The Department of Records and Information Services, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem.
In addition, the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at NYU, and the Vital City project are hosting a conference to consider the recommendations and observations from the 1936 Mayor’s Commission on Conditions in Harlem, data from NYC Speaks and implications for City government.
Appointed by Mayor LaGuardia after a 1935 riot in Harlem, the Commission members elicited testimony at 21 very interactive hearings and reported on six key areas: Crime and the Police, Discrimination in Employment, Home Relief, Hospitals and Health, Education and Housing.
Although the report was published by The Amsterdam News, it was never issued by the City.
Recently, the Administration of Mayor Eric Adams in partnership with the NYC Speaks government organization surveyed New Yorkers on issues of concern and convened community conversations to explore topics in greater depth.
The responses and discussions will help shape the initiatives that the City will implement in communities across the City.
Many of the survey responses and the community viewpoints are similar to those from 1936.
On Tuesday, September 20th, 2022, the convening will explore those similarities and propose possible policies to address issues.
We invite you to attend the conference and participate in the discussion.
RSVP here: https://bit.ly/HarlemReVisited.
Also, check out our newly launched website to learn more about the rich history of Harlem – featuring material derived from the 1936 Mayor’s Commission Report detailing the community’s challenges before and during the Depression: https://harlemconditions.cityofnewyork.us.
September 20, 2022, 9:30 – 6:30 pm EST
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Boulevard, Harlem, New York, https://www.nypl.org/locations/schomburg, 212.491.2265
Photo credit: A photo from the 1935 riot in Harlem.
