The Harlem Community Newspapers, Inc. Connecting Harlem, Queens, Brooklyn and The Bronx
BRONX NEWS COMMUNITY
“Good News You Can Use”
Vol. 25
Everyone Can Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19, Here's How see page 11
No. 31
July 30 – August 5, 2020
FREE
Black Business Leaders Call on City Government to End Barriers and Access to Citywide Contracting
see page 10
Physical Therapy of Harlem Offers a Space for Healing Amidst COVID see page 13
Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hamilton Heights Receives Sacred Sites Grant see page 12
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HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
“Good news you can use”
CONTENTS HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWS BROOKLYN COMMUNITY NEWS BRONX COMMUNITY NEWS QUEENS COMMUNITY NEWS Free copies distributed in your community weekly
IN THIS ISSUE:
Community 3 Op Ed Editorial 6 Real Estate 7 Calendar 8 Events 9 Health 12
Harlem Community Newspapers | July 30. 2020
To reserve advertising space email us at:
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harlemnewsinc@aol.com To subscribe, go to our website at www.harlemcommunitynews.com or page 19 OUR MISSION STATEMENT The Harlem Community Newspapers, Inc. will publish positive news and information. Our mission is to deliver “good” and informative news to our readers focusing on health, education, housing, business and employment opportunities. We look for and publish results, not problems. We promote businesses, opportunities and events happening in the communities we serve. We are dedicated to providing our readers with valuable information they can use to improve the quality of life for themselves, their families and our communities.
Business 13 Urbanology 14 Wellness 15 Games 16 Literary Corner 17 Classified 18
Publisher/Editor Pat Stevenson Borough/Feature Writer Erin Lewenauer Feature Writer Jennifer Cunningham A&E Editor Linda Armstrong Art & Cultural Stacey Ann Ellis The Adams Report Audrey Adams Intl News & Entertainment Maria Cavenaghi Columnist William A. Rogers Columnist Zakiyyah Columnist Hazel Smith Events Calendar Makeda Viechweg Writer/Videographer Marisol Rodriguez Book Reviewer Terri Schlichenmeyer Brooklyn Writer Keith Forrest Bronx Writer Howard Giske Nadezda Tavodova Tezgor Photographer Photographer Michelle James Photographer Kimberly Crichlow Office Assistant Dominic Jones Distribution Russell Simmons Computer Director David Sinclair Marketing Consultant William A. Rogers Hispanic Mkt. Consultant Jose Ferrer Events Coordinator Ayishah Ferrer Social Media Mgr Makeda Viechweg Travel & Entertainment Paul Dalnoky Classified Paul Dalnoky
The Harlem Community Newspapers, Inc. is a New York City, New York State and Port Authority certified MWBE. We are also members of the NNPA, New York Press Association, the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, CACCI, the Bradhurst Merchants Associationn Women Chamber of Commerce and the Harlem Tourism Board.
A Publication of: Harlem Community Newspapers, Inc. Mailing: P.O. Box # 1775, New York, New York 10027 Phone: 646-988-1015• Email: harlemnewsinc@aol.com Website: www.harlemcommunitynews.com Twitter: @harlemnewsinc • Facebook: /harlemnewsinc
PAT STEVENSON
GOOD NEWS YOU CAN USE!-
Harlem Community Newspapers, Inc. has been a NY City and NY State certified MWBE business for the past 4 years. I must say that because of our certification were doing business with more than 20 City/ State agencies before the Pandemic. We have continued to receive advertising weekly so far during the Pandemic; however we did see a substantial reduction in June. Although Mayor DeBlasio signed an executive order a couple of years ago, directing all agencies to spend at least 50% of newspaper advertising dollars with community newspapers. We have seen agencies spend less than 10% of their budgets on community newspapers and the number is less for African-American owned newspapers. With “Black Lives Matter” shining a spotlight on this situation, I am hopeful that will translate into a commitment for agencies, as well as corporations to do more business with Black-owned publications. Our relevance is as crucial today as it was when the first Black-owned newspapers was printed in the 1800’s, Freedom Journal. There has been some redistribution of wealth, as many whose weekly salaries were less than $600 per week are now seeing a gain of income with the Pandemic unemployment pay. Those of you who are benefiting don’t forget to support Black-owned businesses and small businesses in your community, because that will be a reinvestment in your community. Small business needs your support to recover from this Pandemic. I am celebrating 25 years publishing and will publish a special commemorative issue on August 20, 2020. I hope you will support me, a Black-owned business, by buying an online or mailed subscription and/ or ad in this special issue. See information on page 18 You can also visit our website to execute payment or you can email me direct for more information at harlemnewsinc@aol. com. Thank you in advance for your support. Our website is www.harlemcommunitynews.com
Pat Stevenson Celebrating
25 years Publishing
COMMUNITY
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
Inaction is not an option. Complete the 2020 Census to shape the next ten years
for your community. The power to change your community is in your hands. We can help inform funding every year for the next ten years for public services like healthcare, childcare programs, public transportation, schools, and job assistance. And our responses determine
Harlem Community Newspapers | July 30. 2020
how many seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. But time is running out, so complete the census today online, by phone, or by mail.
Complete the census today at:
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HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
EXPRESSIONS
PONDER THIS! Nobody Said it was Going to be Easy
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By Hazel Rosetta Smith
Harlem Community Newspapers | July 30. 2020
ging is a fact, not a dooms day in retrospect. Like anything else that we want to hold onto, it takes diligent determination to age healthy and gracefully. If it is true that youth is fleeting, it may be because we do not count the days until they become undeniable years gone by. The best wines are highly regarded and priced because the grapes have a little age on them. Crock pots simmer meat to succulent tenderness because of slow cooking. We can participate in the management of our body’s aging process into full maturity by slowly and wisely maintaining a steady partnership of mind, body, and spirit. The late Dr. Johnnie Coleman, Minister and Founder of Christ Universal Temple in Chicago was known for teaching people how to live better lives. I
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Hazel Rosetta Smith was privileged to meet Dr. Coleman in 1990 and her words continue to resonate in my mind today, “It works when you work it.” The principle mandates for Dr. Coleman’s teaching was an understanding of the power to create a long productive life, built on a daily practice of healthy renewal through spiritual consistency and perseverance. My 101-year-old grandmother, the late Margaret Howard Banks, often said to me,
her inquisitive granddaughter, “Chile, you’ll understand it by and by.” I always thought her words meant when I reached heaven, the Lord would reveal the mysteries of life. Now I am blessed to be in the third quarter of my life finally getting an understanding of those words. By and by is upon us right here and right now, every day, just look around. Looking back with fond memories of the countless blessings that have come my way, I remember with great pride, watching my granny enjoying life one day at a time, spreading her wisdom, sharing her love and laughter, praising her God unapologetically. She never complained, simply exclaimed, “Age is just a number written in God’s book, assigned to each of his children, designated as the time allotment for the fulfilment
Dr. Johnnie Coleman of his purpose.” Margaret Howard Banks opened her eyes at the break of dawn every morning speaking the same words, “Thank you, Jesus.” Nothing was taken lightly or for granted, from bathing to dressing, to breakfast preparation, there was always thanks given all day long. She stretched her arms to strengthen the mus-
Margaret Howard Banks cles, she walked every day for blood circulation, and she read God’s good book out loud every evening to challenge her comprehension and strengthen her voice. Someday something will ache and no matter how much we try to ignore or deny it; it will be the result of the wear and tear on the limbs that have carried
our body through many storms. When the back gets weary and sitting too long does stiffen joints, we can pull on our strong commitment to be a conqueror and rise to the occasion. So, nobody told you aging would be easy. The charge is to expect the unexpected and be open to change, for it will surely come. As birthdays accumulate with numbers that seem to surprise even you, do not hesitate to remind yourself you are important, you are uniquely created. It would be inappropriate for you to think anything other than, you deserve to have an active, fun-filled celebration of life every day. What you choose to do is up to you. [Hazel Rosetta Smith is a journalist, playwright and director for Help Somebody Theatrical Ministries, retired former Managing Editor and Woman’s Editor of The New York Beacon and current columnist for Harlem Community News, Inc. Contact: misshazel@twc.com]
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
BRONX
The Artist Studios Program at BRAC is BACK!
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rtists of all visual art disciplines - painting, photography, sculpture, video, installation, new media - will be considered for below-market rate studio spaces to produce new work and make use of resources needed to support their
creative practice. Studios will be accessible 10am to 10pm, 7 days a week for 1 year with a second year renewal option. These non-living studios, in an open plan with windows in each unit, vary in size from 250 to 400 sq ft. Artists will have the opportunity to present
their work to curators and critics and to be exposed to a broader general audience during annual open Studios events. Residency participants will be encouraged to engage with students and community program participants throughout the year.
Artists will be selected based on their portfolio of work, statement of intent, and an expressed interest to work within the Bronx community. Applicants will be reviewed by a diverse independent selection panel composed of artists, curators and arts
professionals. The program is seeking artists with a developed studio practice and who are not enrolled in a college or university degree-granting program. BRAC does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin,
age, sexual orientation. Occupancy is projected by October 1, 2020. Circumstances related to COVID-19 could affect this projection and/or the terms of this residency. Please email opencall@bronxriverart. org with any questions.
the beauty and metaphors of the garden... or whatever space you are in. This experience is open to all who wish to learn simple meditation activities, nature lovers or anyone with an ongoing practice. Your “sit spot” can be anywhere—outdoors in your favorite spot, or your favorite spot at home. Visit wavehill. org to join. $15.
August 4 & 11 12:302:30pm Blank Plate Summer Food Demos Live on the pointcdc’s Instagram, join the Blank Plate Summer Food Demos hosted by Bascom Catering at The Point. All ages can join in and learn how to make healthy meals that are full of flavor and support a healthy immune system. FREE.
Work from live plants and flowers or from still life vignettes made in your own home. Each session includes a slide presentation, question-and-answer, and a critique of students’ work. Visit wavehill.org to join. $150
August 3 6:15pm Kundalini Yoga and Meditation on the Full Moon Amplify the positive energy of your Kundalini Yoga and Meditation practice on the full moon! Visit inlightyogaandhealth.com for more info.
August 4 10:00-1:00pm Photography Workshop: Light and Shadow Nature photographer Benjamin Swett provides expert guidance and instruction as students explore some of the masters of light and shadow in nature photography.
BRONX UPCOMING EVENTS Mondays Until August 3 7:30pm Digital Sneak Peeks in at Works in In Progress by Latinx Artists REMOJO, the company’s recurring sneak peek at works in progress goes digital, giving audiences a chance to get up close and personal with Latinx theater, music, dance, and film/media artists. Events will broadcast for free on website, Zoom, and social media platforms. Visit pregonesprtt.org for sneak peeks!
Monday-Thursday Until August 13 Summer 2020 Virtual Visual Art & Digital Media Classes Sign up for the Bronx River Art Center Summer Semester. BRAC is pleased to present five Visual Art, two Digital Media classes and their signature TPS+2.0 (teens plus young adults) Project Studio this Summer Semester.
Now Until July 31 9:00-4:00pm Woodlawn Summer Camp 2020 At Camp Woodlawn, your child will make music and art, learn about the natural world, and explore the history of our great neighborhood and city -- in a small-group setting and with experienced and caring instructors. Camp activities will include plenty of outdoor time, scavenger hunts, map reading activities, arts and crafts, reading workshops, tree identification walks, and more! For grades 1-7. Register online at thewoodlawncemetery.
org $150 per camper.
August 1 6:00pm The Contemporary Latin American Photobook Latin American photographers and editors: Musuk Nolte (Peru), Lujan Agusti (Argentina), Cristobal Olivares (Chile), and Zully Sotelo (Colombia), will join moderator Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo (Colombia) to discuss the state of the Latin American Photobook today. You can join the webinar at bronxdoc. org FREE with RSVP. August 1 10:00-1:00pm Family Art Project: Keeping Our Coral Colorful Express your care for keeping our coral healthy by painting a vibrant reef habitat on coral forms of wire, newspaper and repurposed found objects. Visit wavehill.org to join. August 2 9:30-10:00am Meditation in the Garden Join mindful outdoor guide Cindy Olsen or dosha healer Sara Hart for the healing practice of “sit spot” nature meditation. Take a few deep breaths together, find inner calm and ground yourself in nature, as you honor
Eco-Urgency
August 4 12:00-1:00pm Eco-Urgency: Courtney Mattison Sculptor and ocean advocate Courtney Mattison will join Curatorial Assistant Jesse Bandler Firestone in a conversation about Mattison’s practice. They will address the impacts of climate change on the ocean as well as the power of art to inspire environmental conservation. Visit wavehill.org to
Harlem Community Newspapers | July 30. 2020
Now Until August 2 6:30pm A Virtual Offering: Foot Reflexology 2020 is the year of focus, heart-centered projection and accomplishments. Let training in the science of foot reflexology make it onto your list of achievements! Visit inlightyogaandhealth. com for more info.
Their commitment to serve the needs of our community is especially heightened in these challenging times. The Summer 2020 semester is an optional donation to assure everyone who wants to engage in creative activities can, regardless of ability to pay. Please register and take classes for free if you need to, or, if you are able to make a donation, we will gratefully accept a suggested contribution of $35 for one series of classes from our summer semester offerings. Email dhebbert@ bronxriverart.org or register at eventbrite. com.
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HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
OP EDITORIAL
OP-ED (IN MEMORIAM): John Lewis Made America a More Perfect Union Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Harlem Community Newspapers | July 30. 2020
(Washington, DC) – The nation awakes to the overwhelmingly sad news that Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, a champion for democracy and civil rights, has passed. The following is a statement from Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law: “From marching in the streets to fighting in the halls of Congress, John Lewis literally dedicated his life to the project of making American democracy stronger, more open and equal to all. Because of his sacrifice, Black people have had greater access to the ballot and have had the ability to serve in elected office at every level in our country. He was fearless, tireless and a dedicated voice of con-
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science for Congress and the nation. The world has lost one of its most enduring voices on civil and human rights. “We honor the life of John Lewis by redoubling our work to restore the Voting Rights Act, a law achieved in part through the violence he endured in Selma, Alabama while peacefully marching for the right to vote. We also recommit ourselves to carrying forth Lewis’s legacy by fighting voter suppression and working to ensure that everyone has a voice in our democracy.” In 2017, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law honored John Lewis with the organization’s highest award, its Robert F. Kennedy Justice Prize. While accepting the award,
Congressman Lewis said, “When you see something that’s not right, not just, you have to stand up. You have to speak out. And you have to get in the way.” About the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law – The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address
racial discrimination. Now in its 55th year, the Lawyers’ Committee is continuing its quest to “Move America Toward Justice.” The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice for all, particularly in the areas of voting rights, criminal justice, fair housing and community development, economic justice, educational opportunities, and hate crimes. For more information, please visit https://lawyerscommitee.org.
Vol. 25, No 31 July 30, 2020
subscription information page 18
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HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS REAL ESTATE
Harlem Community Newspapers | July 30. 2020
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HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
EVENTS
HARLEM CALENDAR OF COMMUNITY EVENTS
nuyorican-basquet (August 3)
Harlem Community Newspapers | July 30. 2020
Now Until July 30 John Lewis: ood Trouble JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dawn Porter (TRAPPED, GIDEON’S ARMY), chronicles the life and career of the legendary civil rights activist and Democratic Representative from Georgia. Using interviews and rare archival footage, JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE chronicles John Robert Lewis’ 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration. Rent the film for $12 at the maysles.org
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Now Until August 5 Under the Influence o f Khalik Allah: Arakimentari Director Travis Klose spends a month documenting Araki’s every frenetic move in his studio. Combining extraordinary interviews with the likes of Richard Kern and Bjork with stunning images of Araki’s vast portfolio, Klose makes a film that allows us a rare look into Araki’s unique artistic process and at the culture that fosters his controversial work. Watch the film at maysles.org for FREE. Now Until August 15 After Civilization Streaming free for the next month are twelve
The Year in Jazz 1928 (August 3) films that together interrogate the concept of western “civilization” for its deep roots in settler-colonialism and continued imperial project. While some filmmakers in the series recast observational footage to imagine the future, others invoke surreal imagery to visualize the fragility of their distinct settings. Part ethnographic, part science fiction, After Civilization reckons with ecological crisis and the ongoing material violences of dispossession, while gesturing toward a future of collective liberation. Visit maysles.org to stream. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays Until July 31 10:00am P Credit Course: People of New York Educators will examine how the individual choices of New Yorkers have molded the city we live in, unpack how the urban environment has impacted people both past and present, and discover hidden voices that shine a light on New York’s array of diverse communities and neighborhoods. Through online lesson plans and oral history workshops, discussions, guest lectures, and writing exercises, educators will gain a deeper understanding of the city’s history and find connections between their students’ experiences and those
of New Yorkers past and present. Register at mcny. org $250 per person. July 31 2:00pm Virtual Hearst Fellows Symposium Kimberly Earlywine, Salve Regina University, will present the program she developed on historic preservation for use with the Museum’s summer High School Internship. Maya Colman, Oberlin College, will discuss her research on the African-American experience in NYC after the abolition of slavery and her accompanying Museum tour. Visit mvhm.org to join. August 3 12:00pm The Year in Jazz: 1928 Join the National Jazz Museum in Harlem as Jimmy Noone, Earl Hines, Benny Goodman, Bix Beiderbecke, Bessie Smith and others in peak form. Join the Senior Scholar Loren Schoenberg for this presentation and listening session on Facebook Live. August 3 7:00-8:00pm Moonlight & Movies: Nuyorican Básquet Directors Julio César Torres González and Ricardo Olivero Lora join organizer, political commentator and independent journalist Rosa Clemente and Monxo López, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Postdoctor-
A Wonder-ful Time (August 5)
Arakimentari (Until August 5) al Fellow at the Museum of the City of New York for a virtual conversation about the making of the film and the connections between basketball and Nuyorican identity. This event will be in both English and Spanish. Watch the film at mcny.org for FREE with registration.
August 5 10:00am10:30am A Wonder-ful Time Celebrate the 100th birthday of this iconic amusement park ride with historic facts about Coney Island and vintage images from the Museum’s photography
collection. In this virtual video, Amanda Kingloff, founder of PROJECT KID, will teach you the basics for creating this 3-D model Ferris wheel. This children’s session will be streamed live on MCNY’s Youtube and Facebook. FREE.
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
Harlem Community Newspapers | July 30. 2020
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BUSINESS
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
Black Business Leaders Call on City Government to End Barriers and Access to Citywide Contracting
Harlem Community Newspapers | July 30. 2020
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arlier this month, more than 50 members of a coalition of Black Business owners called on the city to ensure that Black Vendors are afforded equal opportunities in city contracts. “We need a new paradigm,” said Craig Livingston, managing partner of Exact Capital and chairman of the New York Real Estate Chamber... “What has been pattern and practice for decades has not worked. It is time to prioritize Black interests, building the Black Economy and Black Wealth.” According to Comptroller Scott Stringer’s Making the Grade report of the $20.5 billion in city contracts awarded in 2019, less than 1% went to the city’s Black businesses. The city’s own local law 15A, 30 percent of all city contracts are designated for minority and women-owned businesses. However, while the majority of contracts are still awarded to companies owned by white men (72.28%), the next largest awardees are white females (13.59%). “Extraordinary steps need to be taken for Black firm inclusion to address the critical and unmerited lack of participation in public contracting, especially in these undeniable, extraordinary tines,” said Julie Harris, co-founder of the Council of Black Architecture and Engineering Companies. “Our businesses and our communities will falter and fail without meaningful economic opportunities. We need our own innovative “PPP” – a
dedicated “Participation in our own Projects Program.” “We want to work our way out of this. The over-reliance of subcontracting in fulfilling goal requirements has left us marginalized, underutilized and economically deprived... Provided the opportunity, we will prevail.”
The COVID-19 health pandemic has shined a spotlight on the marginalization of the city’s Black communities and the continued exclusion of Black businesses in city contracts. A recent Crain’s report noted that only about 1% of the city’s $3.4 billion I Covid-19 contract dollars went to Black
businesses. “Numbers don’t lie.” Said Paul T. Williams, co-founder and managing director of Williams Strategy Advisors, LLC. “T Black businesses seeking opportunities on taxpayer funded project, the number say that Black businesses don’t matter. If only one
percent of taxpayer-funded project in a city agency was awarded to Black companies, that didn’t happen by chance. This can’t be left to chance to correct...” “Black businesses create jobs for Black people and directly support Black communities. As the culture of New York
City agencies and financing institutions continue to operate on a foundation of inequitable policies, bias contracting practices and ineffective implementation, Black lives will continue to remain at risk,” said Francilia Wilkins Rahim, CEO of R. F. Wilkins Consultants, Inc.
HEALTH
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
PHOTO SOURCE: (c) FamVeld / iStock via Getty Images Plus
Everyone Can Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19, Here's How (Statepoint)
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re-opening is not the same as a return to normal: When indoors, wear a mask, even in restaurants and stores that are open. Consider dining outdoors whenever possible. Stay connected with friends and family, but do so in a physically-distant and safe manner, including small outdoors gatherings where masks and hand sanitizer are used. • Take time to clear your head and rest: With many people working from home or working under more stressful conditions, it is important to take mental health breaks. Get up and move, take a walk outside, step away from the computer, and take days or hours off from work. As the death toll from COVID-19 continues to rise, physicians, nurses, hospital and health system leaders, researchers and public health experts want Americans to know that it is within their power to help stop the spread of the virus.
Harlem Community Newspapers | July 30. 2020
s businesses and services reopen nationwide, the death toll from COVID-19 continues to rise, and experts warn that Americans must continue taking precautions to help stop the spread of the virus. “In states across the country, the spread of COVID-19 is staggering and concerning. We all have a role to play in stopping the spread and protecting ourselves, our family and our neighbors,” says Susan R. Bailey, M.D., president of the American Medical Association (AMA). “The science is clear. We know what stops the spread of the virus – wearing cloth face masks, physical distancing and regularly washing hands -- and it is on all of us to practice these steps. Without a vaccine for this novel virus, the only way to turn the tide and recapture a sense of normal is by work-
ing together.” The AMA offers the following guidance and insights that can help keep you, your friends and your loved ones healthy and safe. • Wear a cloth face mask: Take the simple steps that science has shown will help stop the spread of the virus: wearing a cloth face mask, maintaining physical distancing and washing your hands. The simplest tried-and-true methods are still the most important. • Keep up with doctor visits: Before you decide to forgo routine care or screenings, talk to your doctor. Physicians are using telehealth services and have taken painstaking precautions to make their practices safe. Make sure you keep up with your vaccines, and don’t let something that in normal circumstances could be handled with an early visit to your physician land you in the hospital. • Be mindful that
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HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
FOCUS
Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hamilton Heights Receives Sacred Sites Grant
Harlem Community Newspapers | July 30. 2020
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he New York Landmarks Conservancy has announced 21 Sacred Sites Grants totaling $337,000 awarded to historic religious properties throughout New York State, including $50,000 to Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hamilton Heights to help fund masonry façade restoration and foundation stabilization. Mt. Zion Lutheran Church was designed by architect Joseph Wolf, who trained under architect Richard Morris Hunt, and completed in 1888 for the Hamilton Grange Reform Church. Mt. Zion acquired the church in 1946. The church was probably intended as a temporary chapel, and is relatively modest in design and materials. Eclectic Gothic Revival in style, this low, one-anda-half-story, gable-roof church has a single-height, pointed-arch entryway in the center of the façade, above which is a trio of lancet windows. The church complex also includes a four-story, limestone, Gothic Revival style parish house and school building,
which was constructed in 1909 to the designs of John Boese. The congregation reaches over 600 people a year through community activities such as concerts, two tenant congregations, community meetings, a street fair, holiday gift and food distribution to nearby families. “Our current grantees have social service programs that reach 53,000 people across New York State,” said Peg Breen, President, The New York Landmarks Conservancy. “Our grants help keep these institutions viable, allowing them to continue feeding programs, day care, thrift stores, and recovery meetings.” “In this time of extreme need,” she added, “it is even more important to help these congregations continue to serve their communities.” The Sacred Sites Program provides congregations with matching grants for planning and implementing exterior restoration projects, technical assistance, and workshops. Since 1986, the program has pledged 1,547 grants totaling more than $11.8
million to 824 religious institutions statewide. The New York Landmarks Conservancy, a private non-profit organization, has led the effort to preserve and protect New York City’s architectural legacy for more than 45 years. Since its founding, the Conservancy has loaned and granted more than $52 million, which has leveraged more than $1 billion in 1,550 restoration projects throughout New York, revitalizing communities, providing economic stimulus and supporting local jobs. The Conservancy has also offered countless hours of pro bono technical advice to building owners, both nonprofit organizations and individuals. The Conservancy’s work has saved more than a thousand buildings across the City and State, protecting New York’s distinctive architectural heritage for residents and visitors alike today, and for future generations. For more information, please visit www.nylandmarks. org. Photo Courtesy of The New York Landmarks Conservancy
WELLNESS
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
Physical Therapy of Harlem Offers a Space for Healing Amidst COVID
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Marisol Rodríguez
or almost a decade Dr. Jeffrey Chow has been treating patients at Physical Therapy of Harlem on 116th Street and Madison Avenue. After being forced to close during the surge of COVID cases in New York City, Dr. Chow reopened in early May. While COVID may have closed his offices, it didn’t stop him from continuing to work with a couple of willing patients who he had sessions with through Telehealth or virtual appointments. One of his patients did so well with it that when she came in person after the reopening her pain was already gone. But the majority of Dr. Chow’s patients opted out of Telehealth and waited until they could see him in person. One such patient, Maria Escobar, has been working with Dr. Chow for the past three years. After some unpleasant experiences with physical therapists at other locations, Escobar has been so happy with Dr. Chow’s service, she stuck with him and has referred many of her friends and family. “One thing I love about him is anything that you ask him he takes his time and he looks it up for
Dr. Chow working with his patient Maria Escobar. you,” said Escobar. “Doctors need to listen to their patients at this time more than ever, especially when many have lost loved ones.” Dr. Chow and Dr. Selena Washington, the other physical therapist at the office, are currently taking appointments from 8:00am to 2:30pm Monday through Friday. Everyone at the office has been trained in how to clean spaces using high quality disinfectants. The common area or gym has been visibly divided with blue tape into six-feet boxes to maintain social distancing. Dr. Chow encourages anyone with concerns to come by the office. “If you are worried, you
Dr. Chow leaning on one of the anti-gravity treadmills at the clinic.
don’t have to schedule your visit, just show up and ask away,” he said. One of the reasons Physical Therapy of Harlem initially opened was to provide much needed high quality physical therapy services uptown. This is seen in the private consultation rooms they offer as well as state of the art equipment and tools such as anti-gravity treadmills for those with severe ankle and knee injuries and IASTM (Instrument Aided Soft Tissue Manipulation) which helps to stretch and relax chronically tight muscles. Dr. Chow also believes in ca-
Physical Therapy of Harlem is now open 8:30am-3:00pm, Monday through Friday.
tering physical therapy to individuals. “Each patient needs a slight change to their protocol. If you just cookie cutter everyone 70 percent might get better, but many of your patients won’t.” said Dr. Chow. Having grown up playing competitive sports, Dr. Chow was in and out of rehab with various athletic trainers and physical therapists. When he was in college the idea of helping athletes like himself recover from injury started to appeal to him. “Having gone through therapy with bad and good trainers, I wanted to be a good physical therapist and help people get better,” he said.
The common space/gym has been divided into 6 feet sections for social distancing.
Dr. Chow is a proud husband and father of two boys, 3 and 7 years old. He grew up in New Jersey, which he described as having a small town vibe he feel strongly associates with the Harlem community: “I really like being up here, it’s a very community-based area...I grew up with that feeling in New Jersey, if you got in trouble your mom or parents would find out before you even got home. It’s a nice feeling of the community here and I really think that’s a great thing.” If you would like to make an appointment at Physical Therapy of Harlem call 212-996-3303 and
Maria Escobar has been working with Dr. Chow for three years. visit www.PTHarlem.com or Fyzical.com/East-Harlem. The clinic will soon change its name as it joins the network Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers.
Harlem Community Newspapers | July 30. 2020 13
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
URBANOLOGY
All Things are Beneficial
By: W.A.Rogers
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aoist author and Master, Wu Wei, writes that the world works in perfect order and all things are beneficial. This is not a concept that is easy to embrace. We all have experienced disappointments, tragedies, and situations that may not seem beneficial. According to Master Wei, we can view disappointments and tragedies with questions of “why” or questions of “how.”
You can ask, “Why did such a terrible thing happen to me?” or “How can I learn to grow from this experience? “You have a choice. If you allow faith, patience, and a belief that a benefit can be found in all things, you will reach the ability to overcome disappointment and tragedies. This is far more beneficial than allowing disappointment and tragedy to darken your spirit and faith. How often have we experienced what seemed to be negative at the time then later realizing that if that experience had not taken place, a lesson could not have taken place? We are all connected to the mind of the universe and that connection allows for our thoughts to manifest into a reality. There is a reason for all things; if you encounter a negative experience, embrace it
Harlem Community Newspapers | July 30. 2020
Answers to Puzzle on page 16
14
and use it as a tool for growth. Think about what you want: not what you fear. Fear and Doubt are the two greatest barriers to spiritual growth and development. When we doubt our abilities, it is exceedingly difficult to overcome fear and failure. It is not falling that makes us strong but the ability to keep getting up. I believe we are in a time where our spiritual growth is dependent on seeking the benefit in all things; we often find what we are looking for. Two weeks ago, the Harlem Black Lives Matter mural was vandalized along with the BLM mural in front of Trump Towers. Four Trump supporters of African descent made videos of their actions and claimed they were doing God’s work. Many of the Harlem artists, community
groups, and individuals were angry and disappointed. Nikoa Evans Hendricks, executive director of Harlem Park to Park, and Erika Ewing, president of Got to Stop LLC, decided that they would raise money to revitalize the Harlem mural once again. The original Harlem mural was made possible with donations. The community responded once more, and on Sunday July 30th, a special ceremony was held to celebrate the revised Harlem BLM Mural site. Community organizations, civic leaders, spiritual leaders, members of the Harlem Community, and supporters from throughout New York City attended. This was a wonderful example of how a negative experience can motivate positive growth. The negative act of defacing the Harlem mural
galvanized a greater amount of support for the Harlem initiative. The female leader of the four individuals arrested for vandalizing the BLM mural at Trump Towers spoke highly of her experience with the police on social media. She suggested she would get similar treatment when she returned to Harlem to complete her mission to deface the Harlem mural. The New Breed life arts organization, under the leadership of Grand Master La-
marr Thorton who is also the coordinator of the HARLEM WEEK community security force, will have guards on the site during the night. They will work with the 28th precinct to ensure that the mural is safe until the end of the street closing on August 31st. Manhattan North police precincts, especially the 26th 28th 30th and 32nd, have had a long-standing relationship with Harlem community-based organizations. Because of this, trying to deface the Harlem mural again would not be wise. As my grandmother used to say, “God does not like ugly”. You can still make a donation to help the Harlem BLM mural initiative by going to www.harlemparktopark.com/ blacklivesmattermural. We can find a benefit in all things if we can open our minds to the concept that all things can be beneficial.
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
WELLNESS
HERBS ARE NATURES MEDICINE . . GRAVEL ROOT
G
By Zakiyyah
RAVEL ROOT - is an extremely useful herb for treating problems of the urinary tract. This herb helps to avoid the formation of gallbladder and kidney-stones and may also shrink the existing stones. In addition, gravel root is effective for treating medical conditions like cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder), enlarged prostate or other types of obstruction, urethritis (inflammation of the urethra) as well as gout and rheumatism. The root or rhizome of this herb is used to treat rheumatism and gout by facilitating the elimination of
waste products from the kidneys. The whole gravel root herb is employed in the form of an alternative medicine with the roots being the most potent part. Bruised leaves of the herb have an aroma similar to that of an apple, and they are dehydrated and burnt to keep away flies. The dried roots and flowers of gravel root are infused to prepare an herbal tea that works as an effective diuretic and helps in alleviating problems of the kidneys as well as the urinary tract. This tea is also used to promote sweating and alleviate high fever. . . . MAKE NA-
TURE'S MEDICINE YOUR OWN This information is to help you balance your natural healing energies and is not intended as diagnosis or cure, nor as a substitute for medical supervision. Please always do your own research. ENERGETIC( NO-PAIN) PRANIC FACE LIFT: https://tinyurl.com/y3aldpzv; phone: 347-4074312, eMail: theherbalist1750@gmail.com; website: www.sacredhealing7.com, blog: www. herbsarenaturesmedicine. blogspot.com. To pre-order my book: booklaunch. io/Zakiyyah/theenergeticsofherbs
Harlem Community Newspapers | July 30. 2020 15
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS See answers on page 14
THEME: WHO SAID IT? ACROSS 1. Involuntary twitch 6. World's oldest national broadcaster 9. Pilgrimage to Mecca 13. Pacific island greeting 14. "____ the ramparts..." 15. Prefix relating to sun 16. Not so crazy 17. Maiden name indicator 18. Greet the day 19. Mentally prepared for something scary 21. *"There's no place like home" 23. Liveliness 24. Answer to this clue, e.g. 25. Winter bug 28. Hatha or bikram 30. Incense burner, in a church 35. Bubonic plague spreaders 37. Bottle plug 39. Part of TNT
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GAMES 40. Bad luck predictor 41. *"D'oh!" 43. Cleopatra's necklace 44. Red Cross supply 46. Have supper 47. Female crab, or crybaby in Australia 48. Belonging to Cree, e.g. 50. Byproduct of combing wool 52. Be nosey 53. Spilled the beans 55. Band booking 57. *"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers" 61. *"The caged bird sings of freedom" 65. Acoustic output 66. Polar toy-maker 68. Oodles 69. *"Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant." 70. "Funny or ____" 71. Tutor's student 72. Withered 73. Use a Singer, e.g. 74. Not be frugal
DOWN 1. Fresh talk 2. Surveyor's work 3. Excellent 4. Pen dweller 5. *"Don't worry 'bout a thing, 'cause every little thing is gonna be alright." 6. *"A martini. Shaken, not stirred." 7. Samantha of "Full Frontal" 8. Words to live by 9. Submarine sandwich 10. Climbed down 11. Potluck offering 12. *"It's a moo point" 15. Habituate, like a plant 20. Historical period 22. Tolkien humanoid 24. Global problem? 25. *"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood" 26. Coeur de ____ ____, "Titanic" 27. Embryo cradles 29. Well-behaved 31. Lice eggs
32. "Sesame Street" prominent architecture feature 33. Not right 34. *"Yo, Adrian!" 36. Give the cold shoulder 38. Bingo-like game 42. 1837 to 1901, to Queen Victoria 45. Ronald McDonald or Mickey Mouse 49. ____-di-dah 51. Hanukkah's eight 54. Must-haves 56. "Faster!" to a horse 57. Tea servings 58. Fishing decoy 59. Month before Nisan 60. Half a golf round 61. "____ ____Good Men" 62. Like the White Rabbit 63. Inviting sign 64. Like a hand-medown 67. Baron Munchausen's statement
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
LITERARY CORNER
“White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity” by Robert P. Jones REVIEW by Terri Schlichenmeyer, Harlem News contributor
S
undays just don’t seem to last. You get up, attend church, attend fellowship, rush home for dinner, maybe more church in the evening. And before you know it, Sunday’s over and you’re left trying to remember what you learned, to get you through the week. But maybe, says Robert P. Jones in “White Too Long,” it’s time to examine what you learned that you don’t remember. Nearly 180 years ago, at a convention of members of the Baptist church, the issue was raised about whether there was room in Christianity for slaveholding. In the days following the gathering, Reverend Basil
Manly, former pastor of the First Baptist Church of Charleston, sent out a letter demanding confirmation that indeed, a Godly man could have slaves. When his group received a swift denial, Manley and other church leaders split and formed their own organization, a move that ultimately led to the formation of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the country’s largest Christian denomination. And until about forty years ago, says Jones, this pro-slavery stance and the white supremacist roots went largely unexamined by white Baptists. Politics were not always mentioned with these issues then – at
SUDOKU ANSWERS
least, not like they are now. Lest we point fingers unfairly, however, Jones says that racism is not just a Southern Baptist Convention notion: the same issues crop up in Catholicism and other denominations, as well as other areas of the U.S. Overall, he states that white Christianity has been the biggest, ‘til-now-unchallenged reason for the propagation of white power and dominance. So what can be done? Rather than merely removing or destroying statues honoring white supremacists, many cities are also placing markers honoring integration and Black leaders. We can pay attention to our histories, and recognize our own most
complex truths. And, he says, time will also help – it has to, because our nation’s souls are at risk. The first – perhaps only – thing you’ll need to know about “White Too Long” is that it’s deep. Bottom-ofthe-ocean deep. Like, allthirteen-verses-of-”Amazing-Grace” deep. It’s not even close to what you might consider to be a casual read. As the founder of Public Religion Research Institute and a man who grew up in the Southern Baptist church, author Robert P. Jones bases his material here on his own solid studies, as well as theology and personal background. That’s all good, but the depth of the content and meaning of this infor-
Harlem Community Newspapers | July 30. 2020
mation also results in ideas that circle back and back again, and that can make the mind reel in befuddlement. You may have to read a sentence (or a paragraph) two or three times to get the full impact of it, or to understand what’s before or after it. This can feel like a very long sermon on a very sleepy Sunday morning. Beware that there’s controversy all over this book but in today’s world, it’s an absolute must-read – as long as you give yourself time for thought. If you are a theologian especially, or are fighting racism, “White Too Long” might not be long enough. “White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity” by Robert P. Jones c.2020, Simon & Schuster $28.00 / $37.00 Canada 320 pages 17
Harlem Community Newspapers | July 30. 2020
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HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
“MOVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE” SUN. A U G . 16TH THRU SUN. AUG 23RD
THIS YEAR, HARLEM WEEK WILL GO ONLINE TO SHARE ITS MAGIC WITH THE WORLD! Now more than ever HARLEM WEEK’S mission must be to embrace, inform, educate, to give hope and direction to Harlem and the Harlem’s of the world. Unity, guided by our principals to uplift, “Movement of the People” is our pledge for forward-advancement.
HARLEM WEEK 2020 has been RE-ENVISIONED as a VIRTUAL FESTIVAL
celebrating the resilience of Harlem with the world and offers a number of major community-building initiatives that provide an unfiltered examination of pressing issues: ENTERTAINMENT
TECHNOLOGY
HEALTH SERVICES
CHILDREN & YOUTH
• • • • •
• • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • •
A GREAT DAY IN HARLEM THE HARLEM MUSIC FESTIVAL HARLEM DAY FROM HIT MAKERS TO STARS ON THE RISE
DATA TELE-HEALTH DIGITAL LITERACY HACK-A-THON BRIDGING THE DIGITAL CHASM DEMYSTIFYING TECHNOLOGY
SENIOR CITIZENS
JOBS & CAREERS
• • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • •
HEALTH & WELLNESS DEMYSTIFYING TECHNOLOGY ORAL HISTORY EMPLOYMENT HEALTH INSURANCE MENTAL HEALTH EXERCISE CYBER SECURITY SOCIAL SERVICES
ESSENTIAL WORKERS HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY TRAVEL & TOURISM BANKING AND FINANCE GOV’T AGENCIES EDUCATION THE SERVICE INDUSTRY SOCIAL SERVICES
COVID-19 NATIONAL SUMMIT TELE-HEALTH HEALTH INSURANCE SENIOR CITIZENS BACK TO SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH HMO’S EXERCISE FAMILY HEALTH NEW MODALITIES NUTRITION ECONOMIC HEALTH
“MOVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE” • • • • • •
SPELLING BEE PREPAREDNESS BACK TO SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES TECHNOLOGY MENTORSHIP SCHOLARSHIPS
VIRTUALEXHIBITOR S & VENDORS • • • •
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT/ACTIVISM ANTI-RACISM REGIONAL SUMMIT CENSUS 2020 HARLEM 5K RUN & HEALTH WALK VOTER EDUCATION/REGISTRATION CORPORATE & GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
TECHNOLOGY CORPORATE EXHIBITS RECRUITMENT TRAINING FOR “THE NEW NORMAL”
LET US KNOW YOUR KEY AREA(S) OF INTEREST In order to allow for HARLEM WEEK to best address your questions, needs, goals, and objectives, please reach out to our Senior Managers, Ms. Ricketts or Mr. Majette at 212-862-8477 or email them respectively at pricketts@harlemdiscover.com or wmajette@harlemdiscover.com. We invite you to visit our website www.harlemweek.com