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News
Con Edison Media Relations
Contact: D. Joy Faber
Telephone: (212) 460-4111
For Immediate Release: February 10, 2003
CON EDISON SPONSORS “HARLEM IS” EXHIBIT FEATURING 30 EXTRAORDINARY HARLEMITES
Notables represent world of education, literature, community & more
NEW YORK -- Combined in a Who’s Who of 30 notable and talented Harlem residents, the photographic exhibit Harlem Is, Celebrating the Living History of Harlem, opened on Friday, February 7 and runs through Sunday, April 6, 2003 at Aaron Davis Hall, 135th Street and Convent Avenue.
The exhibit is presented in collaboration with Con Edison and Community Works, a public art and education project. The multi-media project is also on display in a more compact format through August 31, 2003 at the Schomburg Center for Research In Black Culture at 515 Malcolm X Blvd. at 135th Street.
All of the honorees are between 50 to 100 years old, and are among the best and brightest contributors to the Harlem community. They represent the world of politics, law, literature, arts and culture, sports, education and religion. Many were born in Harlem, and either live or work in the neighborhood.
(See attached list.)
“Harlem Is offers a candid snapshot of these 30 outstanding people. They are the heart of the rich talent thriving in the Harlem community,” said Frances A. Resheske, senior vice president of public affairs for Con Edison. “This is our second collaboration with Community Works, bringing quality public art to our customers and to the communities that we serve.”
The honoree selection committee included members of Community Works and Voza Rivers, executive director of the New Heritage Theatre in Harlem. Award-winning documentary photographer Ruth Morgan created the 3 X 3 feet black and white specialty portraits at both venues.
“This magnificent display is a model living-history project that celebrates Harlem’s distinct cultural and historical importance,” said Barbara Horowitz, founder and director, Community Works. “We’ve also included a timeline of key moments in Harlem’s history, recordings of original music and a number of visually impacting items in hopes of riveting audiences here in New York, and as the exhibit travels nationwide.”
For three years more than 150 students from New York City public schools have researched, interviewed and documented the honorees. Portions of their written reports are intertwined in the Harlem Is exhibit. The students chosen to participate were selected from Harlem middle and elementary schools.
In 2001, Con Edison first joined Community Works in presenting the acclaimed, Long Walk to Freedom exhibit. It showcased portraits of civil right activists from 1900 through 1999. The project toured various parts of the city and was also shown in Atlanta, Georgia. Harlem Is will also be shown in Atlanta during the fall of 2003.
Founded in 1990, Community Works is a non-profit organization that uses the arts to forge a link between diverse cultures and neighborhoods, improve educational attainment, foster strong communities and extend the benefits of the arts to under-served individuals and communities, especially public school students.
Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED], one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies, with more than $8 billion in annual revenues and approximately $19 billion in assets. The utility provides electric, gas and steam service to more than 3 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, New York. For additional financial, operations and customer service information, visit Con Edison’s Web site at www.coned.com .
The exhibit hours at the Schomburg are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sundays from 1 - 5 p.m. For more information, contact Community Works at (212) 459-1854.
HARLEM IS Honorees
| Betty Allen | Artist/founder, Harlem School of the Arts |
| James Allen | Substance abuse program director and ARC Choir founder |
| Elois Banks | Community Leader and President, Striver’s Row Residents Association |
| Dr. Yosef Ben Jochannan | Historian |
| John Bess | Youth Advocate |
| Warren and Marguerite Blake | Detective and Funeral Director |
| Marie Brooks | Choreographer and dance school founder |
| Raven Chanticleer | Sculptor and visual artist |
| Joe Cuba | Afro-Latin jazz musician |
| Rosa Guy | Writer and co-founder, The Harlem Writers Guild |
| Inge Hardison | Sculptor |
| Vy Higginsen | Musical theatre producer |
| John Isaacs | Professional basketball player - The Harlem RENS |
| Gertrude Jeannette | Founder/director, The Hadley Players |
| Yuri Kochiyama | Civil rights activist |
| Gloria Lynne | Jazz singer |
| Joe Merenda | Owner, Flash Inn Restaurant |
| Lorraine Monroe | Educator/founder, Frederick Douglass Academy |
| Albert Murray | Writer/professor and historian |
| Basil A. Paterson | Attorney and politician |
| Muriel Petioni | Community leader and doctor |
| Charles Rangel | Congressman |
| Max Roach | Jazz legend |
| Tunde Samuel | Producing director, The National Black Theatre |
| The Silver Belles | Cotton Club chorus girls |
| Sister Miriam Cecelia and Sister John | Franciscan handmaidens of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Convent |
| Percy E. Sutton | Entrepreneur/attorney and politician |
| Grace Williams | Visual artist |
| Lloyd Williams | Founder/director, Harlem Chamber of Commerce |
| Ruth Williams | Ruth Williams dance studio |
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