Barbara Askins

If you’ve ever wandered over 125^th Street, you know that this month’s guest speaker will have a lot to say at Mount Morris Talks! Thursday, October 6 at 6:30 PM.

She is Barbara Askins, President and CEO of the 125th Street Business Improvement District (BID) in our neighborhood of Upper Manhattan.

But Barbara is not just another professional bureaucrat assigned to oversee a piece of real estate. She actually created the BID in 1993, the first and only one of its kind in the Harlem Community.

And she continues to guide its development through results-driven strategies for retail plans, rezoning for future growth and cultural sustainability — always with a focus on the interplay between science, technology and businesses to create viable, lasting solutions for transforming such a challenging urban area as 125th into a healthier commercial district.

Her efforts are paying off and the results are becoming increasingly more visible.

She was responsible for bringing into fruition the first cultural bonus incentive in NYC, to be used to shape the future of 125th Street as a cultural destination.

The American Planning Association named 125th one of the 10 best streets in the country in 2007.

Barbara recently completed her term as chair of the International Downtown Association and has served as Vice Chair and Treasurer of New York City’s BID Manager’s Association, as an adjunct professor at NYU teaching urban tourism development and as chair of Central Harlem’s Community Board 10.

She has done extensive work in several cities as a public involvement specialist, putting her commitment behind transportation, environmental and facility planning projects, reconstruction of highways and city streets, upgrading rail and bus systems, and build-out of creative public spaces, sports and convention centers.

Perfect Peace

Although business has served as the primary path for Barbara’s career, she has never lost her passion for the arts. Nine of her original works of art were revealed at the opening of Aloft Harlem – the first new Harlem hotel in over 40 years – and on display from December 2010 through September 2011.

In talking about her technique and approach to creating art, she calls it “… aggressively exploring culture, texture, shape, rhythm, relationships and the positive spiritual energies of faith, truth, wisdom, peace and love.”

“I am so fortunate to have been able to do the things I love in business and in art,” she says. “People tell me it’s great to have a hobby. But for me, artistic expression is a part of my existence.”

Come enjoy a fascinating and inspiring discussion with one of the true catalysts of Harlem’s 21st century Renaissance. Thursday, October 6 at 6:30 PM at the Harlem Branch Library, 9 West 124 Street, 3rd floor.

Mount Morris Talks! is a series of conversations between the community and leaders, news makers, artists, authors and thinkers who live in the Harlem area. MMPCIA is proud to sponsor this series and offers it free of charge to the community.