Reverend Linnette C Williamson Memorial Park Association

AS A NONSECTARIAN, NONPROFIT, HARLEM LAND TRUST, WE USE AND PROTECT OUR FOUR PUBLIC, OPEN SPACES TO HELP STRENGTHEN THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF HARLEM. WE USE OUR 3 VEST-POCKET PARKS AND COMMUNITY GARDENS, AND 1 URBAN MEADOW PLAYGROUND TO BRING TOGETHER PEOPLE OF DIVERSE AGES, CULTURES, GENDERS, INCOMES, RACES, RELIGIONS, SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, ETC. OUR GROUP GROWS THE IDEA AND PRACTICE OF "COMMUNITY" WITH PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS FOR THE BENEFIT OF NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS.

OPERATION OF LAND TRUST TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES: AS ONE OF THE FEW INNER-CITY, URBAN LAND TRUSTS IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE UNITED STATES, OUR NONSECTARIAN, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IS A VERY PRACTICAL TOOL. IT IS TO BE USED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERSHIP TO HELP SOLVE LOCAL PROBLEMS AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS, SENIORS, AND FAMILIES. THE COMMUNITY SERVICES WE OFFER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE SINCE BEING FOUNDED IN 1994 WITHOUT OUR NONPROFIT OPERATING AS A FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION. THIS REQUIRES RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP, AN ACTIVE AND DEDICATED MEMBERSHIP, FINANCIAL VIABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRUST AND SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

CREATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC, OPEN SPACES: AS ONE OF THE FEW URBAN LAND TRUSTS IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE UNITED STATES, THE REV. WILLIAMSON PARK ASSOCIATION BUILT, AND NOW PRESERVES AND PROTECTS, FOUR (4) PUBLIC, OPEN SPACE PROPERTIES. WE OPERATE ON THESE PROPERTIES AN AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL PROGRAM FOR 50+ FAMILIES TO BE BIG-CITY FARMERS. OUR PROPERTIES INCLUDE THREE VEST-POCKET PARKS (UNITY PARK, REV. LINNETTE C. WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL PARK, AND THE EDWARD P. BOWMAN PARK) AND THE HARLEM VILLAGE GREEN "URBAN MEADOW" CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND. THE PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED AT 53-57 AND 65 WEST 128TH STREET; AND 52 WEST 129TH STREET BETWEEN 5TH AND LENOX AVENUES IN THE NORTHERN MANHATTAN COMMUNITY OF HARLEM. PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO THE HEALTH DANGERS OF THE COVID19 PANDEMIC, THE GOVERNMENT MANDATED A DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN THE USE OF OUR PROPERTIES TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH.

HOMELESS FAMILIES IN HARLEM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER: WE SUPPORTED FAMILIES LIVING IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER IN CENTRAL HARLEM. SAFE HORIZON, "THE LARGEST VICTIM SERVICES NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES," PROVIDED SERVICES IN THE SHELTER "TO VICTIMS OF ABUSE AND VIOLENT CRIME." THE REV. WILLIAMSON PARK ASSOCIATION PURCHASED NEW CLOTHING, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, ETC., FOR THE APPROXIMATELY 100 CHILDREN IN THE SHELTER. THEY RETURNED TO IN-SCHOOL CLASSES FOR THE 2021-2022 ACADEMIC YEAR AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF VIRTUAL LEARNING. WE ALSO FUNDED CLOTHING, ETC., FOR SOME OF THE PARENTS IN THE SHELTER, AND HELPED TO PROVIDE MEALS DURING SEVERAL WEEKENDS FOR THE SHELTER FAMILIES. THE FOOD SERVICES WERE OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE "LET LOVE FOUNDATION." THE OVERWHELMING PERCENTAGE OF SPENDING WENT TO SATISFY THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS. THEY WERE EXCITED TO BEGIN A SCHOOL YEAR WITH NEW CLOTHES AND OTHER BACK-TO-SCHOOL ITEMS. WE WERE TOLD BY SHELTER STAFF AND PARENTS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN A SHELTER ARE OFTEN LABELED AS "SHELTER KIDS" BY PEERS IF CLOTHES DO NOT FIT PROPERLY AND ARE NOT IN GOOD CONDITION. THE NEW CLOTHES WERE A HUGE BOOST TO SELF-ESTEEM AND CONFIDENCE. THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE ITEMS SELECTED BY THE PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN, AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ITEMS PURCHASED FOR THE SHELTER RESIDENTS: 623 PAIRS OF SOCKS; 479 UNDERWEAR GARMENTS; 436 ARTWORK SUPPLIES , CHILDREN'S VIDEOS, ETC.; 305 BLOUSES, SHIRTS, SWEATERS, SWEATSHIRTS, AND T-SHIRTS; 296 FILE FOLDERS, PENS, PENCILS, AND WRITING PAPER; 227 JOGGING OUTFITS, LEGGINGS, PANTS, SHORTS, AND SLACKS; 143 COATS, HOODIES, JACKETS, AND WINDBREAKERS; AND 58 BACKPACKS, BOOK BAGS, LUNCH BAGS, AND TOTE BAGS.