Family Partnerships Department Celebrates African-American History
As Community Coordinator Gary Samuels adjusted the sound levels at the recent lunch-time talent showcase sponsored by the Family Partnerships Department, he kept the words of his godmother in mind: “Reach every corner of the room no matter how far away.”
The Ceremonial Room at NYCHA’s 90 Church Street headquarters can hold about 150 people. Mr. Samuels, with a voice that ranges from bass to counter tenor, has performed before 100,000 at a stadium in South Korea. And that was a fraction of the million he reached in a multi-stadium church complex, also in South Korea, during a live stage performance that was broadcast to the entire complex.
But it’s not the size of the space that matters but how the voice fills it, something he also learned from his godmother, Linda Hopkins, who taught him how to sing for theater, and who won the 1972 Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for her starring role in the Broadway musical Inner City. Prior to her Broadway success, Ms. Hopkins had recorded with music legends Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, and Sammy Davis Jr., and also served as choir director at her local Baptist church. She died in 2017 at age 92.
Organized and emceed by Social Work Supervisor Rodney Gwyn, the Family Partnerships program celebrated Black History Month and the artistic talents of Authority employees, including Mr. Samuels.Lyric soprano and Social Worker Magalie Joseph contributed bluesy renditions of “Deep River” and “Summertime.” This was Ms. Joseph’s fifth performance at NYCHA, and she hopes there will be many more. “These performances, and NYCHA’s encouragement, have helped me to rediscover and reconnect with music,” she said. Ms. Joseph is now enrolled in the voice program at the Long Island Conservatory of Music.
Spoken word artists Bessie Prince, Community Associate in Community Development, and Tischelle George, Deputy Director of the Resident Engagement Department, also gave provocative performances. Their work has been performed at other venues and shared on social media.
In kicking off the rousing event, Yolanda Johnson-Peterkin, Chief of Housing Community Activities in Family Partnerships, said: “Black History Month offers a special opportunity to celebrate our collective past. But we can celebrate and enjoy today’s legends in any month. Some of them are right here at NYCHA.”
