLA JOHNSON Like many healthcare workers,
and a dream – and this was literally so proudly noted, she is the first in her A nursing executive, a leader and this nursing leader also contracted the
because the young 22-year-old Am- immediate family to graduate from a woman driven by her faith in God coronavirus. In the Spring of 2020,
brose only had one dollar in her purse college – Northern Caribbean Univer- and her solid commitment to cham- she tested positive, and despite a mild
when she came to visit with her uncle. sity School of Nursing in Jamaica, pion the cause of quality healthcare is physical impact, she speaks to the fact
With no green card, Ambrose could West Indies. And yes, this registered BRENDA PINDER. This devoted that there is still the psychological
only get home attendant jobs, and this nurse hails from the Caribbean island practitioner is the director of nursing trauma. And beyond this, no visits
fueled her desire to provide care for of Jamaica. at Montefiore Medical Einstein Cam- with her siblings, no Christmas and
the sick. pus in the Bronx, and leads a dynamic holiday gatherings, no physical
Since 1999, she has been em- church.
She would eventually become a ployed by Montefiore Medical Cen- BRENDA
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) ter, and was recently recognized for PINDER Indeed, the new normal. Yet Ms.
before continuing studies at Medgar her 25 years of dedicaed and steadfast Pinder, Mary, Petralynn, and Pamella
Evers College in Brooklyn. Ambrose service and unwavering loyalty and team of professionals including assis- all spoke to the power of their faith –
now works in Pediatric Nursing at commitment to the Bronx institution. tant nursing directors, nurse man- their devotion to God and their re-
Maimonides Hospital Center in Bor- agers, and nurse clinicians liance upon His strength to guide
ough park, Brooklyn, and speaks pas- She is also the first in her family them day by day as they extend care
sionately about her commitment and to migrate to the US. She received her Pinder is passionate about her to the sick and support their col-
great satisfaction in serving her young first RN license from the Jamaican work and her commitment to build leagues working on the frontline.
patients. Board of Nursing in Jamaica, and and lead a strong healthcare team with
after migrating to the US, she re- high morale, particularly during this
Since the outbreak of the pan- ceived her second RN license from pandemic.
demic, however, Nurse Ambrose, like the New York State Board of Nursing.
so many of her colleagues, has given She has gained extensive knowledge “Much has changed because of
herself to working extended hours and and experience in her nursing prac- the pandemic and with new protocol
in different departments to ensure the tice. She has worked on the Medical and feelings of fear, staying con-
full care of all patients and the protec- Surgical units, in Labor & Delivery, nected to our team is important,” Pin-
tion of lives. and presently on the Mother and Baby der explained. “We constantly visit
unit. with our staff on the frontline to thank
“We have a strong team and we and encourage them for their sacri-
work to keep COVID patients – and Nurse Johnson is a dedicated, sin- fices in providing care for our patients
all of our patients – alive, and we have cere, caring, respectful nurse and an despite their own fears and anxieties”
strong supervisors who work hard asset to the Montefiore Hospital. She
every day to keep us alive,” Ambrose loves her nursing career and enjoys Nursing administrator Brenda
explained. teaching the nursing students. Pinder began her nursing studies in
her native Guyana at Georgetown
Ambrose expressed how emo- Throughout the pandemic, John- Public Hospital School of Nursing.
son continues to dedicate herself to After migrating to the US, she contin-
caring for mothers impacted by the ued her studies, earning a Bachelor of
virus and extends her time and com- Science in Nursing at Medgar Evers
mitment to the life of her patients. “I College and a Master of Science in
put my trust and confidence in God Nursing at Adelphi University. She is
each day as I go to work, day and currently an MBA candidate at Long
night, to give my best service to the Island University.
mothers of these babies who need
nurses the most. This is a critical time Ms. Pinder speaks glowingly of
for them as they are sometimes fearful her more than 37 years in nursing, and
although much has changed because

February 2021 P 11

COVID GUIDANCE
and the covid-19 vaccines

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Kellie Bryant, DNP, WHNP, CHSE

Executive Director of Simulation and Assistant Professor
Columbia University School of Nursing

Vaccination is one of the most important inter- found that concerns about the safety of the vaccine. The fol-
ventions to help end the COVID-19 pandemic. one-third lowing provides accurate information about the
According to the Center for Disease Control, of Black people do not plan on receiving the vac- most common questions regarding the COVID-
Black, Latino and Indigenous Americans are al- cine. Vaccine hesitancy stems from a mistrust of 19 vaccine.
most three times likely to die from COVID-19 the medical field due to past medical experimen-
than White Americans. However, a recent poll tations that were performed on Black people and

Are the vaccines safe? What are the side effects of the vaccines?

The COVID-19 vaccines have all gone through rigorous testing and all The most common side effects from the vaccine are pain at the injection
phases of the clinical trials. After a thorough review, the Food and Drug site, tiredness, headache, fever, chills, joint pain, and muscle pain. These
Administration (FDA) found the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to be safe symptoms are typically more severe after the second dose; however side
and effective. The Pfizer vaccine trials have over 40,000 participants with effects usually resolve in 2-3 days. Individuals experiencing side effects
9.8% Black and 26.2% Latino participants. Moderna vaccine trials in- can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen (unless medically contraindicated)
cluded 30,000 participants with 9.7% Black and 20% Latino participants. if experiencing pain or fever after the injection.
Over 9 million people have received either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.
The most serious adverse reaction from the vaccine is anaphylaxis (severe If I already had COVID-19 do I still need to
allergic reaction); however this reaction is extremely rare. As of January get the vaccine?
22, 2021, 31 people have experienced anaphylaxis and all individuals sur-
vived. Yes, people who already had COVID-19 should still receive the vaccine.
Experts do not have enough data to know how long “natural immunity”
How effective are the COVID-19 vaccines will last after someone has been infected with the COVID-19 virus.
against the coronavirus?
Who should not get the COVID-19 vaccine?
The Pfizer vaccine is 95% effective and Moderna is 94.1% effective at
preventing mild to severe symptoms of COVID-19. The only absolute contraindication to these vaccines is a known allergy to
the ingredients of the vaccine. This includes a previous severe allergic re-
How long will the vaccines work? Is a booster action to a previous dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or any of its compo-
shot needed? nents (including polyethylene glycol [PEG]).

Since the COVID-19 vaccines have only been tested since the summer of Do I still need to wear a mask after receiving
2020, experts do not have enough data to determine how long the vaccine the vaccine?
will protect people from the coronavirus. Since there is no information on
how long the vaccine will protect individuals, there are no current recom- Yes. Although the vaccine will protect you from getting sick from COVID-
mendations for a booster shot at this time. 19, experts are unsure if vaccinated individuals can still carry the virus

continued on p. 13

P 12 February 2021

Mount Sinai’s New Institute for Health Equity Research

Studies Disparities Spotlighted by COVID-19

Since it was established in May 2020, the marginalized, don’t have equal opportunities, and rious illness and death from the virus, more than 40
million doses have been given without reports of
Mount Sinai Health System’s Institute for Health have higher burdens of chronic diseases, these are widespread problems,” Dr. Richardson said, adding
that it is still important for all of us to wear masks,
Equity Research has quickly acted on its mandate the same neighborhoods where COVID-19 is hit- regularly wash our hands, and observe social dis-
tancing until everyone has been vaccinated and the
to study disparities ting the hardest,” says the Insti- COVID pandemic has been controlled.

in health outcomes, tute’s Co-Director, Lynne D. The new Institute has a variety of initiatives in
progress, including Speak Up on COVID-19, a sur-
including those re- Richardson, MD, Professor and vey launched in partnership with more than 100
New York City community organizations. “Speak
lated to COVID-19. Vice Chair of Emergency Medi- Up” is available in 11 languages to anyone with ac-
cess to a smartphone (www.speakuponcovid.org).
The goal of its work, cine, and Professor of Population It is seeking to enroll more than 10,000 participants

including examining Health Science and Policy. to understand the
medical, social, fi-
issues pertaining to Dr. Richardson has experi- nancial, and psy-
chological impacts
access to care, is to enced the toll of the COVID-19 of COVID-19. The
site also offers a re-
translate its research Mount Sinai’s Institute for Health Equity Research co-director, pandemic very directly. In addi- source guide with
into initiatives and Lynne Richardson, MD (left), and director Carol Horowitz, MD, MPH tion to her research and adminis- information on is-
policies that benefit trative duties, she treats patients sues including food
and housing aid, re-
communities of color in New York and the nation. in the Emergency Depart- mote learning, do-
mestic violence, and health care for people without
“Who gets COVID-19, who lives and who dies, ments at The Mount Sinai insurance (www.speakuponcovid.org/resources).

maps very well, unfortunately, with other kinds of Hospital and at Elmhurst continued next page

maps we have in New York City,” says the Insti- Hospital in Queens, and has

tute’s Director, Carol Horowitz, MD, MPH, Profes- recovered from COVID-19

sor of Population Health Science and Policy, and herself. Both Dr. Horowitz

Medicine, and Dean for Gender Equity in Science. and Dr. Richardson have re-

“This includes areas of poverty, areas of majority ceived the COVID-19 vac-

of low-income, Latinx, and African American peo- cine and they recommend

ple,” she says. It also includes areas with more pol- that everyone does so as

lution, areas of more linguistic isolation, areas that soon as it is offered to them.

have had more redlining in the past and other struc- “Not only have the COVID-19 vaccines now

tural inequities. available in the United States been proven in clini-

“If you look at communities where people are cal trials to be safe and effective in preventing se-

Pass down a
healthier tomorrow

New Yorkers know that every family is unique. Memories
and traditions are handed down through the generations.
Unfortunately, many diseases have a genetic component,
so they are also passed down through families.

The All of Us Research Program aims to be powered by
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Every woman in To learn more and to enroll contact us at
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Precision Medicine Initiative, PMI, All of Us and the All of Us logo are service marks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

February 2021 P 13

GHCC’s Uptown Health Leaders Frequently Asked Questions

continued from pg. 11

Work to Crush COVID-19 and spread it to others. In addition, the vac-
cine is not 100% effective. Therefore, you
should still follow all COVID-19 precau-
BY MICHELLE DRAYTON, RN, MPH of February 4, New tions.

For more than 125 years the Greater Harlem York’s numbers are

Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) has been com- showing progress as the Will the vaccines work
mitted to the revitalization of Upper Manhattan. holiday surge in cases re-

With a focus on improving the quality of life for cedes. However, African against the new strains of
all Upper Manhattan residents, GHCC has led the Americans and Latinos the coronavirus?
charge of attracting businesses and professional continue to have higher

services to the neighborhood. rates of COVIC-19 infec- Currently there is limited information on
Central to the GHCC’s aim of revitalizing tion due to greater risks how effective the COVID-19 vaccines will
for contracting the virus. From crowded living and be against the newest strains of the coron-
Upper Manhattan is ensuring the health and well- work conditions and lack of access to high quality avirus. Early study findings suggest that the
being of the people who live and work there. Ad- health care to occupying jobs that put them at vaccines may offer various levels of protec-
dressing racial and ethnic differences in health greater risk for contracting the virus, African tion depending on the strain of the virus.
outcomes, including the disproportionate impact Americans and Latinos are 3 to 4 times more
of COVID-19 among Upper Manhattan residents

is paramount to this mission. likely to contract the virus. Preconditions such as
Thirty-two health leaders comprise the Cham- diabetes and cardiovascular disease put racial and Can the COVID-19 vaccine

ber’s Uptown Health Leaders Committee, includ- ethnic minorities at greater risk for dying of give me the virus?
ing representatives from the New York City COVID-19.
Health and Hospitals (NYC Health + Hospitals), The vaccine does not contain the live virus
Hunter College, Columbia University, Elev8 Ad- The Uptown Health Leaders Committee is and therefore cannot make you sick with
combining forces to get the message to the Upper

diction and Wellness Centers as well as civil rights Manhattan community regarding the importance COVID-19.

and advocacy groups like the NAACP, and private of disease prevention, social distancing, frequent

practitioners. The committee is led by Dr. Leon handwashing, and wearing masks. Now that there Where do I sign up to
Merrick, Chair, and co-chaired by Tony Rogers, are vaccinations against COVID-19 infection, the receive my vaccine?
President of Onuwon Wellness Group and committee is focusing its attention on educating

Michelle Drayton, RN, MPH, director for hospice about the vaccine. Eligible New Yorkers can find an appoint-
access and the HOPE program at the Visiting ment for the vaccine at https://covid19vac-
Nurse Service of New York. The committee’s ef- Education, Prevention, and Access cine.health.ny.gov. You can also call the
forts are focused efforts on prevention and com- A major 2021 initiative of the GHCC Health COVID-19 vaccination hotline at 1-833-
munity outreach to stem the spread of Covid-19 NYS-4-Vax (1-833-697-4829).
in Upper Manhattan. Committee is the Crush COVID-19 Campaign,
which will focus on community education and

awareness and expanding information streams.
A key area of focus will be on prevention and How do we know the long-
COVID-19 Hits Upper Manhattan Hard

Much of the virus’s recent resurgence in Man- debunking any myths about the COVID-19 vac- term effects of the vaccine?
hattan during the month of December and January cines. The committee is promoting the importance
has been in the uptown neighborhoods of Inwood, of staying healthy through exercise and nutrition, The COVID-19 vaccines have not been
Washington Heights, and Harlem. Washington and preventing transmission by wearing a mask, around long enough for us to know the
Heights and Inwood had the highest positivity frequent handwashing, and social distancing. Ac- long-term effects. The FDA and CDC are

rates of COVID-19 in the borough of Manhattan. cess to primary care is also very important for our continuing to monitor reactions to the vac-

According to the city daily reports, as of the week community residents. cine and will intervene if any major safety

of January 4, the zip code 10034, which encom- This comprehensive initiative will include: 1) issues arise.

passes neighborhoods Inwood and Washington Crushing COVID-19: Beyond the Pandemic we-

Heights, had a 9.59% positivity rate compared to binar in March with leading experts who will dis- local, regional, and national entities to lever-

an 8.25% positivity rate in New York City during cuss the vaccinations, prevention and health age their platforms to deliver information.

the same time period according to the city daily promotion; 2) a Harlem Holistic Wellness Week Michelle Drayton, RN, MPH, is the Director for Hospice

reports. program, April 2 – May 1; 3) a print radio, and so- and Palliative Care Access, The Visiting Nurse Service

According to the NYS Coronavirus Update as cial media campaign; and 4) partnerships with of New York.

Mount Sinai’s New Institute for Health Equity Research continued from pg 12 “Now that we have come through the
worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is im-
At the height of the pandemic in May, the NYC there as well, “right in our area, since The Mount portant that we thoroughly investigate all of
Department of Health (DOH) reported that 81% of Sinai Hospital is at the border of East Harlem and the causes of its disproportionate impact on
COVID-19 cases were in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and the Upper East Side,” Dr. Horowitz says. racial/ethnic minorities and vulnerable com-
Queens, with higher numbers in neighborhoods munities, which are layered on top of many
that are lower income and have more underserved According to DOH data, Latinx New Yorkers long-standing, pre-existing health and health
residents. Only 12 percent of cases were in Man- are almost 50 percent more likely to contract care disparities,” Dr. Richardson says.
hattan, and there were signs of health disparity COVID, and both Black and Latino New Yorkers
are almost twice as likely to die from COVID-19.

P 14 February 2021

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February 2021 P 15

uch discussion is now on the media circuit about Vice Jezebel has to take over?” He went film and literature.
President Kamala Harris’s net worth, how much she on to mutter, “Jezebel Harris? Isn’t Recently, Sen. Lindsey Graham
will rake in from her memoir, The Truths We Hold—An that her name?” Not only was he
American Journey, released in 2019, and what she has coming calling her out of her name, he was of South Carolina invoked Harris’s
from her retirement plan from the city of San Francisco. implying that she was a “loose name as he voiced his support for
More important to her constituents is not her economic wealth woman,” a radical departure from Trump as the impeachment
but her intellectual and political capital. The nation will begin to the woman’s depiction in the Bible loomed. He was outspoken against
get a notion of those items later on as she will probably be a deci- as a princess or prophet, but in witnesses being called during the
sive factor in determining the outcome of the certain 50-50 votes keeping with the racist stereotype trial. “If you’re going to pursue
in the U.S. Senate. so often associated with the image this, and you wanna start calling
A harbinger of her significant role in Congress occurred on of Black women, particularly in witnesses, and you want to drag
February 5, when Vice President Harris, 56, cast a tie-breaking this thing out, it would be fair to
vote to pass Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus
package. And that outcome remains in limbo as the amendments CONTINUED NEXT PAGE
of the resolution bounce from the upper and lower chambers.
In the early days of the new administration, she is often pic-
tured, her mask in place, standing near President Joe Biden as he
signs a number of executive orders. As the first female, Black and
South Asian vice president in the U.S., she is patiently waiting to
get her marching orders from the Commander-in-Chief. Awaiting
assignments doesn’t mean she’s under the radar in Washington –
not by a long shot, and some of the attention she’s getting is not
as rewarding as the one from the National Women’s History Mu-
seum where her portrait, made of shattered glass, was installed in
front of the Lincoln Memorial. It was a clear symbol of her break-
ing the proverbial glass ceiling.
Two White pastors in Texas, rather than echoing the praise de-
livered by the curators at the museum,
reportedly called Harris
“Jezebel” from their pul-
pits. One of the pas-
tor’s wondered,
“What if some-
thing happens to
[Biden], and

P 16 February 2021

CONt. FROM P. 15 ning mate. cident and she limits her comments has to say about such things as
have Kamala Harris’ tape But patching up things and let- on marijuana to the need of it being Black Lives Matter and other perti-
play where she bailed legalized. There is no lengthy reflec- nent issues.
people out of jail,” he told ting bygones be bygones is no easy tion on her father other than to note
Fox News host Sean Hannity. matter, and Harris was met with that his ancestry, the weekend visits She is sure to catch some flak
“What more could you do to incite challenge even in her own family. from activists just as President
violence than to pay the bail of the Her relationship when she was very young, and his
people who broke up the shops and with her father, Dr. academic career. She was five when Obama did when he
beat up the cops?” Donald Harris, 82, her mother, Indian-born Shyamala, failed to move in a fast
Insults, innuendos, and incivility an esteemed econo- and her father separated in 1969, and substantive way on
are nothing new to Harris; she has mist and retired uni- and they divorced two years later. At pressing situations, es-
heard her share and she even took versity professor, the close of her book, she thanks her pecially those impacting
Biden to task during her presidential has not been the father “who, when I was a young the Black and Brown
bid for office. It caused quite a stir most intimate, and communities dispropor-
during a debate when she assailed their separation was girl, encouraged me to be fear- tionately. Trump’s four
Biden for his association with arch exacerbated when less.” years and his incipient
segregationists on busing. “You during an interview fascism and racial intol-
worked with them to oppose bus- Kamala was asked if Earlier during her campaign, erance made him an
ing,” she exclaimed. “And there was she smoked mari- Harris had to withstand another easy target of protesters.
a little girl who was part of the sec- juana. She jokingly possibly devastating estrangement It’s to be seen the extent
ond class to integrate her public responded that since from the Black and activist com- to which demonstrators
schools, and she was bused to she grew up in a Ja- munities who found her back- will voice their discon-
school every day. And that little girl maican family, it ground as a prosecutor very tent with the Biden-Har-
was me.” was natural that she troubling and viewed both she and ris administration.
That little girl is now the Vice had smoked it. Biden as complicit in the arrest Harris alone can stem
President, and obviously any mis- and imprisonment of countless some of the rancor, but her presence
givings or ill-feelings between her Upon hearing her comments, her number of African Americans. is nowhere near the panacea needed
and Biden have lost its resonance father scolded her and wrote that his Such allegations stand in counter to correct the years of injustice and
and, in fact, may have been a critical immediate Jamaican family “wishes distinction from those hurled at economic inequality.
factor in his choice of her as a run- to categorically dissociate ourselves her by Senator Graham, who al- Even so, having a Black woman
from this travesty.” In her book, Ka- leges that she was bailing people in this unique and unprecedented
mala makes no reference to this in- out of jail, not incarcerating them. seat of power does bring a measure
of comfort and possibility. As long
Reidy Contracting Group So, what is Harris’s current as they keep their feet on the pedal
position on mass incarceration, and the pedal to the metal, there will
Celebrates Black and can we expect any fundamen- be less concern about keeping their
History Month tal change from her now that she feet to the fire. No, Kamala Harris is
is the vice president? President not a princess nor is she a prophet,
GENERAL CONTRACTING | CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT Biden has already tipped his hand she is merely the Vice President and
on several critical social and polit- she is a woman of color and that’s a
120 WEST 31ST STREET, 7TH FLOOR | NEW YORK, NY 10001 ical issues, including racial equal- combination that has never been
212. 532.4600 | REIDYGROUP.COM ity, White supremacy, and seen before; and there’s a good
systemic racism. chance she will bring about some
other wonderful changes this nation
She stands united with him on once promised but never fulfilled.
these executive orders, but folks Most evident about Harris is her ten-
are still waiting to hear what she dency to hew inseparably to the
principles of truth and service she
acquired during her years at Howard
University.
The students at PS 399 Stanley
Eugene Clark School in Brooklyn,
where Lakeasha Williams is the
principal, recited a poem in tribute
to Harris. They chanted “Brown girl,
brown girl, what do you see? I see a
vice president that looks like me.”
The verse was taken from a poem
written by Lesle Honore. A video of
the recitation that has gone viral is
another exciting example of Vice
President Harris’s enduring impact.

February 2021 P 17

WHEN WE FIGHT The NAACP New York State
Conference Salutes & Honor Our
Great Legacy As We Celebrate 112

Years Of Our Founding

'U +D]HO 1 'XNHV
3UHVLGHQW

WE WIN

P 18 February 2021

As we observe Black incandescent light bulb. Latimer was also the Inspiring
History Month, we patent artist who drew the patent diagram for
often remember and Alexander Graham Bell’s patent application for Future
celebrate prominent history makers the telephone, and he wrote the first book on In-
such as statesmen, artists, and athletes. One im- candescent Lighting. Black
portant group we often overlook are African
American inventors and scientists, individuals Let’s look at Dr. Shirley Jackson, the current Inventors
President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
whose contributions to engineering and industry and improved our everyday lives. But where will
have changed our daily lives. (RPI), the 1st
African American the next generation of Black Inventors come from
Let’s look at Lewis Howard Latimer. Latimer, woman doctorate
whose family home is a museum in Queens, was from M.I.T. whose and how will they be trained so that they can fol-
the grandson of slaves, and a member of the Edi- experiments in
son Pioneers. It was Latimer who developed the theoretical physics low in the footsteps of
carbon filament, vital to the development of the paved the way for
developments in their illustrious forepar-
modern telecom-
munications. Let ents?
us not overlook
Otis Boykin, the With the advent of the
holder of 26
patents that were Internet, we find ourselves
critical to the de-
velopment of IBM in the Digital Information
computers. How many people were aware of the
accomplishments of Marie Van Brittan Brown, Age. Today’s world –
whose patents laid the groundwork for the mod-
ern closed circuit television system used in sur- whether it’s business, edu-
veillance and alarm systems.
All of these individuals had a passion for in- cation, science, or even CLAYTON
vention which spurred technological advances sports – is dependent on BANKS
information, and most
CEO, Silicon Harlem

continued on pg. 46

February 2021 P 19

Small Businesses are the
Backbone of Our Communities.

As your community bank, Carver remains committed to helping small
businesses in NYC grow and succeed during this challenging time.

Carver has funded approximately $23 million in loans to Minority- Michael T. Pugh
and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) through public and
private partnerships like the MTA Small Business Mentorship Program. President and
Chief Executive Officer
Approximately 80 cents of every dollar is deposited back into our
communities fueling business growth, job creation and development.

Our participation in the Paycheck Protection Program resulted in the
preservation of more than 3,500 jobs and provided $35 million in
access to capital for small businesses in the communities we serve.

In honor of Black History Month, Carver celebrates minority Niles Stewart
business entrepreneurs. For more than 72 years our discipline, knowledge
and social responsibility have remained strong pillars of the bank. 1st Vice President
We look forward to an exciting and dynamic future! Head of Commercial Lending
[email protected]
Visit us at carverbank.com

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P 20 February 2021

RESURRECTING & POWERING

BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES

This Black History Month, I ing at a rate three times higher down barriers to access, and begin strengthening the Black
am inspired by this year’s national
theme – Black Family: Represen- than White business owners and to build generational wealth in the entrepreneurial community, and
tation, Identity, and Diversity. I
think about my own family and more than 50 percent of Black en- Black community. scaling Black businesses for long-
my journey, first as an entrepre-
neur and now as Commissioner of trepreneurs sur- Our guiding term success. You can see the full
the NYC Department of Small
Business Services (SBS). I learned veyed principles at suite of virtual programming
business acumen from two impor-
tant mentors: Al Wilshire, who nationwide re- SBS are offered through SBS at
taught me the skills I needed to
lead a viable business, and my ported concern Innovation, nycsmallbizcourses.eventbrite.com,
mom, who taught me how to hus-
tle. about the viabil- Adaptability, and BE NYC programming at

When she wasn’t raising six ity of their busi- and benyc.eventbrite.com.
kids, working as a City social
worker, and going to night school, nesses. Their Collaboration, We’re also launching Shop
my mom ran multiple side busi-
nesses to help support our family. fears became a and we’re Your City: BE NYC, a campaign to
She never had a mentor, but I al-
ways wondered how far she could reality over the practicing what encourage New Yorkers to commit
have gone in the business world if
she had someone like Al teaching last year. Black we preach with to shopping at local Black-owned
her how to negotiate contracts and
get a seat at the table. businesses as a BE NYC. businesses during Black History

I don’t want to think about a whole saw a 41 COMMISSIONER Through Month and beyond. We know that
world in which other Black entre-
preneurs navigate the business percent drop in JONNEL DORIS workshops, Black businesses aren’t just places
landscape without a mentor or a
community. And I am excited to be business activ- NYC Department of roundtables, to purchase goods and services.
in this position to help others like ity between Small Business Services and mentorship More than 50 percent of Black
myself, and like my mom, not just February and programming, business owners hold a leadership
to get a seat at the table, but to
learn how to build their own table. April of 2020 we’re position in their community.

Though almost a quarter of our alone, and restaurant owners re- increasing access to financing, continued next page
city is Black, only 3.5 percent of
businesses are Black-owned, and ported an even more staggering 70
these businesses are getting hit
percent revenue loss.
hard by
COVID-19. Black Businesses DyingAnd critical lifelines fell short,
Pre-pandemic,
Black busi- with only two percent of Paycheck
ness owners
were rejected Protection Program funds reaching
for bank fund-
on the COVID-19 Vinethese entrepreneurs. Those Black-

owned businesses who did receive

funding only received 12 percent BY PRINCESS JENKINS height of the
of what they asked for compared The impact and devastation of pandemic
with the national average of 38 from Febru-
percent. We are hopeful that this Coronavirus raged through Harlem ary thru April
second round of federal funding and none felt the ravages of the 2020, while
for small businesses will bridge COVID-19 pandemic more se- only 17% of
this gap, but we must do our part, verely and disproportionally than

too. Black and Brown business owners. White-owned

If we’re going to recover a Challenged by governmental shut- businesses Owner, THE BROWNSTONE
Board Member, The Greater
fairer and stronger New York City, downs, limited access to PPP loans closed. Harlem Chamber of Commerce

we need more Black businesses. and forced to embrace new tech- The pandemic’s death toll and
We need a bigger table. That’s nologies, the virus became a infection rate are considerably
why we’re teeing up a whole tsunami with a momentum that higher in Black and Brown com-
month of programming through brought grave destruction to Black- munities, causing panic and uncer-
Black Entrepreneurs NYC (BE owned businesses. Studies show tainty along with an increased
NYC), the first of its kind model that 41% of Black-owned busi- negative economic impact on Black
in any major American city, to nesses were shuttered during the and Brown business owners. Estab-
address racial disparities, break
continued next page

February 2021 P 21

Resurrecting & Powering Black-Owned Businesses

Storefronts double as event spaces, local producers to continue to host one month in 12. It’s our duty to our no-cost resources, visit
venues for community meetings, events and share resources. That’s bring a bigger table all year-round. nyc.gov/sbs or call our hotline at
and resource hubs sharing critical why we’ve also compiled 18 lists We hope you continue to support (888) SBS-4NYC. You can learn
information with neighbors. We of New York City-based Black- Black-owned businesses more about BE NYC, including the
also know that for every $100 owned businesses to help you throughout 2021, and know that if Shop Your City: BE NYC cam-
spent at a locally-owned business, discover new restaurants to try and you are looking to start or grow a paign, by visiting nyc.gov/benyc.
$68 stays local. That means more new retailers to shop. business, we’re here to help.
funding to create jobs and support
Black History Month is just For more information about

Black Businesses Dying on the COVID-19 Vine

lishments that have been able to came the way to go for designers do now in a new election year nomics and deliver results.
where we celebrate the first female Policies across government,
shoulder the brunt of the pandemic and creatives, and those lucky Vice President of Asian and
Caribbean descent? How do we education, and health must be con-
have shown respectable resilience enough and well positioned landed bring back the growth and vitality tinually improved to focus on de-
of Harlem, foster confidence in the livering distinctive benefits to
by adapting to an ever changing lucrative government contracts to local business community, and ele- Black and Brown communities in
vate its economic return? an effort to make critical changes
and increasingly challenging busi- make and distribute PPE. in modernization, technology, and
As the entire world continues increased access to investments.
ness environment. The word Face masks, hand sanitizer, to transform, we must seek to im- We must implement and maintain
plement a brighter more resilient the highest standards in each of
“pivot” has become a national latex gloves, disinfectants and toi- future for Harlem. This vision re- these critical areas while imple-
quires a relentless, long term se- menting economic development
moniker for “sink or swim’’. The let paper became as essential as cure pandemic plan executed by incentives to encourage new and
our politicians, community leaders, exciting businesses, as well as in-
new terrain is yet uncharted, but Essential Workers. The Black and stakeholders to implement creasing hiring and employment
sizeable, laser focused, targeted in- opportunities to boost our local
those willing to meet the challenge Lives Matter movement, social and vestments to strengthen our eco- economy.

in these unfair and unjust times economic injustice, voter registra-

may find unexpected rewards. A tion as a backdrop to an ever-rising

local newspaper publisher saw an death toll, the national census, and

increase in sales as corporations a Presidential impeachment all

sought to connect with the Black served as a backdrop to an ever-

community as a precursor to the rising death toll due to the Coron-

Black Lives Matter movement. avirus.

Making and creating masks be- The question is what must we

P 22 February 2021

February 2021 P 23

COVID, Floyd and the Johnson Report:

The New York State Courts ex- 2020 visualized for a current gener- racial bias in the state court system. the Chief Judge. The report specif-
perienced a tumultuous and chal- ation the racism and bias that has Over 30 years prior, another Chief ically repeats the same statement
lenging year in 2020. The twists and been promulgated and tolerated for Judge appointed former US. Ambas- from 30 years ago – that Housing,
turns that took place can best be twenty score and two years. In the sador to Ghana Franklin H. Williams Civil, Criminal and Family Courts
summarized by COVID, Floyd and 1950s and 1960s, news footage of to lead the NYS Commission on Mi- litigants are overwhelmingly persons
the Johnson Report.
HONORABLE MILTON TINGLING of color. It refers to
COVID the dehumanizing
COVID-19 had a devastating ef- freedom marchers being fire hosed, norities (now known as the Franklin and demeaning cat-
trampled by horses, and beaten by H. Williams Judicial Commission), tle-call nature cul-
fect on the operations of the Court law enforcement galvanized people which issued an interim report on ture in these high-
system and its ability to provide to action. The Civil Rights Act and the public perception and reality of volume courts. The
services, especially to communities The Voting Rights Act were in no discrimination in the NYS Court most important
of color. While the pandemic small part due to these televised System. The report focused on the statement from the
opened new areas of opportunity to atrocities. There was great progress lack of minorities in the system and report is “the sad
deliver services, it also exposed dis- followed, however, by great com- therefore lack of input from minori- picture that emerges
parities and infirmities for the oper- placency ties in dealing with a majority mi- is, in effect, a sec-
ations most utilized by persons of nority constituency. The primary ond-class system of
color. The death of George Floyd led recommendation was to create an af- justice for people of
to heightened awareness, marches, firmative action plan to increase mi- color in New York
Digital access proved to be a vi- protests, and calls for criminal jus- nority employment and promotion State.” This is fol-
able method for continuing to tice reform, and focused renewed at- within the system. In 1991, the Com- lowed by reference
process and serve most law firms tention on the perception of law en- mission concluded that there were to another statement
and litigants that practice in forcement and the courts as entities two justice systems at work, one for from 30 years ago
Supreme Court Civil Term. of bias and racism. We Shall Over- Whites and a very different one for that “there are two
Under the leadership of come became Black Lives Matter. minorities and the poor. It also cited systems of justice at
Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, E-Filing A response was mandated, action that Housing, Civil, Criminal and work in the courts of New York
authorizations were expanded to in- was required, and action was taken. Family Courts are the courts prima- State, one for Whites and a different
clude almost all case types through- rily used by minorities, and that they one for minorities and the poor.”
out the state. Virtual hearings and THE JOHNSON REPORT were inadequate. Chief Judge DiFiore is a warrior
conferences were offered and the ca- On June 9, 2020, Chief Judge and has publicly committed to the
pability to conduct them was greatly On October 1, 2020, Special Ad- implementation of the recommen-
expanded. Janet DiFiore appointed former Sec- visor Johnson issued his report on dations of the Johnson report. We
retary of Homeland Security Jeh Equal Justice in the NYS Courts to applaud her for her commitment to
The courts most utilized by com- Johnson to conduct a review of this necessity and she deserves max-
munities of color are Housing, Civil, imum respect. But she also needs
Criminal and Family – and these are to hear voices that do not necessarily
not digital courts. There have been agree with her well-intentioned ap-
strides to provide digital access and plications yet still support the man-
processing, but it cannot match the date.
volume of cases that these courts 2021 can be a year for address-
handle. If not for Executive Orders ing the real issues of bias in the
which placed a moratorium on evic- courts against Black and Brown peo-
tion proceedings in Housing Court, ple. Progress is being made in the
and suspended jury trials along with New York State courts, but will it
bail reform and the Raise the Age be followed by complacency? This
legislation, the effect on communi- responsibility falls upon us all.
ties would have been even more dev-
astating. Hon. Milton Tingling, a former justice for
the NY County Supreme Court, currently
FLOYD serves as the Manhattan County Clerk.
The streaming all over the world

of George Floyd’s death on May 25,

P 24 February 2021

February 2021 P 25

Twelve Critical Steps Relating to

the Black Lives Matter Movement

over the past 12 months which have propelled us to where we are today ...

BY LLOYD WILLIAMS | President/CEO, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce

(June 5, 1993 – March 13, GEORGE 2
FLOYD
Breonna 2020) A 26-year-old African
1 American woman who was

taylor fatally shot in her apartment

in Louisville, Kentucky on (October 14, 1973 – May 5, 2020)
March 13, 2020, when three was killed during an arrest, within
White plainclothes officers
forced entry into her apart- 30 minutes after four police offi-
ment. According to officials, cers arrived on the scene. One
the officers fired 36 shots. officer knelt on Floyd’s neck, pin-
Taylor was hit by six bullets ning him to the ground for a pe-
and died. The shooting of riod of eight minutes and forty-six
Taylor by police officers led seconds. After his death, mas-
to numerous protests that sive demonstrations and protests
added to those already rag- began against police brutality, es-
ing across the country
against police brutality and pecially towards Black people,
racism. and quickly spread across the
United States and internationally.

3 congressman What if there were no
james e. clyburn George Floyd video?

(July 21, 1940 – ) The Majority Whip and third rank- primary, Clyburn announced his support for
ing Democrat in the US House of Representatives, Joe Biden, which consequently assured
known nationally as one who continually champions Biden his first national state victory, thereby
rural and economic development initiatives. Clyburn propelling Biden to the Democratic nomina-
tion for President.
is the eldest son of an activist,
fundamentalist minister and an continued next page
independent civil minded beau-
tician. He and his late wife,
Emily England Clyburn, met at
South Carolina State University
(HBCU). They are parents
of three daughters. On Febru-
ary 24th, prior to the crucial
February 29th South Carolina

P 26 February 2021

4 CONGRESSMAN JOHN R. LEWIS

(February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020) Montgomery Marches across the Ed-

In 1963, Lewis became one of the mund Pettus Bridge in an incident

original Freedom Riders. As Chairman which became known worldwide as

of the Student Nonviolent Coordinat- ‘Bloody Sunday’. He organized many

ing Committee (SNCC), Lewis was of the key voter registration efforts

one of the big six leaders who organ- during the Selma voting rights cam-

ized the 1963 March on Washington. paign and thereby became nationally

Other members of the Big Six were known. Lewis was a graduate of Fisk

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Whitney University (HBCU). Famously known awarded the Presidential
Medal of Freedom in 2011
Young, A. Philip Randolph, James as an advocate for “good trouble” and by President Barack
Obama.
Farmer and Roy Wilkins. In 1965, widely recognized as the “moral com-

Lewis led the first of three Selma to pass of Congress,” Lewis was

5 VICE PRESIDENT 6 MARCH ON
WASHINGTON
KAMALA HARRIS

(October 20, 1964 – ) August 28, 2020 March on Washington – Celebrating the
Harris served as the US 57th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s historic “I
Senator for California Have A Dream” speech. Under the leadership of Rev. Al
from 2017 to 2021. Sharpton, President of the National Action Network (NAN),
Prior to that, she was over 220,000 persons converged on Washington, DC to
Attorney General for the have a peaceful protest against police brutality, systemic
State of California. Har- racism, the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on com-
ris, a proud graduate of Howard University munities of color, and to also highlight economic dispari-
(HBCU), was selected by Joe Biden on ties. During the massive gathering, there was not one
August 11, 2020 to be his Vice Presiden- arrest or disturbance. What would have happened to
tial running mate. Biden was prodded by the attendees (overwhelmingly Black) if they had
Congressman Clyburn, who suggested acted as the Trump supporters did during the Jan.
that Biden should choose a Black woman 6, 2021
as his running mate. Harris brought much riot in
to the table to strengthen the Democratic DC? One
national ticket by attracting women voters can dare
to support and elect the first female Vice imagine
President in the history of America. She the car-
particularly galvanized Historically Black nage.
Colleges and Universities and their alumni

base to register, educate, inform and get After the

out the vote. Following the victorious No- March, the

vember 3, 2020 election, Harris was sworn 220,000+ attendees returned to the over 42 states from

in on January 20, 2021 as the first woman, which they came and galvanized to ensure the election of

and of course, Black and Asian, Vice Pres- the Biden-Harris slate in the November 3rd National Elec-

ident of the United States. tion.

February 2021 P 27

NOV. 3RD

7 NATIONAL
ELECTIONS

With the largest voter turnout in the history

of America, the Biden-Harris team won the

national election by an excess of 8 million

votes over the Trump-Pence team. Most of

8 STACY America celebrated. 9
ABRAMS
jan. 5th
A Georgia politician, lawyer georgia

and voting rights activist,

who served in the Georgia special election
House of Representatives

from 2001 to 2017. Abrams, US Senator Raphael Warnock (July 23, 1969)
a graduate of Spelman College (HBCU), is also a
best-selling author under the pen name Selena is the first African American to represent Geor-
Montgomery. In 2018, she won the Democratic
nomination as the first Black woman in the United gia in the Senate. A proud Cum Laude gradu-
States to be a major party’s nominee for State
Governor. Following a highly contested election, ate of Morehouse College (HBCU), Warnock
Abrams lost by less than 50,000 votes. There was
ample evidence that over 670,000 Georgians were served as the Youth Pastor and then Assistant
purged, with assistance from her opponent, from
the Georgia voter registration rolls, as well as an Pastor in the early 1990s at the famous
additional 53,000 voters who were prevented from
voting on Election Day in Georgia. Following that Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, NY, for-

mer church of the late great Adam Clayton

Powell, Jr. Warnock serves as Senior Pastor

of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta,

Georgia, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s for-

mer home church. continued next page

controversial defeat, Abrams Over 500,000 (1/2 million) – and still
created “Fair: Fight” a non- counting – Americans have passed
profit organization that pro- away from COVID-19 in one year.
motes fair elections in
Georgia and around the coun- Although these deaths were pre-
try, encourages voter partici- dominantly people of color, because
pation in elections, and BLACK LIVES MATTER, as well as
educates voters about elec-
tions and their voting rights. Without question, Abrams’ efforts ALL lives, we must first do what it
were most responsible for the election of two United States takes to stop these COVID deaths,
Senators in Georgia on January 5th (R. Warnock and J. Os- and then find ways to recover men-
soff), thereby tilting the balance of power and control in the US tally, spiritually, educationally, and
Senate from Republican to Democratic hands. economically. The Greater Harlem
Chamber of Commerce will work to-
wards accomplishing these critical
goals and invites any committed al-
lies to join with us and do the same.

P 28 February 2021

10 jan. 6th insurrection

On January 6th, the world was siege on the Capitol, ransacked rectionists stormed through the
shocked to bear witness in real the building, threatened hundreds Capitol, they chanted “Hang
time to an attempted coup in the of Congressional staff and elected Pence!” and “Let’s Kill Pelosi!”
United States. An insurrection en- members of both Houses, and Following the insurrection, the
couraged and supported by Presi- mercilessly attacked Capitol po- House passed the article of im-
dent Donald Trump found the US lice, directly leading to the death of peachment on January 13th by a
Capitol attacked by thousands of 5 persons and later 2 additional 232–197 vote, making Trump the
Trump supporters, following the di- Capitol police, who, under stress, first President in the history of
rect words of Trump. They laid committed suicide. As the insur- America to be impeached twice.

jan. 20th 11

inauguration

The inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of on March 7, 1998). The delivery of her poem
the United States was an historic yet truly a most surreal “The Hill We Climb” received worldwide ac-
day with virtually no public spectators and Washington, claim. Gorman is the youngest poet laureate in
D.C. locked down like an armed camp. Nonetheless, on history to present at a Presidential inaugura-
that day, Joe Biden was officially sworn in, as was Ka- tion. She became the first Youth Poet Laureate
to open the Literary season for the Library of
mala Harris as the first Congress in 2017.
woman, Black and Asian
Vice President of the What a
United States. One of
the highlights of the inau- year!
gural ceremony was the
powerful presentation by
Amanda Gorman (born

12 feb. 9th us senate

impeachment tral

The second impeachment trial of Donald Trump
began on this date.

February 2021 P 29

Marcia Lynn Sells had been sity initiatives and enhancing exist- “I am thrilled to be joining the tives. While overseeing the Human
named as The Metropolitan Opera’s ing programs. The Met’s Human Met’s very talented team, which is Resources team, Ms. Sells will lead
first Chief Diversity Officer. Ms. Resources department will be under clearly committed to dismantling the work of identifying systemic and
Sells comes to the Met from Har- her direction, and she will have a racial inequalities within the institu- structural inequities across the com-
vard la School, where, as Dean of broad mandate to work across the tion,” Ms. Sells said. “I look for- pany. She will also be working
Students since 2015, she has led her entire institution from administra- ward to expanding the work that the closely with the marketing and de-
team in the creation and implemen- tive staff to union employees to the Met has embarked on to create a velopment teams to help broaden
tation of a wide range of diversity Met board of directors. more inclusive workplace that val- the base of the Met’s audience and
programs. Previously, Ms. Sells ues the diversity of its staff and the donors.
held important positions at Colum- “At a time when social justice audiences it serves. As someone
bia University, the NBA, Reuters, rightly demands that we address the who started out as a dancer, it feels
and the Dance Theater of Harlem, inequities of our art form, I’m like a wonderful homecoming to re-
where she began her career as a pleased that we have chosen the turn to a performing arts organiza-
dance. Ms. Sells, who has a law de- ideal candidate in Marcia for imple- tion, especially one that is
gree from Columbia, once served as menting long overdue and necessary determined to elevate all voices and
an Assistant District Attorney for the change,” said Mr. Gelb in announc- identities.”
State of New York. ing Ms. Sells’s appointment. “We
need to create artistic and adminis- One of Ms. Sells’s first respon-
At the Met, Ms. Sells will join trative pathways for people of color sibilities will be to put into place a
the senior management team, re- to achieve equity among our artists Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
porting to Peter Gelb, the Met’s gen- and artisans and for all of our em- (DEI) plan, which will place these
eral manager. As part of the senior ployees and members of our board.” essential principles at the heart of
management team, she will be re- the Met’s hiring, artistic planning,
sponsible for developing new diver- Ms. Sells will assume her duties and audience-engagement initia-
in late February.

P 30 February 2021

McDonald’s Faces of History Stays

Consistent, Goes Virtual

Without fail and despite the absence of live one-of-a-kind tour acutely designed to salute and schools, churches, and community groups, and
audiences due to the coronavirus pandemic, the honor Black History Makers throughout the has already reached well in excess of one hun-
well anticipated McDonald’s Faces of Black His- world, from Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks to dred thousand. This year’s talented four-member
tory tour did not disappoint. The 2021
production, produced by Irving Street Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Barack cast takes their audience on
Rep under the directorship of CEO A. Obama. a historic journey from slav-
Curtis Farrow, featured a dynamic cast ery to the present with great
of singers and actors who masterfully The annual production is presented free to exuberance and high energy,
blended their harmonious musical ren- displaying a wide musical
ditions with spoken word and the repertoire from Negro spiri-
dramatization of key figures of Black tuals and gospel to rap, jazz,
history, past and present. This year’s and everything in between.
production is currently streaming on
360WISE (www.360Wise.com), a “This is not just an in-
Black-owned media company that’s vigorating and entertaining
ranked in the top 1% globally for social production, it is also educa-
media influence and brand marketing of tional and inspirational. No
celebrities, public figures and major doubt, it has been empower-
brands. ing our community for these
18 years and hopefully for
Created 18 years ago as a proud initiative of many years to come. We
the New York Tri-State McDonald’s Owner/Op- thank McDonald’s and Irving Street,” Rev. Den-
erator Association, Faces of Black History is a nis Dillon, publisher of The New York Christian
Times, noted.

February 2021 P 31

Saluting Ntozake Shange: Groundbreaking,

Community-Based Trailblazing, Impactful

Arts & Culture BY MARKO NOBLES lections, seven novels, five children’s books,
The election of Vice President Kamala Harris three collections of essays, a partial memoir, and
Organizations major achievements in music and dance.
is the continuation of the story of Black people Shange’s major contribution, the “choreopoem”,
BY RON SCOTT and Black women creating a path for triumph. is the theatrical genre she invented that incorpo-
“In the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic, “It’s interesting, because as the first Black woman rates the spoken word as a prominent element –
elected to the many positions I’ve been elected thereby widening the creative palette and trans-
our community-based organizations throughout to, I am often in rooms, and have been in rooms,
New York City are still contributing to the city’s where a reporter or someone else will come up to forming theater.
cultural landscape,” stated Voza Rivers, chair- me and they’ll say, ‘So, The cultural world influ-
man and co-founder of Harlem Arts Alliance talk to us about Black
(HAA), a non-profit arts service organization women’s issues.’ And I’ll ences our lives in all ways,
founded in 2001 that today has over 350 mem- look at them and think, and you can see that from
bers advancing and promoting arts and culture ‘You know what, I am so music to movies to theater.
in Harlem and the surrounding communities. glad you want to talk about You can certainly see the im-
the economy.’ Or some- pact of the work of Ntozake
The following is a partial listing of commu- times say, ‘I am so glad Shange in the strength of the
nity-based cultural organizations that continue you want to talk about na- women who have stood up
to be active in communities of color: Mind tional security.’ ... Simply and continue to stand up as
Builders Creative Arts Center in the Bronx; put, every issue is a Black role models for our commu-
Black Spectrum Theater in Queens; The Billie woman’s issue. And Black nity. Looking at people like
Holiday Theater in Brooklyn; and many organ- women’s issues are every- Stacey Abrams, Nikema
izations in Manhattan including New Heritage one’s issues,” she said dur- Williams – who took over
Theatre, National Black Theater, New Federal ing a lecture at Spelman John Lewis’s congressional
Theatre, Nuyorican Poets Café, Classical The- College in 2018. seat and is chair of Georgia’s
atre of Harlem, National Jazz Museum in state Democratic party, At-
Harlem, Harlem School of the Arts, Pan Asian Black women’s issues lanta’s Mayor Keisha Lance
Repertory Theatre, Mama Foundation for the are indeed everyone’s is- Bottoms, LaTosha Brown –
Arts, Harlem Stage, City College Center for the sues and that was made co-founder of Black Voters
Arts, Dance Theater of Harlem, and Jazzmo- startingly clear by the Matter, activist Tamika Mal-
bile. We salute these organizations for demon- work of Ntozake Shange. lory and, of course, Vice President Kamala Har-
strating a beacon of hope during this pandemic. Ms. Shange came of age as a creative force in- ris.
spired by the radical movements of the 1960’s – “Dance We Do: A Poet Explores Black
Celebrating its 56th anniversary, Jazzmo- the protests, the rise of feminism, the sexual rev- Dance” is the first work of Ntozake Shange pub-
bile is the first U.S. not-for-profit arts and cul- olution, Black liberation and its cultural expres- lished posthumously in 2020 by Beacon Press.
tural organization created just for jazz. Since its sion, and the Black Arts Movement. Her calling Shange was an insightful dancer and choreogra-
inception, the organization continues to bring grew into a voice for social justice; she spoke for pher. In “Dance We Do” she reveals her personal
high quality jazz performances and jazz educa- and embodied the ongoing struggle of Black as well as an historical perspective of the roots of
tion programs to area residents, tourists, and women of the diaspora for self-empowerment, much of today’s American dance. The book
other visitors through their free outdoor music equality, dignity, and cultural recognition. chronicles some of the greatest and most influen-
concerts. tial dancers and choreographers of the latter part
Ntozage Shange is familiar to most because of the twentieth century, many of them little
Our community-based organizations are an of her masterwork for colored girls who have known before. As a teacher and theorist, Shange
essential force in promoting and presenting considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf. charts the living history of Black dance, drawing
young emerging artists as well as those who are Written in 1975, it combines the spoken word on her own past to celebrate the Black body in
established and internationally recognized. with poetry, music, and dance. The piece first movement and in art, and the connection between
Their contributions and partnerships with grass- opened on Broadway in 1976. It became a hit body and brain. Her work was a precursor to
roots organizations and major cultural institu- show and stands as the longest-running play by racial justice movements of today as she demon-
tions make New York City one of the top an African American writer in Broadway history. strated that Black bodies, Black minds, and Black
destinations for visitors and tourists. It is also credited as the first feminist play to suc- lives matter.
ceed on Broadway. The play has been performed Later this year a major Broadway revival of
The Harlem Arts Alliance presents various continuously and was made into a major motion for colored girls who have considered
interactive workshops and performance show- picture by Tyler Perry in 2010. suicide/when the rainbow is enuf will be pro-
cases throughout the year. These activities pro- duced, ensuring that the voices of our women and
vide artists with networking and exposure, When Ntozake Shange, acknowledged world- our community continue to be heard.
employment opportunities, performances and wide as a master writer in many genres, died at
exhibitions. HAA also provides assistance to the age of 70, she bequeathed to the world an
community-based artists and cultural organiza- enormous body of work – 15 plays, 19 poetry col-
tions with development issues, grant applica-
tions and training. For additional information,
visit harlemaa.org.

P 32 February 2021

BY RON SCOTT after earning an exceptional reputa- was honored with the NAACP- marketing, audience development, di-
Two extraordinary ladies making versity training and social justice con-
tion on Broadway, she and Rivers, as LGBQT David Weaver Prize for Ex- sulting agency. She provides
a difference on the arts and culture consulting services to numerous arts
scene on Broadway, Harlem and in associate producers, presented the na- cellence in the Arts. organizations throughout the world
universities are Irene Gandy, Broad- and has generated over $23 million in
way press agent and producer, and tional tour of the five Tony-nominated A Day in the Life: Irene Gandy, a earned income. She is an adjunct Pro-
Donna Walker-Kuhne, President of fessor at New York University, Co-
Walker International Communica- South-African musical Sarafina! documentary, is currently in produc- lumbia University, and Bank Street
tions Group. College.
Gandy began her career in 1968 tion and centers around her illustrious
“Both ladies worked tirelessly as She serves on several boards in-
board members of HARLEM WEEK as a publicist with Douglas Turner work on Broadway. She was recently cluding Signature Theater, the
in presenting HARLEM WEEK 2020 Newark Arts Council (where she
and introducing virtual HW viewers Ward and Robert Hooks’ Negro En- inducted into the New York Public serves as Vice President), the Harlem
to an abundance of first-class presen- Arts Alliance, and the Mid-Atlantic
tations from noted Harlem cultural semble Company. Since then, she has Library’s Lincoln Center Performing Arts Foundation.
organizations and Broadway part-
ners,” stated Voza Rivers. “The entire worked on Arts Library. Walker-Kuhne’s first book, Invi-
HW Board celebrates and give thanks tation to the Party: Building Bridges
to Ms. Irene and Ms. Donna.” over 100 Gandy is cur- to Arts, Culture and Community, was
published in 2005, and she recently
Gandy is the first and only Black Broadway rently on the completed her second book, Champi-
female member of ATPAM (Associ- ons for the Arts: Lessons and Suc-
ation of Theatrical Press Agents and shows in- board of The cessful Strategies for Engaging
Managers). She is the Tony-Award Diverse Audiences.
winning producer of Gershwin’s cluding the New Her-
“Porgy and Bess” and was a producer Her weekly blog, Arts and Cul-
for “Lady Day At Emerson Bar and most recent itage Theatre ture Connections, explores cultural
Grill” starring Audra MacDonald. efforts to expand diverse audiences.
productions Group.
Gandy originally visited Harlem Both Gandy and Walker-Kuhne
in the mid-1960s as an understudy for of American Wa l k e r - continue to represent Black arts and
one of the actresses in a New Her- culture in communities of color lo-
itage Theatre Group play, where she Son, starring Kuhne began cally and globally.
met Voza Rivers. Some years later,
Kerry Wash- her career as

ington, China a dancer at

Doll, starring Irene Gandy (left) and Donna Walker-Kuhne (right) the Dance
Al Pacino, Theatre of

and You Can’t Take It With You, star- Harlem and later became the organi-

ring James Earl Jones. zation’s publicist. In the early 1990s,

In 2008, she became the first fe- she assisted Voza Rivers in the cre-

male press agent to be immortalized ation of the Harlem Arts Alliance, an

with a Sardis caricature. arts service membership organiza-

In 2018, Gandy was honored tion.

with the Vivian Robinson/AU- She is currently President of

DELCO “Pioneer Award” for Excel- Walker International Communica-

lence in Black Theatre. In 2019, she tions Group, a 30-year-old boutique

Kirk Franklin Sixteen-time GRAMMY-winning artist, songwriter and producer Kirk Franklin and Sony
Debuts New Music Entertainment has launched “Good Words with Kirk Franklin,” a new podcast series
Podcast Series that welcomes people from every cross section of life who seek inspiration and empowerment.
Through intimate conversations exploring faith, redemption, and the realities of today’s world,
Franklin invites listeners into shared moments with some of the biggest names across entertain-
ment, beginning with Pharrell Williams.

In the debut episode, a deeply personal and introspective conversation that explores shared
common experiences, Franklin provides listeners with fascinating insight as Pharrell discusses
his approach to life and his relationship with God. Pharrell explains the lasting impact of Gospel
music and the Pentecostal Church on his formative years, and his discovery of “purpose” and
how it informs his life. The wide-ranging, candid conversation spans discussion around the
COVID-19 pandemic to lighter moments that touch upon Pharrell’s well-known skincare regimen
and his new series, Voices of Fire, that recently launched on Netflix.

Throughout the season, Franklin will lead thought-provoking conversations with thought
leaders, artists and activists, including Chance the Rapper, Chris Paul, Glennon Doyle, H.E.R,
Kelly Rowland, and more. Together, they engage and explore their thoughts around race, religion,
politics, music and self-expression. The conversations will make space for laughter, joy and
lighter moments and Franklin will offer original music penned for the series.

Franklin said, “Good Words is a podcast where culture meets faith, and a place where my
guests can be real and open like you have never heard before.”

New episodes drop every Tuesday. Listeners can subscribe to “Good Words with Kirk
Franklin” on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher.

February 2021 P 33

Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen

A ROYAL FAMILY LEGACY

BY RON SCOTT Phylicia Rashad (top left), her daughter, Condola Rashad (bottom left), Desk Award, and an Astaire Award
Those of you who aren’t up on Debbie Allen (top right), her daughter, Vivian Nixon (bottom right) (for Best Dancer). She also has a
star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
your Hollywood hot topics may not Raisin in the Sun. She made her di- community initiatives.”
realize the dynamic actors and ac- rectorial debut at the Seattle Reper- Allen, who followed her first Some of her directing and pro-
tivists Phylicia Rashad (who now tory Theater with August Wilson’s ducing credits include television
stars as Beth’s mother Carol on This Gem of the Ocean, and will direct love of dancing, is an award-winning classics such as FAME, Scandal,
Is Us, best known for her role as an upcoming revival of Charles Ran- director, producer and choreographer; How To Get Away With Murder, Em-
Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom dolph Wright’s Blue in New York in she has choreographed the Academy pire; and on stage, Cat on a Hot Tin
The Cosby Show) and Debbie 2021. Awards a record ten times. She has Roof (on Broadway and London’s
Allen (who currently plays Dr. directed and choreographed for such West End.) She was the directing
Catherine Avery on Grey’s Anatomy) Ms. Rashad is a friend and sup- artists as Michael Jackson, Queen Executive Producer for Season 14
are real life sisters. porter of The Greater Harlem Cham- Latifah, Janet Jackson, and Lena of Grey’s Anatomy.
ber of Commerce. Lloyd Williams, Horne. For her vast body of work,
It should come as no surprise President and CEO of The Chamber, Allen has earned three Emmy And the family legacy of cre-
these two influential sisters have noted, “Phylicia’s celebrity voice Awards, a Golden Globe, five ativity continues to the next genera-
reached such legendary status con- has added credibility to our many NAACP Image Awards, a Drama tion. When Debbie and Phylicia
sidering they were raised by a Pulitzer became mothers, they provided their
Prize–nominated mother, poet Vivian daughters with the same support and
Ayers, and their father, Dr. Andrew inspiration they received from their
Arthur Allen, Jr., was an orthodontist. mother. Phylicia’s daughter, Condola
Both sisters credit their mother as Rashad, is a four-time Tony nominee
being the motivating force in their (she starred in Saint Joan and A
early development in Houston, TX. Doll’s House, Part 2) and also ap-
pears in the cable television
Both sisters graduated from series Billions. Allen’s daughter, Vi-
Howard University with BFA de- vian Nixon, is an actress and dancer
grees. An accomplished actor and who has starred in several Broadway
stage director, Rashad has appeared shows including Memphis.
as Diana Dubois on the popular Fox
TV series Empire, and as Dr. Woods- All four women attribute their
Trap in Tarrell Alvin McCraney’s success to the family’s 95-year-old
Peabody Award-winning series David matriarch, who currently lives in
Makes Man on the OWN Network. Los Angeles. “My grandmother is
the root to this whole tree,” Condola
In 2004, she won a Tony Award said in Town & Country magazine
for Best Actress in a Play, as well as interview in 2018. “We are all ex-
the Drama Desk Award, for her role tensions of different parts of her.”
as Lena Younger in the revival of A

Michelle Obama launching children’s cooking show on Netflix

Michelle Obama is launching a Netflix will also get plenty of laughs — and some
children’s food show with a pair of puppets tips for the kitchen,” Obama wrote. “In
“to bring a bit of light and laughter to homes many ways, this show is an extension of my
around the world.” work as First Lady to support children’s
health — and to be quite honest, I wish a
The new show, called “Waffles + program like this had been around when my
Mochi,” launches March 16 and will be “all girls were young.”
about good food: discovering it, cooking it,
and of course, eating it,” the former first She also noted how the team was look-
lady posted on Instagram recently. The 20- ing to help people during the pandemic. “I
minute episodes will combine live action also know that this is a difficult time for so
and puppets, and Mrs. Obama will be a se- many families,” she continued. “I’m hope-
ries regular. ful that this delightful show can bring a bit
of light and laughter to homes around the
The show centers on two best puppet world.”
friends who dream of becoming chefs and
travel across the world looking for ingredi- The show is produced by Higher
ents and making dishes with renowned Ground Productions, the production com-
chefs, home cooks, kids and celebrities. pany owned by Obama and her husband,
former President Barack Obama.
“Kids will love it, but I know that adults

P 34 February 2021 TOP 30 BLACK INFLUENCERS

rom the first female ever elected Attorney General in the State of New York
to the man that stands at the helm of one of the nation’s largest health
care systems, Black trailblazers and changemakers are shaping Black
America’s new story and are living tomorrow’s Black History today.

Men and women are courageously blazing trails These 30 Black Influencers (listed alphabetically)

and dutifully serving communities in their vocations top The New York Christian Times’s 2021 list for

and avocations, and as Black America continues to their hard work and commitment, particularly during

rise and shine, they are helping to shape a powerful a pandemic and an intense season of racial and po-

and progressive future. litical unrest. Their exemplary leadership has gar-

The power of a race and the rise of a nation are nered our admiration and attention, and leaders of

intrinsically linked to the will, talents, strength and key institutions including The Greater Harlem

conviction of an endless list of pioneering leaders – Chamber of Commerce, One Hundred Black Men of

unfettered in their resolve and commitment to help New York and The NAACP were collective in their

transform lives and reform communities. In every acknowledgment and salute of these trailblazers.

field of engagement and in all lines of

work, Black men and women are making EDITOR’S NOTE: In a commitment to highlight and promote the powerful

a difference and are forging ahead de- examples of individual and organizational leaders making history and transform-
spite the billows of racism and the diffi- ing communities across many sectors, including education, arts and entertain-
cult climb to shatter glass ceilings. ment, health, business, STEAM, civics, civil rights, sports, arts and culture,
politics, media, and faith, The New York Christian Times in partnership with The
In business, faith and politics; health- Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce presents our annual list of The Top 30
care, labor and civil rights; media, sports Black Influencers. This prestigious college of influencers was carefully selected
and the arts, the men and women listed through a nomination process that included key leaders from organizations in-
below are among the true leaders who cluding The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, NAACP, New York Urban

truly make America great. They are League, Prince Hall Masons, Congressional Black Caucus, Black Media Al-

trendsetters, pioneers and today’s history liance, Association of Black Journalists, and 100 Black Men of New York.

makers.

TOP 30 BLACK INFLUENCERS February 2021 P 35

HON. ERIC ADAMS HON. ERIC ADAMS became the District in Brooklyn. but he also champions
first Black elected President of the Adams is one of NYC’s most causes like healthy living,
Brooklyn Borough President Borough of Brooklyn and assumed immigration reform, fair
office in January 2014. This was visible and vocal voices on a broad housing and real estate develop-
just another step the Brooklyn na- array of issues that affect Black ment opportunities, social justice,
tive climbed in a beautifully check- and Brown communities, and equal opportunities for quality edu-
ered career that began in 1984 after speaks out against police abuse and cation, and a safe city for all New
he graduated from the New York racial profiling. He was president Yorkers and visitors.
City Police Academy and started of the Grand Council of Guardians,
working as a police officer with the an organization of Black law en- Eric Adams is now a candidate
New York City Transit Police. He forcers, and co-founded the advo- for Mayor of America’s largest
rose through the ranks and retired cacy group 100 Blacks in Law city. As he navigates his away
as a deputy inspector before a suc- Enforcement Who Care. Eric across the city, he shares his pas-
cessful run for New York Senate, Adams continues his trailblazing sion to give every New Yorker a
representing the 20th Senatorial work and is not only an advocate fair shot to get ahead.
for the borough he presides over,

The son of activist and renowned rest of the country. With a strong poet and a spoken word artist, he HON. RAS BARAKA
poet laureate Amiri Baraka, HON. focus on homeownership and re- was featured on Lauryn Hills
RAS JUA BARAKA is a life- ducing crime, he has also initiated Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and Mayor of Newark, NJ
long resident and now serves as the Model Neighborhood Program other recorded works with The
the 40th Mayor of the City of and discounted land sale initia- Fugees. He was a frequent partici-
Newark, New Jersey. Prior to tives to empower local residents pant in the National Political Hip
leading New Jersey’s largest city, and transform troubled neighbor- Hop Convention.
he was a member of the City hoods.
Council and principal of Central Baraka, husband and father of
High School. Baraka, 50, graduated from four, is at the helm of a Newark
Howard University with a Bache- renaissance and is driven by a
Mayor Baraka has been in the lor of Arts in political /science, commitment to ensure the partici-
forefront of the fight to bring re- and holds an MA in Education Ad- pation and inclusion of Newark’s
vival and economic revitalization ministration from St. Peter’s Uni- Black and Brown population.
to Newark as a model city for the versity in Jersey City. Himself a

SANDRA BOOKMAN SANDRA BOOKMAN is an Raleigh, North Carolina (WRAL- tant local stories that focus on the
award-winning journalist, televi- TV) and in her native city of accomplishments of Blacks in
WABC Anchor sion anchor and news reporter, and Beaumont, Texas at KIDM Televi- America. In addition to her
the host of WABC’s Here and sion. Olympic coverage, which includes
Now. Born in Beaumont, Texas, the ’92 games in Barcelona, Spain,
Bookman co-anchors WABC-TV For her excellence in writing, she has also reported from South
Eyewitness News, a position she she has won three Emmy Awards Africa during the Apartheid
has held since 1998. Prior to her covering Olympic Games and the regime and when Nelson Mandela
work in New York, the talented aftermath of the Valuejet Airlines was released from prison.
television personality worked in crash in the Everglades.
Atlanta, Georgia (WSB-TV),
As a news reporter, Bookman
focuses much attention to impor-

IMHOTEP GARY BYRD is an mainstream radio station, offered sister station WBLS-FM, where IMHOTEP
award-winning poet, songwriter, him a job. Restless in Buffalo, he Imhotep has been on air for 35 GARY BYRD
motivational speaker, and radio followed his mentors downstate to years. His GBE, now the Global
broadcaster fixated on culture and WWRL-AM, NYC’s top Black Black Experience, also airs on Radio Personality
politics for almost half a century. station, where he stayed for 15 WBAI-FM on Saturdays at 5 pm.
He cut his teeth in radio as a teen, years, coining his night-long show Byrd the songwriter has
hired by Black radio station The GBE, Gary Byrd Experience. collaborated with Stevie Wonder,
WUFO, in Buffalo, NY, home of In the ‘80s, Inner City and is a spoken word recorded
radio legends Eddie O’Jay, Broadcasting Chairman Percy artist who plans to launch his own
Frankie Crocker, and Jerry Sutton invited him to WLIB as a GBE Radio Network.
Bledsoe. Later, WYSL, a talk show host and later to its

P 36 February 2021 TOP 30 BLACK INFLUENCERS

DR. HAZEL N. DUKES DR. HAZEL DUKES is the inde- Marches and protests which led dent from 1989 to 1992. Her po-
fatigable civil rights advocate and to arrests were routine behaviors litical activism continued unabated,
NYS NAACP political activist who spent most of for Dukes, the community activist resulting in work with President
her life “getting into the good who managed to graduate from Johnson’s programs in the ‘60s and
trouble” which the late John Lewis college while simultaneously her outspoken criticism of Presi-
espoused. launching her outspoken cam- dents Reagan and Bush in the ‘80s,
paigns for minority group rights. unpleased with their policies that
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, She subsequently held high profile she found averse to civil rights ad-
during the Jim Crow era, her fam- public jobs with the State of New vances in the ‘80s.
ily moved to New York and settled York Mortgage Agency and the
in Long Island where she found NYC Off Track Betting Corpora- Today, Dukes is the New York
work in the Nassau County Attor- tion. State NAACP president as she con-
ney’s office and found purpose as a tinues to advocate for social
community organizer before join- An NAACP household name, change and unfinished civil rights
ing the local NAACP chapter. Dukes served as its National Presi- business.

MICHAEL GARNER, MBA, system in North America, and is a for MWDBEs (minority-owned, MICHAEL GARNER
served as the President of the key player that makes things hap- women-owned, and disadvantaged
Founding Chapter of One Hundred pen regarding diversity in the busi- business enterprises). 100 Black Men of NY
Black Men of New York, one of ness environment. He helps
the most influential and successful empower emerging and established As architect of the MTA’s
empowerment programs for NYS certified Minority, Women- Small Business Mentoring Pro-
African American men in the City. owned and MTA certified Disad- gram, barriers have been broken
OHBM provides scholarships, vantaged Business Enterprises and minority, women and disad-
mentorship and inspiration to hun- across NYS via educational pro- vantaged and service disabled vet-
dreds of youths in the New York gramming and access to increased eran-owned businesses in NYS are
City area. procurement opportunities. successfully competing for lucra-
tive contracts in transportation.
He is the Vice President, Chief During his MTA tenure, which To date, more than $400 million
Diversity Officer of the Metropoli- began in 2010, Garner has de- has been awarded through the
tan Transportation Authority signed one of the nation’s leading Mentoring Program model.
(MTA), the largest transportation business development programs

GEORGE GRESHAM The story of the 21st Century NYS League of Voluntary Hospitals of bia Presbyterian Hospital and later
labor movement would be incom- about 90 institutions in the Greater became a clerk in radiology. A
1199 SEIU plete without a few chapters NY area. He was one of the protag- union man, he moved up through
related to the influence of union onists behind the passage of the the ranks from delegate to Secre-
leader GEORGE GRESHAM, $15 minimum wage in NYS. tary Treasurer before his ascen-
President of healthcare union 1199 dancy to the Presidency.
SEIU since 2007. A fixture on annual lists of NY
power elites, Gresham is also na- Today, 1199 SEIU local is
Under Gresham’s leadership, tional leader who advocates for so- NYC’s largest union with over
1199 SEIU has emerged as a major cial justice, environmental 300,000 members. The SEIU,
player in New York economics and protection, Medicare for All, Service Employees International
political circles and beyond. He di- women’s and immigrants rights. Union, is the nation’s largest union
rected the successful 2014 collec- with upwards of 2 million mem-
tive bargaining effort representing In 1975 at the age 20, Gresham bers. Gresham sits on its Board.
135,000 union members with the cut his employment teeth in the
housing department at NY Colum-

Democrat CARL HEASTIE is a Elected to the Assembly in 2000 A numbers cruncher, Heastie HON. CARL HEASTIE
NYS Legislator from the Bronx, by local constituents, Heastie was earned a BS degree in Math and
who is also the Speaker of the As- elected Speaker by Assembly Statistics from the NYS University NYS Assembly
sembly, which makes him one of members in 2015, succeeding at Stony Brook and an MBA from
the most powerful men in govern- Sheldon Silver. The 100th NYS Bernard Baruch College, a CUNY Speaker
ment and one of the “three persons Assembly Speaker, he is the first school. His pre-Albany life in-
in the room,” along with the Gov- African American to serve in that cluded employment as a Budget
ernor and the Senate Majority capacity. The 150-member Analyst in the NYC Comptroller’s
Leader, who control New York pol- Assembly boasts a super Demo- Office and as a Monroe College
itics. cratic majority. Adjunct Professor.

TOP 30 BLACK INFLUENCERS February 2021 P 37

HON. LETITIA JAMES A Democrat, lawyer and public miscreants for civil and criminal riences for politicos in
servant, LETITIA “TISH” investigations. progress. She flirted
NYSAttorney General JAMES is the 67th NYS Attorney with allegiances to both
General, the first woman of color A formidable power-to-the- the Democratic Party and
to hold a statewide office and the people advocate, James has organ- the Working Families Party, both
first woman to be elected AG. One ized attorneys general from around influential to her political aspira-
of New York’s most powerful the country to sue the federal gov- tions.
politicians, she has a reputation as ernment for misguided policies.
a left of center official who is im- A Brooklyn, NY native, James
pervious to wrongdoing by her Before landing in Albany at earned a BA from Lehman Col-
peers. Her AG hit list identifies the AG’s office, she held the lege, CUNY, and a JD from
people like former US President elected posts of NY City Council Howard University Law School.
Trump, the National Rifle Associ- member and NYC Public Advo- What’s the next chapter in Tish
ation, Governor Andrew Cuomo, cate. She also served as legal James’ career ... NYS Governor or
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, counsel to NYS Assembly Mem- a Federal cabinet post?
NYPD, and scores of corporate ber Al Vann and worked as NYS
Assembly Member Roger Green’s
chief of staff, all invaluable expe-

An American politician and attor- justice reform is a permanent fix- nent to civil liberties of New York- HON. HAKEEM JEFFRIES
ney, HAKEEM JEFFRIES, is a ture on his legislative radar screen. ers during police encounters and
US Congressman who has repre- He created the George Floyd Jus- civil rights legislation to end U.S. House of Representatives
sented parts of Brooklyn and tice on Policing Act, and works prison-based gerrymandering in
Queens, NY, since 2013. A rising nonstop to shape a Congressional NYS. For years, NY political
star in American politics, Repre- response to the COVID-19 pan- cognoscenti keep chatting him up
sentative Jeffries is the Chair of demic and its related economic as a NYC mayoral candidate.
the House Democratic Caucus and devastation.
the fifth highest ranking Democrat Brooklyn born and bred, Jef-
in Congress. He sits on the House His pre-Congress work in- fries earned degrees from the State
Judiciary and Budget Committees. cluded stints at the Paul, Weiss, University of NY at Binghamton,
Rifkin, Wharton and Garrison law Georgetown University and the
Jeffries has a reputation for firm; at Viacom and CBS, before NYU School of Law, where he
working across the aisle in Con- he was elected to serve in the NYS graduated magna cum laude and
gress and is an advocate for social Assembly for six years, during served on the Law Review.
and economic justice. Criminal which time he authored laws perti-

ERROL LOUIS Despite the craziness of the last Spectrum News NY1. For the past Errol also serves as the Director
four years – the pandemic, the im- 10 years, Errol has regularly inter- of the Urban Reporting program at
NY1 peachment, social injustice and de- viewed top political and cultural the City University of New
liberate fatalities, ERROL leaders, and has moderated more York’s Graduate School of Journal-
LOUIS is always cool, able to get than two dozen debates, including ism. For students looking for a ca-
his point across while remaining, as the race for mayor, public advo- reer in journalism or on-air news
Duke Ellington would say, in a cate, and city and state comptroller. reporter, Louis is the man to watch.
“Mellow Tone.” Prior to joining NY1, the Harlem He is a role model and mentor, and
native, raised in New Rochelle, while you may not be able to talk
Louis is the political anchor served on the Daily News’ editorial to him through the TV, his show is
and host of Inside City Hall, a board, and he still pens weekly available weeknights to watch,
nightly program about New York opinion columns for the newspaper. learn from, and be inspired.
City politics that airs nightly on

Congressman GREGORY pandemic, Congressman Meeks ect, Congressman Meeks followed HON. GREGORY MEEKS
MEEKS has been the U.S. Repre- was diligently working to increase the paths of his idols – Thurgood
sentative for New York’s 5th con- federal funding for research to fa- Marshall and Charles Hamilton U.S. House of Representatives
gressional district since 1998. His cilitate faster development of cures Houston (a mentor to Marshall) –
district includes most of southeast- for diseases and viruses. A multilat- and received his J.D. from Howard
ern Queens, the Rockaways, and eralist with decades of experience Law School. Congressman Meeks
John F. Kennedy International Air- in foreign policy, Congressman serves as a living inspiration for the
port. He is a strong supporter of the Meeks is the first Black member of children of Harlem and the coun-
Affordable Care Plan and is cur- Congress to serve as Chairman of try; whether they want to be a
rently working to promote the ex- the House Foreign Affairs Commit- member of congress, a judge, dis-
tension and expansion of the state’s tee. trict attorney, or lawyer, it is all
Children’s Health Insurance Pro- feasible.
gram. Even before this COVID-19 Born in East Harlem and raised
in a New York City housing proj-

P 38 February 2021 TOP 30 BLACK INFLUENCERS

HON. MARC MORIAL HON. MARC MORIAL is the tics and what it takes to be heard new civil rights frontier,” Morial is
President and CEO of the National and achieve goals for one of the focusing on the Urban League’s
National Urban League Urban League. Over the last 15 oldest civil rights organizations in blueprint as it relates to the dispro-
years, he has expanded the reach of America. Under Morial’s leader- portionate impact of the coron-
services by empowering the move- ship, the NUL has played a major avirus on African Americans, as
ment of 90 affiliates around the role in shedding a light on the well as the distribution of a na-
country and creating a framework needs of Black America during the tional stimulus package that
to create policies that serve com- COVID-19 pandemic. From part- reaches families and businesses
munities of color. nering with universal brands like most in need.
the National Basketball Associa-
As the former Mayor of New tion to advocating for a balanced He also is the author of The
Orleans from 1994 to 2002, lead- recovery on Capitol Hill, he is Gumbo Coalition, a collection of
ing the New Orleans’ renaissance, driving change for families who lessons on the power of unity in
as well as being a Louisiana State need it the most. our Democracy and a leadership
Senator from 1992 to 1994, Morial framework for America’s change-
is well versed in the game of poli- Referring to COVID-19 as “the makers.

DR. PHILIP OZUAH is the Presi- In these roles, Dr. Ozuah has tem’s specialties ranked in the top DR. PHILIP OZUAH
dent and CEO of Montefiore Medi- expanded access for underserved 1% of the nation’s hospitals, and
cine, the umbrella organization for communities, recruited and culti- CHAM was recognized as one of Montefiore Medicine
Montefiore Health System and Al- vated outstanding talent, advanced “America’s Best Children’s Hospi-
bert Einstein College of Medicine. programs of excellence, fostered tals” by U.S. News & World Report.
A National Institutes of Health innovations in medical education,
(NIH)–funded researcher and and improved financial and opera- Dr. Ozuah earned his medical
award-winning educator, he also tional performance by integrating degree from the University of
served as Professor and University care across a rapidly growing and Ibadan, Nigeria, a master’s degree
Chairman of Pediatrics at Albert evolving Montefiore System in the in Education from the University of
Einstein College of Medicine and Bronx that sees over six million pa- Southern California, and a PhD in
Physician-in-Chief of Children’s tient interactions a year. Under his Educational Leadership and Admin-
Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM). leadership, Montefiore Health Sys- istration from the University of Ne-
braska–Lincoln.

MICHAEL PUGH MICHAEL PUGH is President call center operations. He has also good for our country or for the
and Chief Executive Officer of been a critical leader in bank tech- African American community,”
Carver Federal Savings Bank Carver Federal Savings Bank, the nology integrations, launched new shared Pugh. “Communities lose
nation’s largest publicly traded lines of business, and executed their voice when the financial insti-
African- and Caribbean-American new growth market strategies. He tutions that serve them are left un-
operated bank, with approximately started his career in banking as a supported … Looking at today’s
$600 million in assets and 140 em- bank teller while earning his under- landscape, we need more banks
ployees. A banking veteran of graduate degree from Eastern that are fully vested in their local
more than 25 years, Mr. Pugh has Michigan University. community. Where you bank can
led teams of up to 600 associates in “Over the past 30+ years, roughly have a powerful impact on the eco-
retail, business banking, commer- three quarters of African American nomic vitality of your local neigh-
cial and residential lending, and banks have disappeared. This is not borhood.”

Like Vice President Kamala Harris, of A Raisin in the Sun. in Los Angeles, inspired them to PHYLICIA RASHAD
Ms. PHYLICIA RASHAD is a The Houston, Texas native gives keep pursuing the arts, despite expe-
graduate of Howard University and riencing racial discrimination. Actor, Director, Activist
a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha her mother, Vivian Ayers, credit for
sorority. An accomplished actor being the motivating force in her Rashad and her sister are nomi-
and stage director, Rashad is best life. Whether it was taking her and nees for 2021 NAACP Image Awards
known for her role as Clair her siblings (two brothers and sister, – Phylicia for Supporting Actress in a
Huxtable on The Cosby Show Debbie Allen, the actress, choreog- Motion Picture “Jingle Jangle: A
(1984-1992). rapher and director) to Mexico, Christmas Journey” (Netflix) and
sharing books, or welcoming civil Debbie Allen for the Social Justice
In 2004, she won a Tony Award rights activists into their home, her Impact Award.
for Best Actress in a Play for her mother, a Pulitzer Prize–nominated
role as Lena Younger in the revival poet now in her nineties and living

TOP 30 BLACK INFLUENCERS February 2021 P 39

DR. DARA DR. DARA RICHARDSON-HERON Heron. “And instead of making and Bellevue Hospital.
RICHARDSON-HERON likes to say that she’s a physician decisions about what I think is “It was there where I
by trade and an advocate by best for them, I’m talking to pa-
Pfizer, Inc. choice. As Pfizer’s new Chief Pa- tients about where their prefer- saw many patients who,
tient Officer, she’s working to en- ences lie and which options work through no fault of their
sure that the patient is at the center for them.” own, presented with late-stage dis-
of everything Pfizer does. Her pa- eases,” noted Dr. Richardson-
tient-centric approach has been From the outset of her medical Heron. “Among other things, my
shaped by her years of experience career, Dr. Richardson-Heron experiences as a young physician
serving in public health. knew she wanted to make an im- opened my eyes to the reality that
pact beyond what could be health disparities are real and ac-
“It’s really not complicated. A achieved in a typical medical prac- cess to health care was not a
patient centric interaction should tice. She was provided with many given.” She says it was those early
look like one where I as the doc- formative moments during her days as a doctor that have made an
tor, or I as the researcher, am training with valuable experiences indelible mark in her passion for
meeting with and hearing from pa- and incredible exposure at New putting patients first.
tients,” said Dr. Richardson- York University Medical School

VOZA RIVERS has over 40 titles, Nicholas Park for HARLEM WEEK.” Heritage. He also serves as the VOZA RIVERS
but if they were to be compressed, Rivers’ work as a theater pro- First Vice President of The Greater
the appropriate title would have to Harlem Chamber of Commerce Harlem Arts Alliance
be Harlem’s Minister of Cultural ducer, music executive, event pro- and Co-Founder/Vice Chairman
Affairs. There is probably not one ducer, and documentary filmmaker and Executive Producer of
major cultural event that is pre- has been presented across the HARLEM WEEK, and is the
sented in Harlem without his globe.. He is the executive pro- Chairman & Co-Founder of
knowledge. He is so popular in ducer and founding member of the Harlem Arts Alliance, 350-member
Harlem that if you were to stop a New Heritage Theatre Group, es- non-profit service organization
five-year-old on Lenox Avenue and tablished in 1964, and executive founded in 2001 to advance the
ask about Rivers, the child would producer and co-founder of IM- arts and culture of Harlem and the
respond, “Oh, he’s the man who PACT Repertory Theatre, the surrounding communities.
does the movies for kids at St. Oscar and Grammy nominated
youth and music division of New

MICHELE ROBERTS, ESQ MICHELE ROBERTS, ESQ. is just closed on her Harlem brown- life. But the pandemic pulled her
the first woman to hold the posi- stone. back in as the NBPA faced a criti-
National Basketball tion as executive director of the cal turning point with basketball
Players Association National Basketball Players Asso- Under her tenure that began in stopped just five days after she an-
ciation and the first woman to head 2014, player salaries had soared nounced the transition plan.
a major professional sports union and the NBA was locked into its
in North America. collective bargaining agreement Hearing the sentiments of
through the 2023-24 season and its Black Lives Matter, Roberts and
Two weeks prior to the onset of media rights deal through 2024-25. Chris Paul, the NBPA’s president,
the COVID-19 pandemic and the Roberts saw it as the perfect mo- were able to reach an agreement
big red stop sign placed on profes- ment to make sure the union was in with the NBA on a 10-year, $300
sional basketball, Roberts began the right hands so she could be free million foundation to support the
planning her retirement, announced from the professional responsibili- Black community that will be fi-
a search for her successor, and had ties for the first time in her adult nanced by the 30 teams.

DR. MELONY SAMUELS is the Urban Agro-Ecological Centers, a particularly during this pandemic. DR. MELONY
founder and executive director of social services office, community “In my over 20 years of serving SAMUELS
The Campaign Against Hunger kitchen, nutrition education hub,
(TCAH), formerly Bed-Stuy and a leadership development vulnerable neighbors, I have never TheCampaignAgainstHunger
Campaign Against Hunger. The program. seen the distress I am seeing on
organization began in 1998 as a faces these days,” said Dr. Samuels.
small traditional food pantry Dr. Samuels provides some of “We need to look at our broken in-
located in a church basement. It the city’s neediest citizens with frastructure and begin to reinforce
has expanded into an innovative good nutrition, improving their and to rebuild. We have to recon-
non-profit community-based food health and overall well-being. ing. struct our minds and our hearts and
pantry with extensions reaching The Campaign Against Hunger en- know that all of our lives have been
the South Bronx, the Rockaways, sures that the food provided to fam- altered in one way or another. But
and all of Brooklyn, with two ilies is nutritious in order to help we are New Yorkers and we are
maintain a good immune system strong.”

P 40 February 2021 TOP 30 BLACK INFLUENCERS

RUBENSANTIAGO-HUDSON RUBEN SANTIAGO-HUDSON falo State College). duced, directed or acted in all of
is a successful actor, playwright Santiago-Hudson credits both August Wilson’s play, most
Actor, Director, Producer and director who has won many recently having adapted Wilson’s
awards in all three categories and his achievements and failures for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom into a
has earned multiple degrees. These the successes he has made through- screenplay starring Viola Davis
awards include but are not limited out his career. and Chadwick Boseman.
to The Humanitas Prize, National
Board of Reviews and the NAACP “I’m equally built on all the “There’s no other thing that I
Image Award. His education is “no’s” that I received that inspired love more than telling the whole
equally impressive, having earned me to work harder. That inspired world real stories about my people
his MFA (Wayne State University), me to want to prove more, not to and all their glory,” Santiago-Hud-
BA (Binghamton University) and anyone but myself. That I was wor- son explained. “Other than my
Honorary Doctorate Degrees thy, that I did measure up, that I family, it’s the primary thing in my
(Wayne State University and Buf- did count, that I did matter.” life: telling our stories and making
us whole and complete.”
Throughout his 45-year career,
Santiago-Hudson has either pro-

REV. AL SHARPTON is a those who have been victimized in- Conference (SCLC). By the time REV. AL SHARPTON
strong advocate for equal rights cluding Yusef Hawkins, Michael he was 16, he founded the National
when it comes to healthcare, edu- Stewart, Amadou Diallo, Abner Youth Movement, Inc., which National Action Network
cation and voting. Not only is he a Louia, Sean Bell, Trayvon Maritn, gathered youths from different
well-known civil rights leader, he Eric Garner and others. parts of the U.S. to raise voter reg-
is also the founder and president of istration, to make cultural aware-
the National Action Network Sharpton’s accomplishments ness more prominent, and to bring
(NAN) which is comprised of over started in his youth. At the young forth an increase in job training
100 chapters throughout the U.S. age of 4 at Brooklyn’s Washington programs.
He has been at the forefront of the Temple Church of God in Christ,
modern civil rights movement for he already preached his first ser- His later achievements include
nearly a half of a century. He has mon. Then at 13 years old, he but are not limited to being the
championed police reform and ac- served as the Youth Director of host of Politics Nation on MSNBC
coutnability, fought for voting New York’s Operation Breadbas- and the radio shows Keepin’ It
rights and equity in education and ket, which was the economic arm Real and Sunday Mornings with Al
healthcare, and has advocated for of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Sharpton.
Southern Christian Leadership

WAYNE SPENCE WAYNE SPENCE was elected union. He is known as a leader demic, he has been an outspoken
the Public Employees Federation’s who demands that the union and advocate for state employees who
Public Employees first African American President in state follow through on mandates, were deprived of their guaranteed
Federation June 2015. PEF is the second especially for member health and right to paid quarantine leave, and
largest state labor union, represent- safety and community safety is- also negotiated the extension of an
ing nearly 51,000 public sector sues. Under his leadership, the agreement for free, mandatory
employees. union negotiated two successful COVID-19 testing of all PEF-repre-
contracts that included across-the- sented employees at SUNY state-
During his nearly 30 years in board raises with no givebacks for operated colleges, universities and
state government working as a pa- the membership. hospitals.
role officer, Wayne has held nu-
merous leadership positions in the During the coronavirus pan-

NYS SENATOR ANDREA ing package in state history. Ad- strong belief in advocating for HON. ANDREA
STEWART-COUSINS is a ditionally, her legislative accom- the underserved and championing STEWART-COUSINS
champion for progressive action. plishments include raising the the needs of working families,
In 2012, she became the first age of criminal responsibility Stewart-Cousins has been a NYS Senate Majority Leader
woman and African American from 16 to 18 and fighting for staunch advocate for hardwork-
woman to lead a New York State other reforms in the criminal jus- ing New Yorkers and small busi-
legislative conference. tice system cutting middle class nesses struggling during the
income taxes to the lowest levels pandemic. To this end, the Sen-
Under her leadership, the in over 60 years, and ensuring ac- ate Democratic Majority has ad-
Senate Majority passed the most cess to quality affordable health vanced legislation to protect
comprehensive and aggressive care for all New Yorkers, to name small businesses and their work-
climate change legislation in the a few. ers with COVID-19 related finan-
nation, and the strongest tenant cial hardships.
protections and affordable hous- A native New Yorker with a

TOP 30 BLACK INFLUENCERS February 2021 P 41

ELINOR TATUM ELINOR TATUM is the publisher pointed editor-in-chief in 1997, be- New York and across the
and editor-in-chief of The New coming one of the youngest pub- nation, and is now online
New YorkAmsterdam News York Amsterdam News, the oldest lishers in the history of the Black as well.
Black newspaper in the City of press.
New York and one of the oldest A sought after keynote on top-
ethnic papers in the United States. Under her leadership, the publi- ics of media, race, politics and cul-
cation has evolved from typewrit- ture, Ms. Tatum is a philanthropist
She began at the newspaper as ers to total computerization and and serves on a number of boards,
a journalist covering local and na- undergone several new layouts including the Board of Trustees of
tional issues affecting Harlem and with refocused content relevant to a the Neighborhood Defender Serv-
the Black community. She was ap- wider African Amerian comunity in ices of Harlem.

OPAL TOMETI one of the co- America. This has encouraged her being featured in the Smithsonian’s OPAL TOMETI
founders of Black Lives Matter, is to stand up and fight back against National Museum for African His-
an activist known for her efforts in an oppressive system that has sup- tory and Culture (NMAAHC) with Black Lives Matter
the areas of social, racial, and eco- pressed the voices of people who BLM Co-founders Patrisse Cullors
nomic justice. Initiated in the wake have long been crying out for help. and Alicia Garza. She was also
of the devastating acquittal of awarded the Sydney Peace Prize and
Trayvon Martin’s killer, BLM has Faith and family are her pillars the 2020 Freedom of the Flame
gained momentum in the wake of of strength through the heartache of Award.
the murder of George Floyd and the witnessing and fighting for justice,
COVID-19 pandemic. but she also draws from her African Tometi has globally made an im-
heritage, her identity as a Nigerian pact on immigrant communities,
Being a woman of color whose woman, and a wealth of education women and people of color and con-
parents are Nigerian immigrants, and experience in the field of tinues to push forward for justice
Tometi has witnessed the harsh re- human rights. and strive to unify the global Black
alities of immigration and racism in community.
Tometi’s achievements include

DARREN WALKER DARREN WALKER, ESQ., billion designated social bond in social justice issues and equality for
president of the $14 billion interna- US capital markets for proceeds to all. The Ford Foundation has com-
Ford Foundation tional social justice philanthropy strengthen and stablize non-profit mitted half a billion dollars to racial
Ford Foundation, is a well-known organizations in the wake of justice efforts with contributions to
leader with strong determination COVID-19. Prior to joining Ford, organizations such as the NAACP’s
who sits on numerous boards such Mr. Walker was vice president at Legal Defense Fund and the Equal
as the Committee to Protect Jour- Rockefeller Foundation, oversee- Justice Initiative.
nalists and the Smithsonian Na- ing global and domestic programs,
tional Museum of African and in the 1990’s, he was COO of “Unless we recognize the need
American History & Culture. the Abyssinian Development Cor- to build a more equal America, we
poration, Harlem’s largest commu- will be eating lobster on the Titanic
Under his leadership, the Ford nity development organization. – and we will all go down,” Walker
Foundation became the first non- contends.
profit in US history to issue a $1 Walker’s leadership extends into

REV. MICHAEL WALROND is membership. Over the past 13 and Evolving) Center, Harlem’s REV. MICHAEL WALROND
the senior pastor of First years, FCBC has grown from 300 first faith-based mental health fa-
Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC) to over 10,000 members. cility. First Corinthian
in Harlem, NY. “Pastor Mike,” as Baptist Church
he is affectionately known, is con- In 2012, Pastor Mike shaped Walrond’s community and so-
sidered a visionary, cultural archi- the vision for The Dream Center, a cial justice initiatives include the
tect and game-changer who is transformative space designed by Micah Clergy Roundtable of NYC,
innovatively shifting the paradigm the FCBC Community Develop- A.C.T. Social Justice Ministry, and
of Christian understanding and cul- ment Corp. (CDC) to awaken helping to get the “New York City
ture. dreams of the community by focus- Living Wage” legislation passed by
ing on creative arts, leadership de- the City Council. A graduate of
Within 2 years of his leadership velopment and economic Morehouse College, he is also a
at FCBC, the church experienced empowerment. In 2016, he opened National Action Network board
exponential growth, tripling its the H.O.P.E. (Healing on Purpose member.

P 42 February 2021

HON. JUMAANE A self-described democratic social- mark legislation that resulted in Williams' backstory is equally im-
WILLIAMS ist, JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS transformational change and stood pressive. At a young age, he was
has served as the New York City shoulder to shoulder with margin- diagnosed with Tourette's and
NYC Public Advocate Public Advocate since 2019. In a alized communities fighting for ADHD, yet this obviously did not
crowded field with 18 other candi- justice and equity for all. prevent him from becoming the
dates, Williams was elected in a leader he is today. He made it
special election to complete the Prior to entering the political through the public school system
term of Letitia James, who re- arena, Jumaane began his career as and then moved on to earn not one
signed to become Attorney Gen- a community organizer by serving but two college degrees.
eral. as the assistant director for the
Greater Flatbush Beacon School Williams’s drive to keep push-
He began his activist political and subsequently as the executive ing through school and his passion
career as a member of the New director of NYS Tenants & Neigh- to do something about the unfair
York City Couuncil in 2010, and bors, where he fought for truly af- treatment of women, immigrants
was easily re-elected in 2013. fordable, income targeted housing and people of color continues to
Throughout his three terms in the across the city and state. enable him to be the people’s ad-
City Council, he championed land- vocate.
In addition to these successes,

LLOYD WILLIAMS is truly a figure in the community but also a Malcolm X. LLOYD WILLIAMS
transformational leader who is set- leader and role model. Under his He takes his inspiration from
ting in motion a success pendulum leadership, The GHCC serves as The Greater Harlem
for a new Harlem renaissance, eco- an anchor for regional and commu- what’s happening in communities
nomically vibrant beyond COVID- nity stability and success and of color – African Americans, Chamber of Commerce
19 and this tense season of works diligently to focus on Caribbean Americans, Latinos,
systemic racism and economic in- Harlem’s second renaissance. Africans, etc. – with a firm convic-
justice. tion to connect the dots to under-
Mr. Williams sits on the boards stand how we all come together
As the CEO of The Greater of several organizations, including through the strength of unity. He
Harlem Chamber of Commerce New York City & Company, and believes Harlem is the most special
and the chair and co-founder of The City College of New York. place in this country – a truly inter-
HARLEM WEEK, the largest national community – and he’s
summer attraction in the northeast, Mr. Williams was solidly men- honored to be a Harlemite.
Williams is not only a prominent tored by the late Honorable Percy
Sutton and is the godson of the late




















































































































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