Thanksgiving Meal for Needy Families
November 2005


Left to right: (Joyce Beadle- Thomas Memorial Church member,
Michael Johnson- HCC Board Chairman, Ms. Riley- Thomas Memorial Church Trustee,
Dr. J.L. Tait- President, CEO, HCC, Ms. Warner- Thomas Memorial Church Trustee)

On November 22nd, the Harlem Commonwealth Council, Inc. located at 361 West 125th Street, NY NY, gave Thanksgiving Grocery Baskets to needy families in the Harlem community. Consistent with its focus on economic development and concern for the social welfare of the residents and the community it serves, HCC welcomed the opportunity to work with the Thomas Memorial Wesleyan Church located at 270 West 126th Street, NY, NY, who hosted and coordinated the event.

Joined by the Trustees of the Thomas Memorial Wesleyan Church, Ms. Warner and Ms. Riley, Dr. Joseph Tait, President and CEO of Harlem Commonwealth Council, Michael Johnson-HCC Board Chairman and several members of the HCC staff, handed out baskets filled with turkeys and all the trimmings necessary to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

The event was a success!!

In July 2002, HCC convened and sponsored Developing Harlem’s Human Resources- a forum to address the impact on Northern Manhattan on welfare reform and the city’s new approach during the second stage of the legislation. Human Resources Administration Commissioner Verna Eggleston defended the city’s position on welfare reform to a critical audience that was brought together by Harlem’s faith-based, political and service organizations and informed by data collected and analyzed by the Women of Color Policy Network at New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service.
 
To elaborate on the discussion of poverty and changes in income in Manhattan and the implications for Central Harlem, East Harlem and Washington Heights, HCC held a follow up forum in November 2002, and in 2003 (September to January) sponsored The Harlem Self-Sufficiency Job Readiness Project, a pilot program to train women for economic self-sufficiency. HCC and The Women’s Center for Education and Career Advancement provided low-income working Harlem families with job readiness assessment, transition to work classes and an assessment of eligibility for a variety of supports and subsidies available to help them meet their basic needs while working at low-wage jobs.

Harlem Commonwealth Council Scholarship Award to Nursing School Graduate
November 2005
Text and Photos © Kwame Brathwaite

The Harlem Commonwealth Council presented its first James Dowdy scholarship award in the field of Nursing at the Helene Fuld College of Nursing Commencement Program at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church to a standing room only crowd of family and supporters. The college, a division of North General Hospital, is a private, not-for-profit institution located in Harlem, that for the past fifty years has educated nurses in a unique first of a kind program that advances experience licensed practical nurses to associate degree registered nurses in an accelerated one-year full-time program.

HCC in collaboration with Fuld College, presented its Award for Excellence in Liberal Arts and Science to Seona Bhagat (A.A.S.R.N.) at the Novermber 13th graduation. The award was presented by HCCs newly appointed President, Dr. Joseph L. Tait and Board member Randy Dupree as the 121 graduates cheered in approval.

The HCC Scholarship Program offers financial assistance to Harlem residents pursuing careers in the medical field at academic institutions located in the community, among them are: CCNY Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education; Harlem Hospital School of Radiology Technology-Columbia University Affiliate and the Helene Fuld College of Nursing-North General Hospital Affiliate. The fund was established shortly after Dr. Tait became President in September of 2004.