HARLEM WEEK announced the appointment of multiple new leaders on their executive committee. This year’s HARLEM WEEK, to take place Aug. 1-16, will center around the theme “Honoring our Legacy.” The committee is excited about further developing through their online presence, expanding community partnerships, and seeking community input. All these expansions are designed to further strengthen the festival while also staying grounded in its legacy.
The new appointees are Marko Nobles, who will serve as chairman; L. Ade Williams, the son of the late Lloyd Williams will serve as first vice chairperson; Tamiko Evans will serve as second vice chairperson; Michael Flanagan, Ph.D, will serve as secretary; and Kristian Greene will serve as treasurer. All of these appointees have connections or roots within HARLEM WEEK in one way or another, and their new appointments further solidify their dedication to the festival.
Nobles, a self described “child of HARLEM WEEK” has been involved with the festival for over 40 years. He has been working his way up in its programming by first starting as a summer youth worker and now his most recent position is second vice chairperson on the board of directors. He also owns and operates an internet radio station, RhythmAndSoulRadio.com. Nobles is grateful for the opportunities that HARLEM WEEK has given not only himself but fellow board members.
“We all were interns with HARLEM WEEK or we may have received scholarships from HARLEM WEEK, been involved in HARLEM WEEK in one way or another throughout our teenage and adult lives. We have been able to watch HARLEM WEEK grow and assist in the growth of HARLEM WEEK and now we have the honor to serve as leadership for this festival that has meant so much to us and many others,” said Nobles.
For the executive committee, building upon the foundations of HARLEM WEEK is what’s most important. According to Nobles, this includes bolstering their online presence.
“There will be more in the digital space in terms of HARLEM WEEK and what we do and how we impact the Harlem community and the Harlems around the world.”
Solidifying HARLEM WEEK’s collaborations with other organizations is also important to this new board, and ensuring that all of the Black diaspora within Harlem has a chance to be represented in the festival.
“We will continue collaborations with organizations like [the] Caribbean Cultural Center. We’re looking at how we expand that partnership to continue to reach out to our brothers and sisters in the East Harlem Area,” added Nobles.
Williams is also excited about the potential possibilities for future HARLEM WEEK festivities. Williams has been deeply involved with the festival since he was a child.
“This has basically been a lifelong endeavor,” said Williams.
Williams is passionate about maintaining the magic of HARLEM WEEK for future generations, ensuring that this historic festival continues being a beacon of light for future generations.
He compares the festival to an elder that needs to be taken care of.
“But when you get older and your parents are elderly, you have the responsibility of taking care of your parents and as a child of those parents, you also need to make sure that their grandkids are also properly raised. And I think that as [Nobles, Evans, Greene,] and others of the board are children of HARLEM WEEK, that means that we’ve learned a lot and we’ve benefited from the relationship. But we also have a responsibility towards making sure that it is treated right, upkept, and the lessons and the importance are not lost.”
The executive committee also wants to highlight its appreciation for community feedback and donations, ensuring that HARLEM WEEK remains representative of the neighborhood.
“We’d like you to tell us not only what would you like to see this year, but hey, what are some of your favorite memories from HARLEM WEEK over the last 51 years? Because once we know what really was beloved, that’s the stuff that we’re going to try to make sure we repeat.”