By Led Black
February 18 – February 23
Did you know that an 8th grader from Washington Heights was recently given a remarkable honor? After receiving nearly 8,000 essays from 7th through 12th graders across the country, Rand McNally has announced the ten finalists in its “Dear Mr. President” short essay contest. Washington Heights resident Jade Greenfield of Harlem’s Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science and Engineering (CSS) is New York State’s only finalist. We published the must-read article urging the President to do his best to get the Dream Act passed.
On Saturday, February 23rd, I had the distinct privilege of moderating a panel at the The State of Dominican-Americans in New York City forum presented by Councilmember Robert Jackson in collaboration with the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute. The much-heralded Dominican singer-songwriter Vicente Garcia was in the NYC area for a tour that kicked off on the February 21st. One of the tour dates was at our very own Corcho Wine Room (231 Dyckman Street).
We also posted a few select pictures from the incredible Uptown Fashion Week function that took place at the beautiful Triangle Building on February 14th. The Young People’s Chorus of New York City at Washington Heights (YPCWH), established just this past November, gave its very first concert on Thursday, February 21st, at the Washington Heights Academy (P.S. 366). YPCWH, comprising 60 boys and girls from 7 to 11 from schools primarily from the Washington Heights area, was created by the Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC), under its Artistic Director/Founder Francisco J. Núñez, to expand its award-winning music education program to even more of the city’s schoolchildren.
This week also saw a post by our newest contributor, Karen Silva, on her love of the neighborhood. Sarita Martinez returned with her weekly breakdown of MTV’s ‘Washington Heights’ show. The Best of the Boogie Down column by Jenni Ruiza featured the multi-talented comedienne, writer and producer Jesenia.
We ended the week with new music from Kid Glory and Dark. Coincidentally, both songs featured Audubon. By the way, Kid Glory and Dark will be performing along with a whole slew of Uptown artists at the groundbreaking Hip-Hop showcase, WHIN By Any Means III, on February 28th at Negro Claro (3805 10th Ave).
Keep checking us out at www.uptowncollective.com.
Led Black
Editor-in-Chief
The Uptown Collective
The UC’s mission is to become “the” definitive, transformative and community-based force impacting the arts, culture, business and New York City’s overall perception of Upper Manhattan. Its objective is to reset, reboot and positively redefine Uptown’s artistic, political, cultural and business spheres via the online space as well the collective’s initiatives and functions.
