Longtime Harlem group chief Jackie Rowe-Adams celebrates her seventy fifth birthday with a reception at Riverside Church in Morningside Heights. The reception featured a whole bunch of visitors together with Rowe-Adams’ household, pals and connections she’s made all through her years of civic work.
Attendees included New York political and civic leaders and figures like Mayor Eric Adams, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, former Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields, Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg, CEO of The Larger Harlem Chamber of Commerce Lloyd Williams, and NYPD Commissioner, Edward A. Caban.
Leisure and performances included DJ Knuckles, rapper Will Traxx, “A Bronx Story” actress and singer Taral Hicks-Dawson, and the Bokandeye African American dancers and drummers.
A Harlem native, Rowe-Adams’ 13-year-old and 28-year-old sons have been victims of gun violence. She channeled her grief into civic work and in 2006 co-founding the non-profit Harlem Moms S.A.V.E. (Cease One other Violent Finish), which goals to fight gun violence in Harlem by way of activism, schooling and civics companies applications, in addition to supporting the households affected by gun violence.
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In the course of the celebration, visitors gave tributes to Rowe-Adams sharing how she touched their lives together with Adams who mentioned their historical past working collectively. Adams credited her for serving to revitalize his mayoral marketing campaign after trailing earlier within the race.
Adams introduced Rowe-Adams with a quotation from town.
“I can’t inform you how a lot you imply to me. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing, I’m at all times going to return and provide the help that you just deserve. You’re a tremendous sister. You’re authentically New York,” Adams mentioned.
Gibson and Clarke highlighted Rowe-Adams’ continued work within the Bronx.
“Whether or not it’s the village of Harlem or the ‘Boogie Down Bronx,’ there is no such thing as a bridge that can ever divide our work and our dedication. Once we want Ms. Jackie in The Bronx, she exhibits up in our borough and we respect that as a result of we now have a lot in widespread than we do this ever might divide us,” Gibson mentioned.
Gibson declared Rowe-Adams’ birthday, Thursday, July 13, 2023, as “Jackie Rowe-Adams Day” in The Bronx and introduced her with a proclamation.
Talking to the AmNews, Rowe-Adams shared a few of her feelings from the occasion.
“I used to be overwhelmed. However to know that so many individuals cared and wished to have a good time me and have a good time life, to see that room, it was unbelievable,” she mentioned. “All I did was say that’s God.”
This summer season, Rowe-Adams and Harlem Moms S.A.V.E. are persevering with their work to help households and struggle towards violence locally.
“What we’re doing is simply being there to let the mother and father and households know that they’re not alone. We’re the help crew,” she mentioned. “We take care of the bereavement and the counseling and the trauma that they’re coping with.”
Harlem Mom’s S.A.V.E. is main a number of initiatives this summer season together with a youth program to supply a secure area for youngsters and fight violence, working carefully with NYCHA and getting ready for Harlem Week subsequent month.
