Our community has a look and feel. Ever stop and wonder how it got that way? Who makes the creative decisions? How do the demands of real estate profitability dovetail with a neighborhood aesthetic? What does it take to preserve Harlem’s heritage while also setting the stage for its growth?

Karen A. Phillips, Director of the NYC region of NY State Parks and Recreation, can give you those answers and more.

Riverbank Park Carousel

This is the lady who manages six State Parks, ranging from Riverbank State Park in Harlem, a 28-acre urban waterfront rooftop with recreation and athletic facilities that include an Olympic-size pool, a covered skating rink and a 400-meter eight-lane running track, to Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve on Staten Island, a 260 acre nature preserve, complete with wetlands, ponds, sand barrens and wildlife.

Karen is also a founder and former president of Abyssinian Development Corp., who spearheaded ADC’s $200 million investment in Harlem, creating over 1,000 housing units, shepherding in large commercial real estate projects and providing a variety of community services.

Join us at 6:30 PM, Thursday, January 24, in the Pelham Fritz Center in Marcus Garvey Park, 18 MMPW (aka 5th Ave) & W 122 Street, for Mount Morris Talks! and meet this Georgia native who calls New York home and hear what she’s doing to help shape the Harlem of the 21st century.

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.