A salute to these dynamic women who collectively came together to make sure the Black Lives Matter Mural in Harlem happened.
Ambassador Magazine Editor Musa Jackson asked each of these amazing women to tell us in their own words why something like this is so important now.
Nikoa Evans-Hendricks, Executive Director and founding Board member of Harlem Park to Park, co- owner of Ruby Vintage restaurant lounge and Co-founder of Counter Culture Hospitality Group, wife and mother.
“Spearheading the Black Lives Matter Harlem Street Mural has been one of my proudest personal and professional accomplishments for many reasons. As the Executive Director of Harlem Park to Park now for 11 years, I have worked on behalf of the organization producing programming that celebrated the Culture of Harlem; created Commerce for our businesses; and engaged the Community, all of which are the pillars of HP2P’s mission…Culture, Commerce and Community. The BLM Harlem Street Mural gave us the opportunity to support all of these areas in one program and to engage community in a new way than ever before, through the social impact space. With all of the murals that had been inspired by Mayor Bowser’s mural in Washington DC, we knew that as the center for black culture, Harlem needed to be a thought leader and set a new standard for the design of the BLM mural and the way it was created. We wanted to elevate the mural to be more than an art installation but also represent the spirit of the community whose lives have always mattered. By engaging professional artists to create original artwork on one side and also engage over 250 community members and small businesses to assist with creating and supporting the effort, the Harlem mural personified what Black Lives Matter truly means. Our community matters. Our people matter. Harlem matters. As someone not originally from Harlem but has now called Harlem home for 21 years, it was an honor for me to be involved in creating this tribute to our community. As a collective we created a historical moment in Harlem, and not many can say that. I’m proud to say that I can.”
Erika Ewing, Founder of Got To Stop LLC, a social impact and fashion consultant company, actor and activist.
“So many moments! The volunteers and artists soon became my support team and a new family of creatives and friends! There was no hierarchy on the installation site, everyone played to their strengths. We worked collaboratively and diligently to get the job done! The constant encouragement gave me the strength and fuel to survive the heat, and sometimes turmoil in the streets! Yes, I got cussed out a few times by the people walking along the streets who felt inconvenienced, disagreed with our form of protest, or misunderstood the purpose of our efforts. It wasn’t always pleasant, but it was fair. We created and open safe space for dialogue, courageous conversations, a space where everyone can be heard. I, too, experienced the pain of being misunderstood, undervalued, ignored, abused, exploited, dismissed, and silenced. I had to be present and take nothing or no one for granted and truly exemplify and activate, the hashtag #BLM. The daily conversations and interactions with the Harlem community were rich. Those exchanges challenged me to be more present, more compassionate, and more impactful! Because of the Black Lives Matter Harlem Mural there were many lessons learned and things l hope to change. All in all, my life will never be the same!”
Valerie Wilson, CEO of Valinc Pr, Public Relations and Brand Strategist veteran. Helping build some Harlem’s most influential programs and Organizations including Harlem Park to Park, Harlem Business Alliance and MMPCIA House Tours. She is also a wife and mother. Can I ask a favor please. Can you please replace my current quote with the corrected version here. It didn’t translate exactly but I also wrote it down: Vale rie Wilson, Founder, Valinc PR
“I was instilled with a deep love of culture and heritage at a very early age. I’ve come to understand that for us as a people, it is what we must always champion and embody. That is why I will always stand for the artist.“ — Valerie Wilson
“Working on the mural was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career and certainly in the life of my company, to be able to work with these women to create such a monumental work of art. To be involved in creating a space that was received by the community as a place for healing, for discourse, for sharing and just being, after all that we have gone through in the last few months, was such a deep honor. And the art that we created with these incredible talents who came out and gave of themselves in such remarkable ways was beyond what I could have imagined. At a time when institutions and traditional venues for viewing art were closed, we were able to create a museum worthy exhibit for the people to enjoy. It was always about creating space, light and reflection for the people. That was more than special. “
Beatrice Sibblies, managing partner of BOS Development, a Harlem based community focused real estate and development firm, which formed a Charter School Qualified Opportunity Zone Fund. She is also a mother.
“So I grew in Jamaica and came to Harlem 20 years ago. And even before I came to United States, I knew about Harlem because of a common intersection between Harlem and Jamaica. That would be none other than Marcus Garvey, for whom the Marcus Garvey Park is named which is in the center of our community, so a lot of my early understanding of civic activism was the legacy of Marcus Garvey. The legacy of Marcus Garvey is connected here in Harlem. So when I came to NEw York, I came to Harlem effectively as a tourist, what drew me to Harlem was political and activism legacy. When the opportunity came to be a part BLM mural I was honored to because I do feel that we are at the launch point a new cycle in the Civil Movement. And I think Harlem has an imprtant role to play in that next cycle of activism. At the heart of this era of activism is a recognition of the roles thst the African America has played in the American economy and culture. And now the community wants to be recognized and rewarded as it should. At the core of the BLM mural was the celebration of the arts and its approach and created an iconic art public art project. That celebrated both the artists, the movement and cultural heritage”.
Tren’ness Woods-Black, President and Chief Strategist of Cornbread and Conversations, grand daughter of Sylvia Woods restaurant also serves as their VP of Communications and Strategic Partnerships, philanthropist and wife.
“Working on this mural allowed the legacy of my ancestors to be manifested into art. Going back five generations Black lives only mattered as a commodity. The paint in this mural represents the blood of those whose lives where unjustly taken in America. My great great grandfather was lynched for a crime he did not commit. Literally, dragged from his home in front of his family to be lynched in front of his wife while she nursed their youngest child. That child grew as an entrepreneur- a midwife and farmer who would use her land as collateral for her only child Sylvia to purchase the now world famous restaurant. Those letters also represent my great grandfather who was a teenager who fought in a war where his life did not matter. So when he was exposed to poisonous gas he was refused treatment and was simply sent home to die. So my supportive role in this project is a tribute to not just my ancestors, but all of the Black lives that didn’t matter but will forever matter to me and all those who visit our mural.”
Black Lives Matter Mural Harlem
Nikoa Evans- Hendricks Erika Ewing
Valerie Wilson Beatrice Sibblies
Tren’ness Woods -Black
Founder & Editor: Musa Jackson
Creative Director & Photographer
Paul Morejón Studio
Makeup Artist: Ashley Walters
Shot at photo studio @42nd_photostudio
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MUSA JACKSON
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