Panel Discussion on the Harlem African Burial Ground
Apr
7

Panel Discussion on the Harlem African Burial Ground

The Place, Memory & Culture Incubator at Spitzer is pleased to invite all students, faculty, staff, and guests to a special in-person Panel Discussion on the Harlem African Burial Ground at Spitzer School of Architecture, Sciame Auditorium (Room 107), First Floor.

This critical conversation is hosted in collaboration with the Harlem African Burial Ground InitiativeNYC Economic Development CorporationSave Harlem Now!, and Bridge Philanthropic Consulting.

We will reflect on the profound history and cultural legacy of the Harlem African Burial Ground and the current efforts to honor the lives of those interred there.

Founded in 1660, the village of Nieuw Haarlem established segregated cemeteries: one for Europeans, the other for people of African descent. The latter—the Harlem African Burial Ground—served the community for over two centuries. While European remains were relocated in the mid-1800s, those buried in the African cemetery were left behind. The site, now beneath a 1947-built bus depot, experienced decades of desecration and erasure.

In 2015, archaeologists confirmed human remains at the site, substantiating its historical significance. Ongoing work aims to map the full extent of the burial ground. Meanwhile, efforts led by the Harlem African Burial Ground Initiative (HABGI) and NYCEDC continue to envision a future for the site that includes a public memorial, a cultural education center, affordable housing, and community job opportunities.

Please join us as we uplift this vital history and community vision!


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2nd Annual Gene Norman Preservation Awards Gala
May
22

2nd Annual Gene Norman Preservation Awards Gala

Alfred Warren Gene Norman, Feb 1935 - Sept 2020, was the first, and to date only, African American Chairman of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), and a co-founder of Save Harlem Now!

Serving under Mayor Edward I. Koch in the 1980s, Norman helped defeat New York State legislation that would have exempted religious institutions from landmarks designation, and oversaw the preservation of St. Bartholomew's Church. During his tenure as chairman, LPC granted landmark designation to the Coty and Rizzoli Buildings on Fifth Avenue; the Ladies Mile shopping area from 15th to 24th Streets, between Park Avenue South and Avenue of the Americas; and the Coney Island Cyclone. Norman was widely praised for his superior skill in navigating New York City's landmarking bureaucracy.

Our 2025 honorees are Lana Turner, Martin Spollen and Chen “Jenny” Jie, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

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2025 Mayoral Candidates Forum with Preservation Organizations
Mar
24

2025 Mayoral Candidates Forum with Preservation Organizations

Save Harlem Now!, Village Preservation and fellow preservation organizations from across NYC are hosting a forum via Zoom with Mayoral candidates on Monday, March 24 at 6 pm. 

This is the ONLY Mayoral candidate forum focused on preservation and development issues, and we strongly urge you to attend — to learn more about the candidates, and to let them know that New Yorkers care about preserving our city and our neighborhoods.

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Celebrate Women’s History with Save Harlem Now!
Mar
19

Celebrate Women’s History with Save Harlem Now!

In honor of Women’s History Month, Save Harlem Now! invites you to a special event celebrating the remarkable Harlem women who played pivotal roles in the social justice and civil rights movements.

Join us as we highlight the legacies of Ella Jo Baker, Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, Augusta Savage, and other extraordinary women whose activism, leadership, and artistry helped shape history..

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East Harlem Walking Tour:  A Journey Through Architecture, Culture and History
Dec
14

East Harlem Walking Tour: A Journey Through Architecture, Culture and History

Join Friends of the Upper Eastside Historic Districts and Save Harlem Now! for a walking tour through the vibrant streets of East Harlem, led by Save Harlem Now! Executive Director Claudette Brady.

Discover the rich architectural and cultural tapestry of "El Barrio," exploring its enduring legacy and vibrant present. Immerse yourself in the diverse influences that have shaped East Harlem, from its early immigrant roots to its prominence as a hub of Puerto Rican and Latino culture. Come ready to walk, learn, and experience this iconic neighborhood firsthand!

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Billie Holiday's Harlem Walking Tour
Sep
8

Billie Holiday's Harlem Walking Tour

Save Harlem Now! invites you to step back in time to the Roaring Twenties, when Central Harlem pulsed with the rhythm of the Jazz Age. Trace the footsteps of the legendary Billie Holiday - and dive into the vibrant beginnings of the Black music industry.

Our journey begins on West 139th Street, where a young Billie first called New York home. Just blocks away, on historic 133rd Street, known as "Swing Street," where music floated into the night from legendary clubs like Tillie's and Pod & Jerry's. Close your eyes and imagine the smoky haze, the clinking glasses, and the electrifying sounds of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Billie taking her first steps on a musical pilgrimage spilling into the Street.

Stroll through Strivers’ Row and see buildings where jazz musicians lived and gathered in the 1920s. We'll peer into the modest parlor of Harry Pace, founder of Black Swan Records, the first Black-owned label.

As we walk, feel the energy of the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural explosion fueled by music, poetry, and artistic expression. 

So, let's wander through Harlem's hidden harmonies, where history hums in every brick, and Billie's voice still whispers in the breeze.

Our tour is led by Mark Satlof, a 23-year-resident of Central Harlem / Strivers’ Row, Save Harlem Now! Board Member and experienced tour guide.

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Inaugural Gene Norman Preservation Awards Gala
May
23

Inaugural Gene Norman Preservation Awards Gala

Alfred Warren Gene Norman, Feb1935-Sep 2020, was the first, and to date only, African American Chairman of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC). Serving under Mayor Edward I. Koch in the 1980s, Norman helped defeat New York State legislation that would have exempted religious institutions from landmarks designation, and oversaw the preservation of St. Bartholomew's Church. During his tenure as chairman, LPC granted landmark designation to the Coty and Rizzoli Buildings on Fifth Avenue; the Ladies Mile shopping area from 15th to 24th Streets, between Park Avenue South and Avenue of the Americas; and the Coney Island Cyclone. Norman was widely praised for his superior skill in navigating New York City's landmarking bureaucracy.

Our honorees are Michael Henry Adams, Mussenden Van Der Zee, and New York State Senator Cordell Cleare.

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14th Annual Sacred Sites Open House
May
19

14th Annual Sacred Sites Open House

The New York Landmarks Conservancy’s 14th annual Sacred Sites Open House takes place May 18-19th 2024.

This year’s theme is “Welcoming our Neighbors”, where participating congregations will showcase their buildings and histories through guided tours, lectures, and musical performances.

Schedule your tour for St. James Presbyterian Church!

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Preservation Conference 2022
Nov
3

Preservation Conference 2022

Held in the Nelson Mandela Room at the Ford Foundation in midtown Manhattan, Preservation Conference 2022 brought together a wide array of speakers who shared both the challenges and triumphs of grass-roots advocacy to preserve the cultural and architectural legacy of Harlem and other historically African American communities.

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A Virtual Walking Tour of Audubon Park
Apr
28

A Virtual Walking Tour of Audubon Park

As the first program in its 2021 series, Save Harlem Now! presented a virtual walking tour of northern Manhattan’s Audubon Park neighborhood with Save Harlem Now! board member, Matthew Spady, author of The Neighborhood Manhattan Forgot: Audubon Park and the Families Who Shaped It.

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Michael Henry Adams on Preservation and the Underground Railroad
Feb
25

Michael Henry Adams on Preservation and the Underground Railroad

After decades of local activism, the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission unanimously voted to designate a small brick home in Brooklyn as an historic landmark. In the mid 19th century, 227 Duffield Street was owned by abolitionist couple Harriet and Thomas Truesdell, and there is reason to believe that their home served as a temporary stop for those escaping slavery on the underground railroad.

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Saving Harlem Buildings to Save African American History: 170 West 130th Street
Sep
13

Saving Harlem Buildings to Save African American History: 170 West 130th Street

In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance, Save Harlem Now!, in partnership with Harlem One Stop and the Harlem Cultural Collaborative, presented a Harlem Renaissance 100 Virtual Salon, Saving Harlem Buildings To Save African American History: The Building Where The 1963 March On Washington Was Planned.

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Invitation: Inaugural Historic Harlem Fundraising Halloween Party
Oct
26

Invitation: Inaugural Historic Harlem Fundraising Halloween Party

Save Harlem Now!, uptown preservation advocates seeking to protect Harlem’s architectural and cultural heritage, extend an invitation to enjoy its inaugural Historic Harlem Fundraising Halloween Party, a fun evening of drinks and great food, courtesy of Harlem Shake and Corner Social, and dancing to magically eclectic sounds of DJ Ernesto Johnson.

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