Renaissance Day - The Morris and King Company

Renaissance Day
Bruce Gordon, Kenneth and Kathryn Chenault, Vernon Jordan, and Rev. Butts
Corwin Breedin
Two weeks ago, the Abyssinian Development
Corporation (ADC), generated a record-breaking
$1.2 million in philanthropic contributions at its
annual Leadership Breakfast. The event, attended
by nearly 1,000 of New York’s most influential
business, civic and political leaders, was part of
ADC’s celebration, the 13th Annual Harlem
Renaissance Day of Commitment® (HRDC®).
Held in the Great Hall of Shepard Hall, on the
campus of City College in the Hamilton Heights
section of Harlem, the breakfast surpassed
fundraising goals. Proceeds will go towards the
continued socioeconomic revitalization of
Harlem. In particular, programmatic themes this
year are focusing on arts and culture initiatives
Darline Lalanne and Vanessa King
within the community. ADC has led this charge with the redevelopment of The
Renaissance Complex, which when completed, will provide much needed rehearsal
and performance space for Harlem’s community and professional arts organizations.
Contributors to Taste
of Harlem
Amy Ruth's Restaurant
Annie Mae's
Cheesecakes & Moore
Aunt Ni Ni's Kitchen
Baton Rouge
Beeing
Blue Smoke Restaurant
Creole Restaurant
Drew Estates
Edible Arrangements
Etro
EXPERIENCE:
HARLEM
Five Boro Flag Banner &
Sign
Ginger
Harlem Lanes
Harlem Tea Room
Harlem Vintage
Hats by Bunn
IHOP Restaurant
Lenox Lounge
Londel's on Strivers Row
Make My Cake
Maroon's
Miss Mamie's Spoon
Bread Too
Mo'Bay Uptown
Montgomery
My Secret Garden
Enterprises
Nike
Nubian Heritage
Pan-Pan
Restaurant/Catering
Services
Piatto D'Oro I & II
Rack & Soul
Revival Restaurant Bar
& Lounge
Sheba Tej Honey Wine
Co.
SLAM Magazine
Society Coffee
South Beach Café
Sugar Hill Harlem Inn
Sylvia's Restaurant
The Den
The River Room
Tonnie's Minis
Uptown Juice Bar &
Vegetarian Café
Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, Pastor of The Abyssinian
Baptist Church and ADC Chairman, hosted the
leadership breakfast. Ms. Sheena Wright, ADC
President and CEO, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg
kicked off the festivities. ADC presented Renaissance
Awards to Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase
James Dimon and Kathryn C. Chenault, Esq. The
event was chaired by Senior Managing Director of
Lazard Freres & Co., Vernon Jordan, Jr., Chairman
and CEO of BET Networks, Debra L. Lee, President of
ING Foundation, Rhonda Mims, and honorary chairs
Spike and Tonya Lee.
ADC’s community development work spans from
affordable housing to education, from civic engagement
to supporting small businesses. “It touches every
member of our community from the youngest to the
oldest,” said Rev. Butts. “An investment in the bricks
and mortar development of a community is worth
nothing without a parallel investment in the people, the
spirit, and the culture of the community.”
Established in 1995, HRDC highlights the year’s many
accomplishments, programs and services and showcases
the electrifying and continuous Harlem revival. Guests
and dignitaries were given a tour of historic
neighborhoods, including Strivers Row, Sugar Hill and
Astor Row, and had the opportunity to see first-hand ADC developments. The tour
concluded at Odell Clark Place and 138th Street, where participants visited the
historic Abyssinian Baptist Church.
In the afternoon, ADC hosted a Street Fair on West 138th St. between Adam Clayton
Powell, Jr. and Malcolm X Boulevards, complete with free food, music, games and
amusement rides. The culminating event of the Harlem Renaissance Day of
Commitment was an evening reception—“A Taste of Harlem®”—at The Great Hall.
The popular evening event featured acclaimed songwriter and performer, Angie
Stone, dancing and a sampling of food from some of Harlem’s leading restaurants and
caterers.
Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC) is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit
comprehensive community development corporation dedicated to improving the
quality of life in Harlem. For almost 20 years, ADC has helped to strengthen and
rebuild the socioeconomic fabric of the Harlem community by developing housing,
spearheading commercial development, stimulating the local economy, fostering
education, strengthening families and building community capacity through civic
engagement.
ADC has grown into a $300 million, 135+ person agency with significant
accomplishments, playing a key leadership role in the current “Harlem Renaissance.”
ADC established the Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Change, a
public intermediate and high school, and its successor, opened in September of 2005,
the Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School. www.adcorp.org.
Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School Students and their Artwork
ADC Intern Melissa Sierra and her mother
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Patricia Butts
Mayor Bloomberg
ADC Staff Member presents gift bags
Samuel L. Jackson Silent Auction Package donated by Samuel L. Jackson
Silent Auction Mets Package donated by Shawn Morrissey
James Dimon, Vernon Jordan, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Kenneth Chenault
Kenneth Chenault and James Dimon
Angie Stone, Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, and Sheena Wright
Rei Perez and friend
Elaine Hancock, Kathryn Chenault, and Saundra Parks
Tonya Lewis Lee and Vernon Jordan
Ed Lloyd and his wife with Kathryn Chenault and Kenneth Chenault
Tiffany Ellis Butts and Tai Foster with a friend
Photographs by Kenya Smith & Bob Gore (Harlem Renaissance Day)
Larry Dais and Dr. Gregory Williams