Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Harlem Week Celebrations Features Business, Fun and Music

By Jeff Mays | August 10, 2012 9:51am

HARLEM — It's called Harlem Week, but there are actually six weeks of activities ranging from job fairs, business expos, sporting events, a classic car show, and even an anti-violence march.

"Thirty-eight years ago it was a day to uplift the city and the community," said Harlem Week Executive Director Winston Majette. "We increased to Harlem Week and now have six weeks, but Harlem Week is the name everyone remembers."

Upcoming events include an East Harlem job fair next week, along with a youth basketball tournament at Rucker Park and a youth tennis tournament.

On Saturday, Aug. 18 and Sunday Aug.19, 135th Street Between Lenox Avenue and St. Nicholas Avenue will see activities ranging from a tribute to Bob Marley and salute to Jamaica's 50th anniversary of independence, a children's festival and a black college fair and expo.

Sunday, Aug. 19 is dubbed "Harlem Day" and will feature four stages of entertainment, a classic car show, the Upper Manhattan Auto Show, and a small business expo.

Rounding out the festival on Aug. 25 is the Percy Sutton Harlem 5K Run/NYC Family Health Walk-A-Thon, along with the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival at Marcus Garvey Park.

"It's about business to business contact and making people aware of businesses in Harlem and Upper Manhattan," said Majette. "Harlem is where the world meets the world."

There will also be a march against violence and shootings in Harlem and Upper Manhattan on Aug. 25, said Majette.

Lloyd Williams, president and CEO of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, said Thursday that the march was a necessary response to a spate of shootings and violence this summer.

"What do we have to do, lock ourselves behind our doors?" he said.

For more information about Harlem Week events, visit the Harlem Week 2012 website.