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VOLUME 27 ISSUE 25
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NYC Responds to CRISIS In PUERTO RICO With Deployment of Emergency Workers The Mayor’s office released information on the initiatives in place for Puerto Rico including additional staff deployments to assist with relief and recovery following Hurricane Maria. The New York City Emergency Management Department today deployed 10 additional emergency managers to Puerto Rico to support the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Agency (PREMA) in organizing and coordinating response and recovery operations for the Commonwealth following Hurricane Maria. Additionally, 64 members of the FDNY’s Incident Management Team were deployed to Puerto Rico yesterday following a FEMA request. “New York City is ready to do whatever it takes to assist in the aftermath of this devastating hurricane. We have several excellent teams of first responders on the ground totaling 147 City employees, and we’ll send more as needed to provide direct assistance and coordinate recovery operations,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We have a very smart and dedicated team of emergency managers in NYC who can use their expertise and disaster management skills to help our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito. “We hope we can help make a difference and positively impact those in need.”
The NYC Emergency Management team was specifically requested by FEMA and the Governor of Puerto Rico through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which is the national emergency management mutual aid system that facilitates state-to-state disaster assistance. During the
deployment, the team will support the Commonwealth’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and work to assist in EOC management and to identify additional support needed
Carmen Yulín Cruz to set up a distribution center for food, water, and other needed commodities, to help organize efforts to conduct wellness checks, and to initiate
La Perla in San Juan, Puerto Rico, devastated in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
by PREMA and other local officials. Wednesday morning, the team of 10 emergency managers departed JFK airport on a JetBlue flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“WE HOPE WE CAN HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND POSITIVELY IMPACT THOSE IN NEED.” The NYC Emergency Management team is the second to deploy to Puerto Rico. A team of 10 emergency managers was deployed on Saturday, September 23 to coordinate logistics and help manage recovery operations within the City of San Juan. Since their deployment, the team has worked with San Juan Mayor
additional forward-leaning logistics planning for needs in the community. The Fire Department also has several teams on the ground helping with recovery. 64 members of the FDNY’s Incident Management Team were deployed to Puerto Rico yesterday following a FEMA request. IMTs are federallytrained teams of first responders with specialized training in managing logistics and planning for major, long duration emergencies. Other FDNY staff on the ground include 6 staffers from the Special Operations Command and 15 members of FDNY Hispanic Society. As of September 27, 147 City workers are in Puerto Rico: 30 FDNY and NYPD personnel who are members of the Urban Search and Rescue New York Task
The City is collecting monetary donations through the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. These funds will be distributed to organizations working to support the 3.5 million Puerto Ricans and other Caribbean residents who have been impacted by this storm. City workers now have the option to make a donation directly from their paychecks to Hurricane Maria relief efforts.
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PAGE 9 A MUSEUM'S NEW HOME
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
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Force 1, which was deployed to Puerto Rico by FEMA 64 members of FDNY’s Incident Management Team, who are assisting with logistics, planning, and personnel coordination and were deployed at FEMA’s request, as well as 6 members of FDNY’s Special Operations Command who are providing communications support to the Incident Management Team 20 emergency management workers, including the 10 deployed today to assist the Commonwealth and 10 who are already working with the City of San Juan to manage recovery operations and coordinate logistics 9 members of the NYPD Hispanic Society, who are in San Juan assisting with emergency operations, helping set up the distribution center and interfacing with the Puerto Rican Police Department 15 members of the FDNY Hispanic Society who are assisting with the distribution center and providing translation services 2 Department of Buildings staffers with expertise in building inspections 1 member of the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit assisting with the distribution center and interfacing with community groups.
September 28 - October 4, 2017
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CURRENT E VENT S NUL PRESIDENT Makes Statement In Support of Kneeling Athletes
National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to President Trump's criticism of athletes who symbolically protest by kneeling during the National Anthem
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Rather than disparaging Colin Kaepernick and other athletes in vulgar terms, President Trump should be addressing the systemic racism and police brutality that inspire their protests. Kapernick and others are part of a long American tradition of sports as a force for social change, including Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, and Billie Jean King. Standing up - or kneeling down - for our ideals is the most patriotic of acts. We support the right of all athletes to free speech, and urge the President to pay more attention to the reason for their concerns rather than the manner in which they express them.
September 28 - October 4, 2017
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SOCIAL IS SUE S
VIOLENT CRIME CONTROL and LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT Remembered
National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial recently released the following statement marking the 23rd anniversary of the 1994 Omnibus Crime Act: “Today, on the 23rd anniversary of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act (Public Law 103-322), the largest and single most radical piece
of criminal justice legislation in our nation’s history, we are reminded of the failures in our criminal justice system. What we now know from extensive research is that the human cost of this ‘tough on crime’ legislation has far outweighed its benefits; resulting in the mass incarceration of millions of Americans and exceeding that of
President Bill Clinton Signs Crime Bill of 1994
any other country in the world. “While we cannot undo the devastation this law has wreaked on African American and Latino communities across the country, we can ensure that we remedy those mistakes through restorative policies and criminal justice reform. We applaud Senators Cory Booker (NJ) and Richard Blumenthal (CT) for introducing the Reverse Mass Incarceration Act of 2017, to incentivize states that successfully reduce both crime and incarceration. We also support the Pretrial Integrity and Safety Act of 2017, authored by Senators Kamala Harris (CA) and Rand Paul (KY) to reform the country’s unjust money bail system and ensure equal treatment for all people. “As an economic civil rights organization, the National Urban League understands the disproportionate harm mass incarceration and the money bail system have on low-income and communities of color. The United States has only 5 percent of the world’s population, yet makes
up 25 percent of the world’s prisoners. African American men pay 35 percent higher money bail amounts than white men, and Hispanic men pay 19 percent higher money bail amounts than white men. Equally troubling are states ongoing violations of 6th Amendment rights, which guarantee the poor swift, impartial and competent legal defense. “Taken together, the BookerBlumenthal reverse mass incarceration bill, along with the Harris-Paul bail reform bill, if passed, would be significant first steps in remedying a national crisis that has left entire families and communities in ruin. “The National Urban League urges the U.S. Congress to pass both bills this year, along with other criminal justice reform measures. Our movement will continue to raise awareness of the disparate effects of the criminal justice system on vulnerable communities, and advocate for equitable treatment of all people no matter their race or socio-economic status.”
CO-FOUNDER OF
BLACK LIVES MATTER
SPEAKS OUT ON JUSTICE LA
C O M M E N TA R Y B Y P A T R I S S E C U L L O R S "The Los Angeles County that have been imprisoned and/ Jail System is the largest jail or have had loved ones inside system in the world. In LA, Black jails and prisons know that what people make up 8% of the they’re really talking about isn’t population, yet 30% of those are beds, it’s marginalized people incarcerated. The Los Angeles and the numbers show that. County Board of Supervisors The 100 replica beds we’ve plans to spend $3.5 billion to created are a far cry from the build two new jails, and really upwards of 6,000 beds that the when they talk about building a LA County Board of Supervisors jail, they are talking about beds. is trying to build. This visual was Bed counts, bed types, mental a please to divest the $3.5 billion health beds, substance abuse jail plan and invest in health care, beds, medical beds, high-security youth centers, infrastructure, beds. education, career development, and other resources that benefit Justice LA was formed to our communities and address the reclaim, reimagine and reinvest years of governmental neglect what L.A. County could do with and fundamental conditions that the $3.5 billion allocated to can lead to harm." build two new jails. Those of us NewYorkTrendnyc
September 28 - October 4, 2017
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BUSINE S S
SONSHINE’S CGO Reflects Corporate Brand
Lynda Joseph, the official chief greeting officer at Sonshine, lives up to the corporate brand. Loaded with a commanding presence, her bubbly personality and steadfast professionalism helps sets the tone to garner a meaningful and delightful experience at Sonshine. Lynda is Sonshine's Executive Administrative Associate and is all about making the connection for the firm's clients, guests and visitors. "I enjoy helping people and communicating with them as best as I can," says Joseph, who is also a highly proficient writer in English and Creole. "Sonshine is my corporate family and we thrive on helping one another and working together to deliver the very best for our clients and for our communities." Lynda holds an Associates of Arts degree from Miami-Dade College, and is working to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration at Florida International University. Her evening college workload, toppled with her daily office duties as the executive support arm for the firm's CEO, help keep her energized and on her toes. "We are so delighted to have Lynda's enthusiasm, knowledge and can-do attitude to our team," says Bernadette Morris, CEO of Sonshine. "She is our official corporate greeter on the phones, online and in person and her dynamic personality exudes her presence in every way."
Lynda Joseph, Executive Administrative Associate
Sonshine Communications is a full service public relations, marketing and advertising agency based in Miami, FL. Incorporated
since 1993, Sonshine provides comprehensive services to numerous companies, government agencies and organizations
nationwide. For more information on Sonshine, visit the website at www.sonshine.com; or follow us on social media @SonshinePR.
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New York Trend welcomes letters to the editor.
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VOLUME 27 ISSUE 25
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PEOPLE
POWER P R O F I LE Congresswoman Maxine Waters Elected in November 2016 to her fourteenth term in the U.S. House of Representatives with more than 76 percent of the vote in the 43rd Congressional District of California, Congresswoman Waters represents a large part of South Central Los Angeles. Throughout her 37 years of public service, Maxine Waters has been on the cutting edge, tackling difficult and often controversial issues. She has combined her strong legislative and public policy acumen and high visibility in Democratic Party activities with an unusual ability to do grassroots organizing.
Prior to her election to the House of Representatives in 1990, Congresswoman Waters had already attracted national attention for her no-nonsense, no-holds-barred style of politics. During 14 years in the California State Assembly, she rose to the powerful position of Democratic Caucus Chair. She was responsible for some of the boldest legislation California has ever seen: the largest divestment of state pension funds from South Africa; landmark affirmative action legislation; the nation’s first statewide Child Abuse Prevention Training Program; the prohibition of police strip searches for nonviolent
misdemeanors; and the introduction of the nation’s first plant closure law. Throughout her career, Congresswoman Waters has been an advocate for international peace, justice, and human rights. Waters attended California State University at Los Angeles, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She began her career in public service as a teacher and a volunteer coordinator in the Head Start program. She is married to Sidney Williams, the former U.S. Ambassador to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and is the mother of two adult children, Edward and Karen, and has two grandchildren.
NASA’s KATHERINE JOHNSON RESEARCH FACILITY Opens
When she heard that NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, would name its newest building after her, Katherine Johnson responded the only way she could – with surprise. “You want my honest answer? I think they’re crazy,” the 99-year-old Johnson, of “Hidden Figures” fame, said with a laugh.
The Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility, or CRF, was dedicated Sept. 22 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by family and friends of Johnson and her fellow “human computers,” students from Black Girls Code and the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, and special guests from across Virginia. “You have been a trailblazer,” Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said during the ceremony. “When I think of Virginia and the history of what we’ve gone through … you’re at the top of that list.” Johnson held a fascination with numbers as a girl growing up in West Virginia. Eventually, she translated that love into using her math skills to help advance the nation’s space program in the 1960s. “I like the stars, and the stories we were telling, and it was a joy to contribute to the literature that was going to come out,” said Johnson, the central character in the book and movie “Hidden Figures.” “But little did I think it would go this far.” “We’re here to honor the legacy of one of the most admired and inspirational people ever associated with NASA,” said Langley Director David Bowles. “I can’t imagine a better tribute to Mrs. Johnson’s character and accomplishments than this building that will bear her name.” STATE OF THE ART The CRF is a state-of-the-art facility that will enable innovative research and development supporting NASA’s missions. It is the third building in Langley’s 20-year revitalization plan. “I always like something new,” Johnson said of the facility. “It gives credit to
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everybody who helped.” The $23-million, 37,000-square-foot (3,437 square-meter) structure is consolidating four Langley data centers. The building incorporates energysaving features that are expected to be 33 percent more efficient than if those features had not been included. The significance of the facility is that it advances Langley’s capabilities in modeling and simulation, big data and analysis. Powerful computers like those in the CRF are capable of ever more complex analysis and simulation, in some cases replacing but also validating and complimenting the research done in NASA’s labs and wind tunnels. The CRF also houses an office area for researchers to do their work. “We know that these are the tools that will help shape the world of the future,” Bowles said. “We’ll do more calculations that ever, and we’ll do them faster, more efficiently and with greater reliability.” Johnson was a “human computer” at Langley who calculated trajectories for America’s first spaceflights. She worked at Langley from 1953 until retiring in 1986. Her contributions and those of other NASA African-American human computers are chronicled in “Hidden Figures,” based on author Margot Lee Shetterly’s book of the same name. After Johnson’s story began to emerge, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, by then-President Barack Obama at the White House in 2015.
wary of putting their lives in the care of the electronic calculating machines, which were prone to hiccups and blackouts.
As a part of the preflight checklist, Glenn asked engineers to “get the girl” — Johnson — to run the same numbers through the same equations that had been programmed into the computer, but by hand, on her desktop mechanical calculating machine. “If she says they’re good,” Johnson remembers Glenn saying, “then I’m ready to go.” Glenn’s flight was a success, and marked a turning point in the competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in space. BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS “Thank goodness for the book and movie to come out so people got to understand what this woman meant to our country,” Gov. McAuliffe said. “She really broke down the barriers.” Shetterly, the ceremony’s keynote speaker, praised Johnson and fellow human computers Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan as being revolutionary by just doing their jobs. “We are living in a present that they willed into existence
with their pencils, their slide rules, their mechanical calculating machines - and, of course, their brilliant minds.” Shetterly said the path to the future is rarely predictable, smooth or direct – and Johnson’s was no exception. “At every fork, her talent, her hard work and her character pulled her toward her destiny,” she said. “At every turn, she made a choice to become the protagonist in her own story and then of ours.” Shetterly said Johnson’s story is one of a thirst for knowledge and a celebration of teamwork. “Telling your story has been an honor,” she said. “Your work changed our history and your history has changed our future.” Johnson, who received four standing ovations at the ceremony, happily recalls her time at Langley, saying that her job was to just answer questions to the best of her ability at all times, whether she got them correct or not. “I didn’t do anything alone but to try to get to the root of the question – and succeeded there,” she said.
In 1962, as NASA prepared for the orbital mission of John Glenn, Johnson was called on to do the work that she would become most known for. The complexity of the orbital flight had required the construction of a worldwide communications network, linking tracking stations around the world to computers in Washington, Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Bermuda. The computers had been programmed with orbital equations that would control the trajectory of the capsule in Glenn’s Friendship 7 mission, from blast off to splashdown, but the astronauts were
September 28 - October 4, 2017
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ENTER TAINMENT
VIVIAN GREEN Releases Music Video for “I DON’T KNOW”
Longevity relies on progression. A lasting catalog evolves with its creator, growing, changing, and expanding in tandem to the artist. Once again, platinum-selling and critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, actress, and activist Vivian Green continues to progress six albums into her illustrious career on the aptly titled, VGVI [Make Noise/ Caroline]—pronounced “vee–gee–six.” Driven by the show-stopping voice that enchanted millions upon her emergence with 2002’s gold-certified debut A Love Story, the record sees the songstress tread new territory yet again. Vivian presents a strikingly kaleidoscopic about face with her remarkable sixth album. Helmed by multiplatinum producer Kwamé (Mary J. Blige, Keyshia Cole, Christina Aguilera, Fantasia), “I wanted to do something brighter and more upbeat,” Vivian reveals. “If a song was sad, it needed to have a certain attitude, energy, and life to it. I’ve done sad songs. I love them, of course. However, I wanted to evolve.” The collaborators began recording at Kwamé’s studio in January 2017 and pushed to perfect the foundation they built two years prior with the album Vivid. Meticulously laboring over each note, the final product benefits from a close, near-obsessive attention to detail on behalf of the producer and the artist. The first single “I Don’t Know”
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Directed by Derek Blanks
illuminates Vivian’s progression. Reggae guitar and drums simmer under a scorching verse before she delivers a soulfully sexy confession during the hook. The video filmed in Atlanta was directed by famed photographer Derek Blanks. Elsewhere, she revisits Vivid favorite “Just Like Fools,” but with re-recorded vocals and a cameo from none other than Musiq Soulchild. Their two voices entwine in heavenly harmony over the horn-punctuated production. VGVI concludes with one of her most powerful and passionate performances yet. The finale “Stop Sleeping (See The Light)” sees Vivian embrace her platform like never before. In the end, VGVI expands on Vivian’s legacy as her brightest, boldest, and biggest body of work to date. “I hope people can feel the emotion. When they hear it, I want them to be able to live with it. It’s a little different for me. You can work out to it, cook to it, clean to it, and do all of those things we do. I want this to be one of those records that becomes a part of your life.”
Outside of music, Vivian’s voice echoes throughout culture. As an actress, she appeared in the Golden Globe- and GRAMMY Award-nominated film DeLovely as well as the TV show American Dreams. Next up she appears in the stage play “Two Can Play That Game,” an adaptation of the original film featuring Vivica Fox, Gary Dourdan, Columbus Short, Porsha Williams and Carl Payne. Vivian will star as Vivica Fox’s best friend and perform some of her classic hits. The production will run from October 13th to December 3rd and hit cities including Memphis, St. Louis, Detroit, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Orlando, DC, Houston and Chicago.
Vivian also remains a staunch advocate for the rights of children with special needs spearheading the #IamDifferentIamHuman PSA campaign. Her organization “I am different, I am Human” brings awareness to the 57 million people in the United States with a special need, particularly children. After 15 years in an industry that continues to define itself by the tides of change it is impacted by, Vivian Green is still standing. And while she has enjoyed the robust support of a fan base that has come to rely on her for a specific, she too has changed. VGVI is a shimmering reflection of that change.
Vivian is currently working on a holiday album alongside musical icon Patti Labelle which will be released this Winter 2017. The album will include appearances from award winning R&B singer Ruben Studdard and production from Jamar Jones (Boyz II Men, Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott, Mary Mary, Usher)
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EDUCAT ION
METRO SCHOOLS HOST AREA’S LARGEST COLLEGE FAIR
When it comes to choosing a college, high school senior Gabriel Faulcon’s mind is made up. He’s going to Tennessee State University. “TSU has always been a part of my life; I am from Nashville, I go to University School of Nashville,” said Faulcon, who has been a part of an independent study program at TSU for almost two years. “I am interested in becoming a veterinarian, and so as soon as I heard TSU offered animal science, it made me even more excited about coming here.” Faulcon, whose father, Gary, also attended TSU, was one of more than 8,000 middle and high school students and their parents and relatives who attended the Metro Nashville Public Schools College Fair at TSU’s Gentry complex on Sept. 21. More than 170 colleges, universities and post-secondary institutions from across the nation took part in the fair. It offered students the opportunity to review information on admissions, financial aid, costs, college life and programs
and their parents attending this fair,” Narcisse said. “We are one of the largest urban school systems, not only in the state of Tennessee, but in the country, with about 6,000 teachers out of our 11,000 employees. We’d like to sign TSU teachers early, even as they are in their courses, to ensure jobs for them as they come out.”
to help them decide their choice of college or university. TSU is the first university or college to host the MNPS College Fair in its decades-long history, according to TSU officials. “This is an exciting opportunity for Tennessee State University,” said Dr. Curtis Johnson, Associate Vice President for Administration and Chief of Staff. “Having this at TSU gives us an opportunity to showcase the campus to people who would otherwise not come here. So,
showing them what we have to offer, given that our various colleges and departments are participating, is exciting for us.” MNPS Chief of Schools, Dr. Sito Narcisse, said the Metro schools are excited to partner with TSU to host the college fair. He said TSU has been a major partner and the biggest pipeline for teachers in the entire system. “TSU has been a great partner, and we appreciate how the university has supported us like today with thousands of kids
TSU officials say hosting the college fair is the result of a long relationship between the Office of Enrollment Management and Student Success, and the MNPS Guidance Counselors’ Office. For the last seven years, TSU has also hosted the mandatory annual high school guidance counselors’ training for MNPS. “We are ecstatic to be the first University to host the Metro Nashville Public School College Fair,” said Dr. Gregory Clark, Director of High School Relations and NCAA Certification. “The fair has taken place at different locations throughout the city. We are just excited to welcome so many institutions from throughout North America.”
SPELMAN COLLEGE Earns Top Spots For Best College Rankings Spelman College has made a significant rise in the U.S. News and World Report Best College rankings released today. Ranked
as the No. 1 historically Black college or university for the 11th year in a row, the College has moved up 11 spaces in the National Liberal Arts Colleges rankings to No. 61, tying with Agnes Scott College. Spelman is also in the top 50 High School Counselor Rankings and the top
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100 Best Value Colleges. "Spelman's rise in the Best College rankings is a testament to our stellar student outcomes and
the entire community of faculty and staff, who are dedicated to student success," said Spelman President Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D. Recognition from numerous entities shows that Spelman continues to be on the ascent as an academic institution focused
on the success of its students. As the highest ranked institution from which Black women science and engineering doctorate recipients earn bachelor's degrees, according to the National Science Foundation, Spelman is a strong training ground for women who go on to careers in which they lead and excel in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
At 77 percent, Spelman’s six-year graduation rate is the highest among HBCUs and more than 30 points higher than the national graduation rate for African Americans. Spelman’s graduation rate exemplifies the College’s commitment to providing a unique and robust educational experience for women of the African Diaspora. This population includes more than 90 percent of students who receive financial aid and 50 percent of students who are eligible for the PELL Grant, many with a family household income of $50,000 or less. A top Fulbright Fellows producing institution, Spelman has also had Marshall and Truman scholars
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in recent years, and according to Open Door, is the only HBCU in the top 30 colleges in the nation sending the most students to study abroad. The College is in the top 10 percent of social mobility (moving up two or more income levels) out of nearly 600 private colleges, as measured by the New York Times.
Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a highly selective, liberal arts college widely recognized as the global leader in the education of women of African descent. Located in Atlanta, the College’s picturesque campus is home to 2,100 students. Outstanding alumnae include Children’s Defense Fund Founder Marian Wright Edelman; Sam’s Club CEO Rosalind Brewer, Broadway producer Alia Jones, former Acting Surgeon General and Spelman’s first alumna President Audrey Forbes Manley, Harvard professor Evelynn Hammonds, author Pearl Cleage, and actress LaTanya Richardson Jackson. For more information, visit www.spelman.edu.
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THE AR T S
STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEM TO BREAk GROUND FOR NEW HOME
Thelma Golden, Director and Chief Curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem, and Raymond J. McGuire, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, recently announced that the historic ground-breaking for the Museum’s new building, designed by Adjaye Associates in collaboration with Cooper Robertson, will take lace during the 50th anniversary year of 2018. The completion of design development and the success of the quiet phase of the fundraising effort now make it possible to envision a late fall 2018 start for construction of this new home for the Studio Museum, the premier center for contemporary artists of African descent, the principal visual art institution in Harlem, and a magnet for visitors from around the world. With plans for the building having received a warm welcome from the community and enthusiasm and support from New York City officials, the Studio Museum today unveiled the design and made public a capital campaign led by the Board of Trustees, with a goal of $175 million to meet hard and soft construction costs, provide an operating and capital reserve, and build endowment. A range of education and community programs inaugurated as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary will ensure that the Studio Museum remains a vital presence in Harlem and throughout the art world during the construction period.
“We are thrilled to announce that during our 50th anniversary year, we will begin construction on the single biggest initiative the Studio Museum has ever undertaken, making David Adjaye’s brilliant design a reality.“ Thelma Golden, Director & Chief Curator Undertaken as a public-private initiative in partnership with the City of New York, the entirely new 82,000-squarefoot building will rise on West 125th Street on the site of the current facility, a century- old commercial building that was adapted for the Studio Museum in the early 1980s by late AfricanAmerican architect J. Max Bond Jr. The new building is designed to express the Museum’s core values of openness and engagement as they have been lived throughout a five-decade history of innovative and impactful exhibitions and programs, while also providing exceptional new spaces to elevate the Museum’s service to artists, audiences, the uniquely vibrant Harlem community, and the world of art. Thelma Golden said, “We are thrilled to announce that during our 50th anniversary year, we will begin construction on the single biggest initiative the Studio Museum
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has ever undertaken, making David Adjaye’s brilliant design a reality. We look back with pride on our legacy, so much of which has been built within the space that Max Bond renovated for us. We look forward to constructing a building that provides unprecedented resources for our work and creates a superb new cultural landmark for Harlem and the entire City of New York.” The Studio Museum revealed that the quiet phase of fundraising has already achieved 70 percent of the capital campaign goal of $175 million, thanks to generous support from the City of New York as lead partner and to private individuals, foundations, and corporations. The City has committed $53.8 million toward construction of the new building, with funding coming from the Mayor’s Office, the
“For nearly fifty years, the Studio Museum has been a trailblazer in the cultural conversation, fostered the careers of emerging artists of African descent, and served as an anchor in Harlem,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We are excited about the unique potential that the Museum’s new home brings with it. As they embark on creating a one-of-a-kind space to serve as a platform for the creative work of the artists from around the world, the Studio Museum is poised to have an even greater impact on the Harlem community, the City of New York, and the global cultural conversation.” “The Studio Museum in Harlem is an iconic institution that is as vital and relevant as it has ever been in its nearly 50-year history,” said NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom
Public Library’s George Bruce Branch, churches, educational institutions, fellow cultural organizations, Harlem service organizations, the 125th Street Business Improvement District, and alumni of the Studio Museum’s Artistin-Residence program. “For almost half a century, the Studio Museum has been a jewel of the Harlem community,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “I’m proud to support this great institution as it prepares to build a wonderful new home, so that it can do even more to represent Harlem with integrity and authenticity.” Melissa Mark-Viverito, Speaker of the New York City Council, said, “The Studio Museum is helping inspire the next generation of artists of color while paying respect to the vibrant history of Upper Manhattan, including the El Barrio/East Harlem area. I am glad to invest in their success in serving diverse audiences, especially those in my district. The Council is proud to advance the Museum’s work as both a showplace of art and a remarkable incubator of creativity —and as we look toward a future vision of Harlem, we must continue to support all arts and cultural institutions along the 125th Street Corridor. I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Council to look for ways to preserve and promote the arts throughout the City.”
City Council, and the Manhattan Borough President’s Office through the Department of Cultural Affairs. This includes over $13 million in new funding added in this year’s City capital budget, and the City Council is anticipated to commit an additional $9 million over the next two years. Other public and private funding, including a broad national coalition of philanthropists, business leaders, and art world leaders, accounts for another $62 million. Raymond J. McGuire, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, said, “We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support we have received to date from the City, our private donors, and the Trustees. In their generosity, they reflect and honor the feelings of artists and arts professionals, the Harlem community, and a public from around the world who are committed to the Studio Museum. Fifty years ago, our visionary founders answered the urgent and necessary call for this institution to come into existence. Since then, its work has proved to be instrumental in transforming the entire cultural landscape. Literally hundreds of vital artists, and the countless people who have been touched by their creations, can look back today and say in wonder and gratitude that, if not for the Studio Museum, the cultural world would be a vastly different place. Now, as we begin the next half-century of our history, we look forward in confidence to the great things we will do in our new building, designed especially to manifest our extraordinary mission and program.”
Finkelpearl. “We are proud to make a major investment in the museum as it transforms itself into an even better platform for artists of African descent and an incubator for new talent. I applaud Thelma Golden, Ray McGuire and the Studio Museum Board for their inspired leadership and look forward to seeing David Adjaye’s visionary design become a reality.” This support is echoed by the Museum’s newly formed Community Advisory Network, a group of Harlem stakeholders convened to work with the Museum to ensure that the needs and aspirations of neighborhood residents are heard and addressed. Members of the Community Advisory Network represent more than twenty stakeholder groups, including Community Board 10, the New York City Housing Authority, the New York City Parks Department, the Office of the Manhattan Borough President, the NYPD’s 28th Precinct, the New York
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“The Studio Museum in Harlem is a shining example of how a culturally specific institution, deeply rooted in its own neighborhood, can also be a global leader in its outlook and impact,” said New York City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. “The City’s significant investment in the Studio Museum is truly an investment in the future of the cultural sector in New York and shows how our capital investments in cultural organizations and institutions create place, identity and a future for the heart and soul of our City.” Bill Perkins, City Council Member for District 9, said, “Whether you look at it from the viewpoint of education, the economy, civil rights and civil liberties, or the sheer joy of great art, The Studio Museum in Harlem is an institution we must support, now and in the future. It is truly our beacon—and with its new building, it will shine more brightly than ever.”
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P OL I T ICS High Profile Black BROOKLYNITES are Ambassadors for Brooklyn Community Services BCS board member. Through Activist Row at AFROPUNK and BCS involvement, she carries on her father’s legacy. “There are forgotten people in our Brooklyn community and BCS has never forgotten. BCS has always tried to improve people’s lives and educate people’s lives,” said Cooper. “I’ve seen programs transform not only individuals but families. Their work is key and it needs to continue. As long as people are in need, BCS needs to be supported.”
The Brooklyn Community Services (BCS) ONE Brooklyn Community public service poster campaign, seen on 36 Brooklyn subway stations, feature several high profile Black Brooklynites like AFROPUNK co-founder and partner Jocelyn Cooper, renowned educator Principal Nadia Lopez, MTV and Comedy Central comedian Franchesca Ramsey and Black Lives Matter co-founder Opal Tometi speaking out about Brooklynites who are living in poverty and the impact of volunteering, advocacy and philanthropy to make a positive difference. Sponsored by Investors Bank, the ONE Brooklyn Community “Many Voices, Many Stories” subway posters spotlight a diverse group of notable Brooklyn residents who are advocates for an inclusive Brooklyn. The posters will be on view through October 12th. Although many Brooklyn neighborhoods have experienced a rise in wealthy apartment renters and home-buyers, the current US Census estimates that 10 | NewYorkTrendnyc
23 percent of Brooklynites are living in poverty. BCS envisions ONE Brooklyn Community where all members of our community can access an excellent education, job opportunities, safe and affordable housing, and quality and affordable healthcare and wellness programs. Celebrating its 150th anniversary, BCS has over 25 program sites throughout Brooklyn and serves 18,000 people every year. The ONE Brooklyn Community subway campaign, which includes YouTube videos, has 26 notable Brooklynite ambassadors ranging from children to adults that represent media, culture, entertainment, interior design, fashion, cuisine, education and social justice activism. Ambassador Jocelyn Cooper, partner and co-founder of AFROPUNK, has created a festival filled with music, fashion, art, poetry and politics. Cooper is the daughter of late political activist Andrew Cooper, publisher of Brooklyn’s famed City Sun newspaper and a former
ONE Brooklyn Community’s ambassadors span Brooklynites in entertainment, arts, design, food and fitness, education, entrepreneurship, human rights and activism who pay it forward through their volunteering, mentoring and partnering with charities. Some ambassadors include: Franchesca Ramsey, host of the MTV web series “Decoded,” is an actress, comedian, and video blogger with over 29 million views on YouTube and has an upcoming TV show on Comedy Central. Educator Nadia Lopez, renowned author and principal/founder of Mott Hall Bridges Academy who has met with President Obama. Carla Hall, co-host of ABC’s Emmy award winning “The Chew,” is the culinary ambassador to the Sweet Home Café at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum for African-American History and Culture and has owned two eateries in Brooklyn. There’s DJ Spinna, who collaborates with Spike Lee annually on the Michael Jackson tribute party. Tiq Milan is a transgender activist, writer, public speaker, media consultant and spokesperson for GLAAD. Penelope (Penel) Ghartey, age 9, is a transgender boy, student and athlete who has been featured in Cosmopolitan, REUTERS and ESSENCE. Georgia Becker, age 18, is a student at Oberlin College, who advocates for her brother Penel and uses her voice to support many social justice
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issues. Malene Barnett, Design Director at Malene B, an awardwinning design firm specializing in carpets, fine art wall coverings and artisan tiles. Anishka Clarke and Niya Bascomare, partners of Ishka Designs, are design experts in vacation properties, restaurants and residences globally. Gwendolyn Niles and Fifi Bell Clanton, co-owners of The Crabby Shack, established the crab soul food restaurant that’s drawn celebrities like Denzel Washington and Gabrielle Union. The campaign art director is Grammy nominated singer, model and TheRoot.com writer Maiysha Kai. “We are actively supporting and participating in the ONE Brooklyn Campaign to honor BCS’s 150-year legacy of serving people and communities across the Borough,” said Investors Bank Senior Vice President and General Counsel Brian Doran. “The campaign provides BCS with the framework to communicate how it is implementing new, innovative service models in Brooklyn’s diverse neighborhoods. Equally important, the campaign is helping BCS attract and involve more individuals as well as groups who bring new ideas for broadening and transforming its social services.” “Partnering with Investors Bank has provided BCS with resources to build community engagement, volunteerism, mentoring, philanthropy and activism,” said Sonya Shields, who is a longtime social justice activist, graduate of Howard University and the Chief Officer for External Relations and Advancement at Brooklyn Community Services. “As black people in Brooklyn we understand that many residents struggle in our community to make ends meet. This campaign is to bring our entire community together across economic status.” For more information, check out BCS on: www.wearebcs.org.
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Centennial Celebration Underway For FANNIE LOU HAMER of R. Boylorn, [Hamer] ‘never saw death coming because she was too busy taking care of others.’ She worked tirelessly in field offices and late hours registering people to vote. When pain rendered her homebound, she taught Freedom Riders the ways of resistance in her night gown from her front porch.” Dixon and GirlTrek's cofounder Vanessa Garrison, national staff and board of directors will travel to Hamer's memorial statue in her hometown in Ruleville, Mississippi to walk with local trekkers on the centennial celebration of her birth.
GIRLTREK TO MOBILIZE #FANNIESARMY Black Women Across Major Cities Walk to Uphold the Legacy of an American Hero.
October 6 would have been Civil Rights hero Fannie Lou Hamer’s 100th birthday and GirlTrek, the largest national public health nonprofit and movement for Black women and girls, is celebrating her legacy by hosting 100 national walks. “In the iconic words of Fannie Lou Hamer, we’re ‘sick and tired of being sick and tired.’ She died too soon putting her body on the line for our freedom and we want to celebrate her life in a big way. In her honor, we are going to raise an army of sisters, #FanniesArmy, who will lead 100 walks across America at sunset on October 6th,” said GirlTrek
cofounder T. Morgan Dixon. To participate in #FanniesArmy, walk for 100 minutes at sunset on October 6th wherever you are with your family and friends. To be counted, register your walk at https://rebrand.ly/ fanniesarmy. The first 100 leaders to sign up will receive special edition #FanniesArmy T-shirts.
Known for her courage on the frontlines of the American Civil Rights Movement, Fannie Lou Hamer stunned the world with her electrifying account of brutal attacks and local terror in Jim Crow South. She stood strong, demanding the attention of U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson by leading an unparalleled grassroots campaign and political party in Mississippi that delivered over 60,000 votes. Fannie Lou Hamer is directly responsible for securing the Voting Rights Act and changing the tide of justice.
“While the country reels from conflict in Charlottesville, this is an opportunity to herald the legacy of an American hero who brought us together,” Dixon said. "Fannie Lou Hamer died too early at 59, her body riddled with heart disease and cancer. I'm reminded of the words
The scale of her impact is made greater by her life story. Fannie Lou Hamer worked as a sharecropper from age 6. As a young woman, in an extralegal, violent act, she was given a forced hysterectomy. Unbroken, she adopted children. At 44 years old, Fannie Lou Hamer joined the
American Civil Rights Movement. From church basements to the White House, Hamer was celebrated for her ability to inspire everyday people to action. There is a health crisis in America and Black women and girls are among the hardest hit. The effects of chronic stress are wearing on Black women mentally, physically and spiritually. Black women die younger and at higher rates than any other group of women in the country: 82% of Black women are currently overweight, 53% are morbidly obese (CDC, 2014), and 95% of Black girls, ages 6-11, will be overweight or obese women by 2034 unless diet and levels of activity change. (Garko, Michael, The Journal of Obesity, 2013). GirlTrek is committed to honoring her legacy by preventing chronic, stress-related diseases for a new generation. GirlTrek will honor 100 years of Fannie Lou Hamer's legacy with 100 groups of Black women walking, talking and initiating change together. GirlTrek invites women everywhere to use this centennial to jumpstart their own health journeys. About GirlTrek: GirlTrek encourages women to use walking as a practical first step to inspire healthy living, families, and communities. In four years, GirlTrek has mobilized more than 100,000 Black women and girls nationwide. By 2018, GirlTrek’s goal is to motivate 1 million Black women and girls to walk for better health. Cofounders, Vanessa Garrison and T. Morgan Dixon, recently took the GirlTrek story to the global stage at TED 2017: https://www.ted.com/talks/t_morgan_ dixon_and_vanessa_garrison_walking_ as_a_revolutionary_act_of_self_care
Black-ish spin-off gets new title, GROWN-ISH
Previously titled College-ish, the upcoming offshoot of the hit ABC comedy has been renamed Grownish. The series will follow Yara Shahidi’s Zoey as she moves away from the Johnson household and heads off to college at Southern California University.
be grown.” FREEFORM In addition to the new title, Grownish has officially added three cast members to join Shahidi and Deon Cole, who will reprise his scene-
stealing Black-ish role of Charlie. After appearing in May’s backdoor pilot episode “Liberal Arts,” Chris Parnell (Saturday Night Live) and Trevor Jackson (American Crime) return as the school’s dean
and a socially conscious student, respectively. Emily Arlook (The Good Place) also joins the comedy as fellow freshman Miriam, taking over the role originally played by Mallory Sparks.
“Grown-ish reflects what we’ll be dealing with in the show — that in-between place where you’re not quite an adult but facing grown world problems for the first time,” creator Kenya Barris said in a statement. “Where Black-ish examines what it means to be black, Grown-ish is an examination of what it is and what it means to
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DISASTERS DON’ T
PL AN AHEAD
YO U C AN DON’T WAIT. COMMUNICATE. Talk to your loved ones about how you are going to be ready in an emergency.
VISIT READY.GOV/PLAN.
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