Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce Kicks Off 'Harlem Week 2020'

HARLEM WEEK 2020 will kick off Sunday August 16th with host of virtual events, workshops, and performances celebrating Harlem, one of New York City's most iconic and culturally rich neighborhoods.

This year's celebration will take place August 16-23 and stream on www.HarlemWeek.com

HARLEM WEEK's marquee event, "A Great Day in Harlem," will feature performances by Harlem Music Festival's All Star Band featuring Ray Chew, Hezekiah Walker, Erica Campbell, India.Arie, Ledisi, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dance Theater of Harlem, NJPAC, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and IMPACT Repertory Theater, and special appearances/past performances from Stephanie Mills, Janet Jackson, Anthony Hamilton, and Alicia Keys.

Additional programming unique to this year's virtual festival includes the Youth Education Conference, and Hack-A-Thon, cooking demonstrations by Whole Foods, artist talk with Melba Moore, live storytelling with the MOTH, vendors village, Imagenation film festival celebrating the 100th year anniversaries of the Negro Baseball League and Harlem Renaissance, Broadway Jobs Behind the Scenes panel and a special performance of Girl from the North Country featuring the music of Bob Dylan.

For the first time ever, the traditional Harlem 5K Run will take place virtually throughout HARLEM WEEK 2020. The Virtual Harlem 5K Run Honoring Percy Sutton 100 and Charles Rangel 90 celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of former Manhattan Borough president Percy Sutton (1920-2009) and the 90th birthday of former U.S. Rep. Charles B. Rangel-both pillars of the Harlem community. Participants can sign up here: https://www.nyrr.org/Races/VirtualHarlem5KHonoringPercySutton100andCharlesRangel90

In the 1970s, Sutton championed moving the New York City Marathon out of the confines of Central Park and onto the streets of the five boroughs of New York City. Sutton remained a supporter of NYRR and running throughout his long life. Charles B. Rangel, a veteran of the Korean War who was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, represented Harlem for 46 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and helped to bring about the economic and residential revitalization of the greater Harlem area and other urban areas nationwide. "The Harlem 5K is a longstanding annual tradition as part of HARLEM WEEK, and during these unprecedented times we are excited to be holding a virtual race for runners to be part of the celebration and Support Harlem Now," said Michael Capiraso, president and CEO, NYRR. "We are proud to continue this historic race honoring trailblazers Percy Sutton and Charles Rangel - and their many contributions and impact on Harlem and the community."

HARLEM WEEK Programming:

Eat Local with Whole Foods: Nikoa Evans-Hendricks, Executive Director from Harlem Park to Park, will host a virtual panel discussion and cooking demonstrations with local suppliers from Harlem and Manhattan Whole Food Stores.

(Monday, Aug 17; Noon-1pm ET)

Youth Education Conference and Hack-A-Thon: The Hack-A-Thon is geared toward middle and high school students and the focus is Tech Meets the Movement of the People. Teams of students will be presented with a challenge to solve digitally by creating an app, website or another digital solution.

(Monday, Aug 17; 1-4pm) 

Artist Talk with Melba Moore: Tony Award winner, 4 Time Grammy nominated international recording star and actress Melba Moore shares her thoughts about the times we are in, her career as she celebrates 50 years in entertainment and her memories of HARLEM WEEK.

(Monday, Aug.17; 7:30-8pm)

Harlem Stories Presented by the MOTH: In celebration of HARLEM WEEK The MOTH presents stories about Harlem and stories by Harlem Storytellers. Since 1997 The Moth has presented thousands of stories told live and without notes.

(Tuesday, Aug. 18; 7-7:30pm)

Performance from Broadway's "Girl From The North Country": The "Girl From The North Country" was the last show to open on Broadway before all theaters closed due to COVID-19. "The Girl From The North Country features music written by Bob Dylan and this exclusive performance features a song written by Bob Dylan while he lived in Harlem.

(Tuesday, Aug. 18; 7:30-7:45pm ET)

Broadway Behind the Scenes Jobs & Careers: This will be a virtual discussion to share career opportunities on Broadway, particularly for people of color, in an effort to provide more diversity on the Great White Way. This discussion will be led by leadership in this field covering topics including company managers, house management, advertising, digital marketing, scene design and public relations.

(Wednesday, Aug. 19; Noon-2pm ET)

Greater Harlem Business Conference: The virtual business conference will cover topics including Cybersecurity, information on how to obtain PPP Loans and online marketing for small business.

(Tuesday, Aug. 18; Noon-2pm ET)

Covid-19 Summit: The Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Communities of Color. This Summit brings together some of the foremost medical experts in the country to discuss the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color, how racism and access to care has factored into the pandemic, alternative medicine modalities and mental health issues related to this pandemic.

(Tuesday, Aug. 18; 2-4pm ET)

Hon. Charles B. Rangel Systemic Racism & Economic Justice Summit: This virtual summit will provide an unfiltered examination of systemic racism in our country and look at an action plan to truly provide equality for all. The namesake of this summit, the Hon. Charles B. Rangel, will make special remarks and summit speakers will represent the clergy, NYPD, civil rights activists, youth, educators, scholars and more.

(Thurs. Aug. 20; 2-5pm)

The Harlem Week Film Festival: This year's film festival will celebrate the 100 th Anniversary of the Negro Baseball League and the 100 th Anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance. Films include: The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (2015), Whose Streets? (2017), Decade of Fire (2019), Soul of the Game (1996), Brother to Brother (2014) and Stormy Weather (1943).

(Daily; 6am-11:59am)

Children's Corner: Families can enjoy special HARLEM WEEK programming including the Children's Parade, story time with Books on the Move courtesy of New Jersey Performing Arts Center, and performances and workshops by Uptown Dance the Studio Museum and Kids in the Kitchen

(Daily; 10-11am)

Dance, Move & Groove: Learn various dance styles including West African Dance, Ballet, Afro Beat, Liturgical and Voguing with special guest instructors from New Jersey Performing Arts

(Daily, 11am-Noon)

Live DJ Sets: Join us for the HARLEM WEEK At Home Dance Party featuring DJ's spinning a broad spectrum of music that has one thing in common, to make you want to dance!

(Daily; 5-7pm ET)

Cultural Showcases: For the past 46 years, HARLEM WEEK has remained the premiere cultural celebration showcasing and saluting the best of Harlem; featuring conferences, seminars, sports, music and dance performances, community meals and more. What has been known as known as "The World's Longest Week" lasting one month, this year in its virtual form will be eight days

(Sunday, August 16th to Sunday, August 23rd).

HARLEM WEEK proudly commemorates decades of continued service to the Village of Harlem, greater New York City and the Harlems of the world. This year, even as the current global pandemic ravages communities, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce continues to provide hot and packaged meals, internet access, as well as employment and educational resources to you.

More information can be found on the amazing community work led by The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce: https://www.greaterharlemchamber.com/

For a complete list of events, please visit www.harlemweek.com.

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About HARLEM WEEK

HARLEM WEEK is an annual celebration of the best of Harlem which works to promote its rich African-American, African, Caribbean, Hispanic and European history, as well as arts, culture, religion, business, entertainment and sports. HARLEM WEEK began in 1974 as HARLEM DAY, a one-day event of encouragement and fellowship in Harlem for New Yorkers. Given the huge success of the celebration, additional days were added to showcase the community's rich economic, political and cultural history.

HARLEM WEEK 2019 featured over 110 events throughout the summer to over 2 million attendees, including participants and visitors from around the world. 

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