Wellness

HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS A New Virtual Reality

By: W.A.Rogers

The term virtual reality has taken a new meaning due to COVID-19. Meetings, conferences, and schooling have become virtual. Online communication and interactions have reached a new normal.

Twenty years ago, I hosted one of the first major community technology conferences in Harlem during Black History month. I was the director of the City College Office of Urban Affairs and in collaboration with Libraries for the Future, Columbia University and The Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers.

Teach Harlem II was the title of the two-day conference that invited educators grant writers, local businesses, civic organizations, and members of the community. The conference focused on how information technology would change life in the future. My opening statement focused on how the digital divide would be the greatest form of discrimination in the 21st century.

Teach Harlem I was held at the opening of one of the first community computer training centers, located in the Minisink Townhouse community center in 1998. The conference and training center was sponsored by a partnership between City College and Columbia University through a United States H.U.D. community partnership grant.

Twenty-two years ago, access to information technology was viewed as a luxury by many. Today, it has become a necessity. When schools closed a few months ago, hundreds of young people could not be educated because they did not have the tools for virtual learning. In many cases, you could not talk to your doctor or take part in religious services without access to the internet.

Meetings and conferences have now started to use virtual platforms like Zoom, MegaMeeting, and Microsoft Teams. My weekly WHCR.90.3 FM Urbanology talk show is now broadcasted live on the Soul City TV using virtual platforms.

The annual Harlem Holistic Wellness Week festival was virtual and can still be viewed at www.h2w.nyc. The annual Father’s Day skyscraper Cycling Classic was also virtual this year. HARLEM WEEK and the Harlem Music Festival (August 16th -23rd) will be virtual. Soul City TV will broadcast a virtual four-day (August 24th – 27th) celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 1st Harlem Renaissance as a continuum to the Harlem Music Festival.

To learn about the virtual HARLEM WEEK and Harlem Music Festival, visit www. harlemweek.com or the HARLEM WEEK Facebook page. The four day virtual Soul City event will include a National Economic Summit on 7/24, a poetry special on 7/25, a comedy special on 7/26, and a

Answers to Puzzle on page 16

musical concert on 7/27. The African American Women in Cinema film festival will also take place during those four days.

To learn more about the Soul City events, visit www. soulcity.me or the Soul City Network Facebook page. I believe that the African American day parade is also planning to be virtual this year. This, however, does not benefit those who lack access to the internet amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The technology committee of Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) chaired by Clayton Banks (co-founder of Silicon Harlem), has provided internet access and computers to over 100 students.

GHCC in partnership with educational institutions, community-based organizations, and both public and private sector organizations, will continue to collect and refurbish computers to be distributed to those in need. Call 212 862 7200 for further information.

Fortunately, the new concept of virtual reality is not all bad. The April CODE 420 cannabis conference had over 5,000 live viewers and is still on the CODE 420 Facebook page. This year’s Harlem Holistic Wellness Week had over 40,000 viewers and continues to be viewed today. I am sure that this year, the virtual HARLEM WEEK will have thousands of new viewers from around the world watching the annual Harlem event.

The new Onuwon Wellness Group website (www.onuwon. com) will soon have virtual meditation and energy training classes. Many other wellness organizations are developing virtual classes as well. The digital divide is still too wide, and many will not be able to participate in this new virtual reality.

"Dental health, like success, is not a des na on but a con nuous journey"

Dr. George Williams