Community Works Celebrates Women’s History Month

The month long commemoration swings into gear Thursday, March 9, at 6:30 PM, with an intimate conversation with jazz songstress, Gloria Lynne. Hosted by Rick White, Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University, the engaging evening will take place at The Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street. Ms. Lynne, author of I Wish You Love: A Memoir (Forge 2000), will openly share the highlights and setbacks of her lustrous career with radio personality Flo Wiley

As part of the “harlem is…� public art programming series, Community Works once again join forces with New Heritage Theatre and other community organizations and businesses to celebrate Women’s History Month. The celebration will include a variety of events and activities highlighting the artistic and social contributions of pioneering women.

The month long commemoration swings into gear Thursday, March 9, at 6:30 PM, with an intimate conversation with jazz songstress, Gloria Lynne.  Hosted by Rick White, Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University, the engaging evening will take place at The Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street.  Ms. Lynne, author of I Wish You Love: A Memoir (Forge 2000), will openly share the highlights and setbacks of her lustrous career with radio personality Flo Wiley, host of WHCR-FM Radio’s “Black Beat New Yorkâ€? show.  Along with a book signing and reception, the evening will also include a performance by Grammy nominated composer Roy Meriwether, Ms. Lynne’s longtime arranger and accompanist.

Then on Saturday, March 11, Jazz Museum Executive Director, Loren Schoenberg, takes a retrospective look at jazz influence in film with performance footage featuring such leading ladies as Ethel Waters, Billie Holiday, and Bessie Smith. These films also include footage of Cab Calloway, Billie Holiday and Bobby Short, and Billy Strayhorn.  The program will also feature a live music performance by The Jazz Museum of Harlem Trio.  The free event takes place at 3:00 PM, at The Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street. On Monday March 13, Community works in association with Women of Color Productions presents BLACK PANTHER WOMEN, which takes a behind the scenes look at the role and addresses the reason why women joined the famed movement.

On Monday, March 20, some of the current lounge singers at Harlem’s legendary night spots join forces to honor the legacy of such greats as Dinah Washington, Billy Holiday and Sarah Vaughn, during Community Works “harlem is… MUSIC: Ladies Sing the Bluesâ€? show. The invitational only reception and performances, which pays tribute to Lenox Lounge, Showman’s and St. Nick’s Pub, takes place at 6:00 PM, at New York Public Library for The Performing Arts, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza.  Other events include Harlemwood Film Festival presentation of “I’d Rather Be Dancing,â€? an inspirational story of a dancer who learns how to keep her dream alive after suffering a debilitating injury; an  intimate evening with vocalist, Pauline McWilliams, at 3:00 PM, Sunday, March 26, at the Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street.

On Saturday, March 25, the month long celebration winds down with a theatrical performance of A Song For You… Civil Rights Journey of A Negro Women: Lena Calhoun Horne, which highlights the legendary songstress and film star career during the civil rights movement. On Sunday, March 26, the final curtain falls on a musical note featuring a live concert with vocal stylist Paulette McWilliams at 3:00 PM, at the Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street. The enchanting engagement will include various original and pre recorded selections from Ms. McWilliams ever expanding repertoire.

“Harlem is… MUSICâ€? celebrates Harlem’s unrivaled musical tradition from gospel to classical to jazz to hip-hop, honoring its musical institutions and legacy keepers past and present.  It is the newest component of the “harlem is…â€? public art and programming series, which has been touring throughout the city for the past three years.  The exhibition is currently on view at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Community Works is a leading nonprofit arts education organization that was founded by Barbara Horowitz in 1990. Its mission is to build bridges between diverse cultures and neighborhoods by using the arts as a tool for social and personal changes, and sharing community stories that connect us all.  The collective collaborates with over 550 public schools, 300 artists, and 220 cultural and community associations annually, serving over 300,000 students and community members borough-wide, through its acclaimed public arts exhibitions, multicultural performances, workshops and mentoring programs.

New Heritage Theatre Group is the oldest not for profit Black theater organization in New York City. Headed by, Voza Rivers executive producer and co-founding member, New Heritage produces work of historical and political relevance reflecting the experiences of African American and Latino descendents in America and abroad.

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