MAKE ART. BUILD COMMUNITY. CREATE CHANGE. B E D F O R D - S T U Y V E S A N T 2 0 0 5 – 2 0 2 0 HISTORY OF CENTRAL BROOKLYN

Bedford-Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy) is a neighborhood in Central Brooklyn, New York City. For decades, it has been a cultural center for Brooklyn’s Black population and was once considered "Brooklyn's Hunterfly Road houses with St. Mary’s Hospital in background, Little Harlem." 1920s. Photo via Brooklyn Historical Society FIRST PEOPLE OF CENTRAL BROOKLYN CIVIC MOVEMENTS

The original inhabitants of Central Brooklyn were the The 1960s and 1970s were a difficult time for New York Nayack and Canarsee who lived across Brooklyn and City overall, including Bed-Stuy. Early forms of organizing were part of the Lenape nation. They were avid farmers and movement building that took shape and were helpful and fishermen who thrived until the arrival of the Dutch in bridging conversations across racial divides. Many in the 1600s. In parallel and through forced migration, organizations throughout Central Brooklyn expanded to the first enslaved African people arrived with the Dutch provide social services in aid of historic disinvestment. and were bound until the early 18th Century. Today, many civic and mobilizing organizations continue Throughout the mid 18th Century, new generations of to work towards building stronger neighborhoods through African Americans settled around Central Brooklyn and campaigns around anti-street harassment, food established their own colonies, such as the historic sovereignty, police accountability, and anti-gentrification neighborhood of Weeksville which was established by a work. Bed-Stuy is also home to more than 30 community group of African-American land investors and political gardens that provide food, green space, and community activists in 1838. With more than 500 residents by the rest and renewal. 1850's, the neighborhood became a hub for political and social activity and produced one of the first African- American newspapers called the Freedman's Torchlight. THE GREAT MIGRATION

During and after World War II, large numbers of African Americans seeking opportunity and safety, migrated from the southern United States, some moving into Central Brooklyn. Bed-Stuy became an early meeting point for Black communities and immigrants from the Caribbean. Many considered Central Brooklyn as theBlack cultural mecca of the borough, similar to what Harlem is to Manhattan. Mural of Biggie Smalls on the corner of Bedford Avenue & Quincy Street ART & CULTURE Currently, Bed-Stuy is home to numerous small businesses and artistic spaces that pay homage to the vibrancy and cultural aesthetics of the neighborhood. Many cultural icons have strong ties to Bed-Stuy, including Lena Horne, The Notorious B.I.G, Chris Rock, Jay-Z, and Gabourey Sidibe. Today many local murals pay homage to these figures.

Bed-Stuy is also home to many cultural institutions such as Restoration Arts, Cumbe Dance, Bailey's Cafe, Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation, and nearby Weeksville Joe Schwartz, Tricycle Gang, Herkimer Street, Bed-Stuy, Heritage Center. Brooklyn, NY, 1940s Page 2 BEDFORD STUYVESANT 152,403 TOTAL POPULATION Councilman Robert E. Cornegy DISTRICT 36 COMMUNITY BOARD 3

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POPULATION BY RACE POPULATION BY AGE MEDIAN AGE *Latino presence is most prevalent (According to 2018 bordering Bushwick PUMA Census Data)

GENTRIFICATION 69% Latin America 3,324, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 13% Asia AFFORDABLE HOUSING 9% Europe 2,660, JAMAICA HOUSELESSNESS 6% Africa SCHOOL SYSTEM 2% North America 2,005, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO FOOD JUSTICE

BORN OUTSIDE THE U.S GLOBAL DIVERSITY PRESSING ISSUES (According to 2017 PUMA Census Data) 529,154 TOTAL POPULATION IN CENTRAL BROOKLYN

Inclusive of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bushwick, Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Oceanhill and Brownsville

Average Income $52,897 (Inclusive of new residents) HOUSEHOLD INCOME

Page 3 FIELD DAY FESTIVALS 2013-2018 2015 COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING Imagine Bed-Stuy Luminal Theater AND ARTIST ENGAGEMENT 405 Tompkins Ave IN CENTRAL BROOKLYN 2016 Politics of Protection 2014 380 Tompkins Ave Dept. of Local 2017 Affairs Weaving Histories Mei Tai Hancock Community Laundromat Garden 2018 STooPS ArtCrawl Hancock Community 2015 Garden "Sincerely, 2016 Tommy" 343 Tompkins 2016 Iyapo Repository Ave Crea2ti0ve1 W6alk The Bedford Bed-Stuy’s Stuyvesant CSreTaotiovPeS W, alk Museum 197S MTaolocPoSlm, of African Art 197X M Balvlcdolm 2017 X Blvd Storytelling For Self & Community Care Concord 2015 Nursing Imagine Home Bed-Stuy 462 Halsey 2013 Community The Renters' Gardens Archive For My Sweet

2015 Imagine Bed-Stuy 2014 Restoration I ♥ COPS Plaza Fulton Street Laundry

Page 4 THE LAUNDROMAT PROJECT 15 YEARS IN BED-STUY

The Laundromat Project was seeded in 1999 by Founder Risë Wilson. Years later, in 2005, it became incorporated, functioning as a Brooklyn-based nonprofit organization. Since then, The LP has sustained a visible presence and ongoing engagement with NYC communities of color, including Central Brooklyn and A BROOKLN JOURNEY specifically Bed-Stuy. THROUGH ARTMAKING: 2005 2006 2007 The first LP arts program took place at The LP launched Create Change, Artists-in-Residence Stephanie Dinkins, the Stuyvesant Heights Senior Center. including Miriam Neptune, The Birthright Book Bench, Marmy Laundromat. Crisis.

Flyer excerpt for Bed-Stuy Works in A showing of The Birthright Crisis by AIR AIR Stephanie Dinkins reading on Book Progress, Stuyvesant Heights Senior Center Miriam Neptune at Bed-Stuy laundromat Bench in front of Marmy Laundromat

2009 2011 2012

Artist-in-Residence Tracee Worley, Dirty Artist-in-Residence Jabari Owens- Commissioned Artist Aisha Bell, Laundry Line. Bailey, Dispersing Planes II. SUSU, Marmy Laundromat.

Decal designs for AIR Tracee Worley's Dirty Paper planes from AIR Jabari Owens- AIR Aisha Bell activating Susu in front of Laundry Line Bailey's project, Dispersing Planes II Marmy Laundromat

Page 5 2013 2014 2015 Artist-in-Residence: Aisha Cousins, Artist-in-Residence: Chloë Bass, Artist-in-Residence: Rasu Jilani, Soulville, Marmy Laundromat. Department of Local Affairs, Mei Tei Griots in 'The Stuy, Sincerely, Laundromat. Tommy. In its inaugural year, Bed-Stuy's edition of Field Day featured the Renters' Archive Field Day featured activities presented Field Day featured Imagine Bed-Stuy, by Create Change Fellows Sara by Create Change Fellows Noelle presented by Create Change Fellows Ghoussaini, Raul Ayala, Joyce LeeAnn Abdullah, Taja Lindley, Leon James, Adaku Utah, Hossannah Asuncion, Joseph, Sukjong Hong and Kameelah Denae Hannah, Nehemoyia Young, Janan Rasheed. and Katherine Toukhy, in support of Jason Maas and OlaRonke the Department of Local Affairs project. Akinmowo. The LP launched Power of Perception, at the Brooklyn Community Arts & Media The LP launched another arts High School (BCAM) in Bed-Stuy. intensive program at BCAM called Print Change where students explored Community art workshops, Work in printmaking techniques. Progress, launched at Fulton Laundromat.

Community art workshop at Fulton AIR Chloë Bass activating Department of AIR Rasu Jilani working on Griots in The Laundromat, Bed-Stuy Local Affairs Stuy at Sincerely, Tommy in Bed-Stuy 2016 2017 2018 Artist-in-Residence: Salome Asega Commissioned Artist: OlaRonke Artist-in-Residence: Sal Muñoz,Yes, and Ayodamola Okunseinde, The Akinmowo, Black August Cocoon, Femme! A Community Space for Iyapo Repository, Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn Movement Center. Femmes of Color, Brooklyn Museum and Mayday Space. Museum of African Art and the Artist-in-Residence: Lizania Cruz, We Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration The News, Black Alliance for Just For Field Day, Create Change Fellows Corporation. Immigration Jaime Sunwoo, Ashleigh Goh Hua and Zain Alam supported Art Crawl by For Field Day, Create Change Fellows For Field Day, Create Change Fellows STooPs Bed-Stuy, Hancock T&T Lindsay Catherine, Sue Jone Ka, Abby Dobson, Kearra Gopee, Nayo Community Garden, and Life Wellness Shamilia McBean, Salvador Muñoz Sasaki-Picou, and Candace Williams BK Center. presented Weaving Histories at Concord and Cynthia Tobar present Politics of Lizania Cruz continued her project "We Nursing Home. Protection in partnership with the The News," in partnership with the Audre Lorde Project's, SOS Collective. The LP launched after school program, Black Alliance for Just Immigration. Youth POWER Lab at BCAM.

2016 Create Change Fellows at Politics of 2017 Create Change, Abby Dobson at Passerby reading a story zine from Lizania Protection in Bed-Stuy Concord Nursing Home Cruz's project We the News in Brooklyn Page 6 2019 Artist-in-Residence: Seyi Adebanjo, Afromystic Experimental Project

Artist-in-Residence: Bianca Mońa, Wholeness Manifested: A Sound Art Pop Up Event, Feeding Tree Community Garden

Artist-in-Residence: Ariana Allensworth, Staying Power, New York City Housing Authority's Lafayette Gardens

A NEW HOME FOR AIR Bianca Mona activating Wholeness Manifested at Feeding Tree Cmty Garden THE LAUNDROMAT PROJECT

After a 2-year visioning process, The LP has committed to 2020 balancing ongoing citywide work with an anchoring presence in a single NYC neighborhood. Thus, starting in early 2021, the Artist-in-Residence: Ariana organization will return to its original home of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn Allensworth continues Staying Power in partnership with NYCHA with the opening of a new multi-use space.

Artist-in-Residence: Sydney Baloue, In a nod to founder Risë Wilson’s original vision of The LP as a Icons, Legends, Statements and lively, public, creative hub firmly embedded in a neighborhood, the Stars organization is consolidating programs and administration into a single home for the first time. This move will situate The LP in the everyday path of local artists and neighbors, becoming part of their fabric of community life.

The LP will use its new home to foster creative and neighbor-driven programs in partnership with local artists and entities; offer art and community-building workshops; support artist commissions and exhibitions; and host community gatherings. We are exploring innovative ways to do this safely in the time of social distancing.

Images from AIR Ariana Allensworth's project, Staying Power in Central Brooklyn

Page 7 THE LAUNDROMAT PROJECT STAFF SUPPORTERS

The Andy Warhol Foundation, The Bay & Paul Moncho Alvarado Ladi'Sasha Jones Operations Associate Artist Engagement Foundations, David and Minnie Berk Foundation, Manager The Cy Twombly Foundation, The David Teiger Tiara Austin Foundation, Ford Foundation, The Helen Programs Associate Julia Mata Frankenthaler Foundation, Jerome Foundation, Storytelling Fellow Lambent Foundation, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Amelia Brod Luce Foundation, Materials for the Arts, The Development Hatuey Ramos-Fermin Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, NY City Dept of Manager Director of Programs Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Emma Colón Ayesha Williams The NY State Council on the Arts, the Mosaic Media & Storytelling Deputy Director Network and Fund in The New York Community Manager Trust, Race Forward, Robert Rauschenberg Cievel Xicohtencatl Foundation, The Shelley & Donald Rubin Kemi Ilesanmi Community Engagement Foundation, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Executive Director Manager Tecovas Foundation, The Willem de Kooning Fdtn, The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust BOARD OF DIRECTORS NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD

Merele Williams Adkins Glenn Ligon Ashima Aggarwal Dr. Erika Faust Erin Barnes Larry Ossei-Mensah Naomi Beckwith Rasu Jilani Ryan Dennis Katy Rogers Tiana Webb Evans Nelini Stamp Aaron Cedolia Kevin Rabsatt Teresita Fernandez Eugenie Tsai Susan Delvalle George Suttles Sonia Guiñansaca Javier Valdes Marcus Ellington Thomas Lax Dr. Deborah Willis Susana Torruella Leval Laura Zabel COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN CENTRAL BROOKLYN

462 Halsey Community Garden Lafayette Gardens Community Center Audre Lorde Project's SOS Collective Life Wellness Brooklyn Center Bedford-Stuyvesant Museum of African Art M & M Community Laundry Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation Marmy Laundromat Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Arts Mayday Space Black Alliance for Just Immigration Mei Tai Laundromat Bridge Street Development Corporation Museum of African Art Brooklyn Community Arts & Media High School Once Upon A Corner Brooklyn Movement Center STooPs Bed-Stuy Brooklyn Museum Sincerely, Tommy Brooklyn Public Library Stuyvesant Heights Senior Center Concord Baptist Freedom School Scholars The Luminal Theater Concord Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center Von King Park Feeding Tree Community Garden Weaving Hand Fulton Street Laundry Weeksville Heritage Center Hancock T&T Community Garden Page 8