The forecast for today is, you guessed it, hot! Then again, it wouldn’t be summer if it wasn’t hot. So take it slow and enjoy your ice tea or lemonade, and all the fun summer has to offer.
Offering recognition for the numerous accomplishments of renowned psychologists and civil rights activists, Drs. Kenneth B. and Mamie Phipps Clark, and the 70th anniversary of the Northside Center for Child Development, was the Harlem Cultural Archives at their annual Harlem in the Hamptons event. Gathering at the Eastville Community Historical Society Heritage House for the Hamptons Casual event was all of Sag Harbor, and then some. Held in the style of an old-fashioned church picnic, Harlem in the Hamptons benefitted the Northside Center. Culinary delights were provided by Hamptons Catering, craft beer and ales by Harlem Brewery, wine and spirits from Black Hawk Imports and music by DJ Henry Maxwell.
According to their bios, the Clarks were the first African-Americans to obtain their doctoral degrees in psychology from Columbia University. Kenneth B. Clark was the first African-American tenured full professor at the City College of New York, the first African-American to be president of the American Psychological Association and the first African-American appointed to the New York State Board of Regents.
The Clarks opened their own agency, called The Northside Center for Child Development, in 1946. This agency was the first full-time child guidance center offering psychological and casework services to families in the Harlem area. The Clarks’ experiments on the effects of racial biases in education became an influential catalyst to the Civil Rights Movement. Their expertise allowed them to testify as expert witnesses in several school desegregation cases, including Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.
Dr. Elaine Shulman, a student who was mentored by Kenneth Clark, will present a plaque to Northside CEO, Dr. Thelma Dye, Ph.D., on behalf of the Harlem Cultural Archives, and the Hon. Judge W. Franc Perry will present proclamations to Dye from several elected officials who represent Harlem.
The mission of the Harlem Cultural Archives is to create, maintain and grow a remotely accessible, online, interactive repository of audio-visual materials documenting Harlem’s remarkable and varied multicultural legacies, including its storied past, as well as its continuing contributions to the city and state of New York, the nation and the world.
For the past five years, the Harlem Cultural Archives has collaborated with Harlem in the Hamptons founders Jackie Vaughn, Beryl and Harry Banks and Gladys Barnes in celebrating the contributions of such achievers as Dr. R. Chester Redhead, Dr. Oliver Holder, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, the Harlem Hellfighters, Judge W. Franc Perry and the Mid-Manhattan Branch of the NAACP.
The Harlem Cultural Archives executive board consists of Glenn A. Hunter, co-executive director, board chair, community activist and educator; Keith A. Hunter, M.D., community health advocate, film producer, co-executive director and board member; and Ken Sargeant, media producer, community historian, co-executive director and board member.
A little further out on the East End, Star Jones, June Ambrose and Summer Chamblin were among the thousand in attendance at the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance’s 19th annual Super Saturday event. The highly anticipated event took place on the lush grounds of Nova’s Ark Project in Water Mill, N.Y. The first Super Saturday took place in 1998, in the backyard Hampton home of the late Liz Tilberis, the former editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar. Tilberis was the then-president of OCRF, and had been diagnosed with the disease. The event has evolved into a day-long, star-studded designer shopping extravaganza with designers such as Ralph Lauren, Vince, Theory, Alice + Olivia, Vilebrequin, Magaschoni and Michael Kors, and beauty brands such as B. Kamins Laboratories and Ahava. In addition to 30 percent to 50 percent off premier designer brands, there was a kid’s carnival, a catered lunch and cocktails. But of course.
Meanwhile, the East End continued to rock as the fifth annual Paddle & Party for Pink featured a two-part event consisting of a morning paddle board race in Sag Harbor and a sunset party at Fairview on Mecox Bay in Bridgehampton. The event, hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow, raised a record-breaking $1.75 million for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Also featured was a live performance by the Grammy Award-winning Nile Rodgers and Chic.
This is the second year that Nile Rodgers and Chic performed at the Paddle & Party for the Pink Hamptons fundraiser, as cancer research is a cause close to Rodgers’ heart. Unknown to many, Rodgers was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in 2010. The prognosis didn’t defeat the acclaimed singer/songwriter/producer, as it only meant that he must keep writing great songs and performing twice as much as he had done in the past. Rodgers has collaborated on hits with musical artists such as Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, Sheena Easton, David Bowie, Duran Duran, Madonna, INXS, Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue and Lady Gaga. Six years after his doctor’s dire prognosis, the indefatigable, cancer-free Rodgers is living, singing and having a ball y’all. The night was capped off with a music set by DJ Brendan Fallis.
Founded by Evelyn Lauder in 1993, the mission of the BCRF has been to fund innovative breast cancer research around the world. Hence, BCRF has been involved in every major breakthrough in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship, while raising more than $500 million. This year, according to BCRF reports, the charity is investing $54 million to support the work of 240 scientists across 13 countries, making it the largest private funder of breast cancer research worldwide. Of every dollar, 91 cents goes towards BCRF’s mission.
So enjoy these dog days to the fullest. Everyone into the pool.
Until next week … kisses.