A large part of this stems from the fact that in Harlem, aside from 125th Street, one of the most developed shopping areas, residents do not have other options, making social distancing impossible for people who need food and supplies.

Most businesses are closed, reducing foot traffic. But essential businesses that remain open like the grocery stores and banks have created unavoidable crowds, putting people within close proximity of one another.

This is Harlem during COVID-19.

People practice social distancing while on line for CVS, April 4, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

People wait on line for Whole Foods, April 4, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

A woman walks down 125th Street, April 4, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

People wait on line to enter the Dollar Tree store, April 4, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

A man stands outside of the Apollo Theater, April 4, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

A man walks his dog on Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd, April 4, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

People wait on line for TD Bank, April 4, 2020

A woman waits at a bus station, April 4, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

A masked bus driver waits for passengers, April 4, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

A man walks down an empty 124th Street, April 4, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge

The post The heart of Harlem struggles with social distancing appeared first on Pavement Pieces.

The post NYCHA tenants are fed up appeared first on Pavement Pieces.

Thurgood Marshall Academy is a pretty typical high school in Harlem. A little more than 500 kids go there and the majority are low-income. But it turns out, it’s also a great example of how the New York City’s “AP For All” plan to increase college access may be misguided.

The post When AP For All only helps some appeared first on Pavement Pieces.

Street Squash After School Program Teaches More than a Game from Pavement Pieces on Vimeo.

The post Street Squash After School Program Teaches More than a Game appeared first on Pavement Pieces.

Hitting the 22-mile marker next to Marcus Garvey park in Harlem, today marathon runners were greeted with cheers of “you can do it”, signs reading “22 miles and you still look sexy”, and the smells of cooking hot dogs and hamburgers.

The members of 5th Ave. Church of God, located right along the route on 5th Avenue and 120th street, came out at 9:30 a.m. to offer free food, music, words of encouragement and prayers.

“We’re out here today because we realized that New York City has one day that it comes together, that it’s absolutely diverse and unified and that’s on this day: the marathon,” said church member Diana Branch. “So we figured we’d come out and join in with all of the diversity and beautiful love of unity and also give out free food and tell people the love of Jesus just by showing it, because sometimes people don’t want to come into church and I get it. We’re too churched out in this nation. So instead of doing all of that we wanted to come out and pray for people, give them food and bless people.”

Members of the church attend the race every year cheering runners on and offering them prayers and inspiring words, but this year they wanted to do something different.

“Last year when we came out we were just talking and cheering people on, but this year is the first year that we’ve done the food and the music,” Branch said. “We’re giving out hamburgers and hot dogs and water and we’re also sending the kids out to encourage the runners with waters and high-fives.”

First lady of the church, Juanita Daniels, wanted to make sure that the church supported and encouraged the runners and everyone at the race without compromising themselves.

“To be relevant without compromise,” said Daniels on why the church was supporting the race. “Our music is Christian music. It’s Christian rap, Christian salsa, Christian R&B and it’s a tool of Evangelism. It would draw those who normally wouldn’t come. If you watch for a little while you will see people walk by and they’re dancing and they don’t even realize its Christian music and it draws them in and then we have that chance to spread the love of Jesus with them.”

Branch also felt that it was important to support the race and runners because it was a great time to come together.

“It’s a beautiful day for diversity,” she said. “I admire this day so much because with everything that’s going on with the world this is the one place right now that nobody’s angry. It’s awesome.”

The post 2016 NYC Marathon: A church greeting in Harlem appeared first on Pavement Pieces.

Wearing a neon vest with the word “coach” plastered across the front, Asteria Claure, 61, cheered on the 2015 New York City Marathon runners for the 12^th consecutive year, as they ran through Harlem today. She knew how it felt having run in the marathon for 10 years.

“I was 16-years-old when I started to run, I was a track runner, a sprinter,” she said “When I turned 40 I started to run marathons.”

Claure has attended the marathon, as either a runner or supporter, since 1994. Born and raised in Bolivia, she said she had always loved sports, but none of them resonated with her like track and field.

“Running was the best for me, I learned to challenge myself,” she said.   “When I was in basketball I used to get upset when I lost the game, I didn’t like it. I went into track, I was winning, I said it’s going to be on me.”

After graduating from college, Claure spent 20 years in Venezuela running and working as a physical education teacher and coach.

She said that it was a challenge that brought her to New York in 1994. A friend challenged her to run in the marathon and from there she fell in love with the New York City Marathon. She returned to Bolivia in 1995 and was invited to New York once again to take part in the World Champion Masters in Buffalo, N.Y.

“I came to the world champions and then after that I never went back to my country,” Claure said. “When I came to New York, the first thing I did is come to Central Park and look for the runners.”

Claure has since taken part in 15 marathons. She said that while she is still healthy she will continue to run and encourage others to do the same.

The New York City Marathon runners pushed through Harlem as they came to mile twenty-three with only three miles separating them from the finish line. By Astrid Hacker

“Go Julie, don’t look down, hey, don’t look down,” Claure shouted to one of the runners. “Come on, don’t give it up.”

Armed with a cowbell in one hand, she screamed advice to the runners that were slowed down by leg cramps and encouragement to those weary from the run as they pushed on. This year Claure cheered as a member of the organization New York Road Runners (NYRR) Team for Kids. The organization encourages children to run, and she was there to support the members of the organization that were taking part in the race.

“I don’t just cheer them, I cheer to everybody because I’m a runner, I’m a coach,” she said and then pointed to her head. “Everything is here. If you are able to run 5k you are able to run a marathon, but you have to start training.”

She said that, for her, running is everything. It is her life.

“If I’m going to win it’s on me, if I’m going to lose it’s on me.”

The post New York City Marathon: Harlem appeared first on Pavement Pieces.

He started up the first-ever Ferg Fair, an event that took place at the Harlem Polo Grounds Community Center on Sunday, August 9. The fair focused on healthy living and positivity, with free health checks, activities and performances for 300 young people. The Harlem-bred rapper partnered with The Children’s Village and People of Peace (POP) to give back to his community and pick up where his grandmother left off.

“She used to do a health fair in my father’s name because he died of a kidney failure,” said A$AP Ferg. “I figured, I have a little fan base now, so that’ll be cool for me to use my star power for something positive.”

His “little” fan base is actually a pretty big one, with more than 435,000 followers on Twitter.

A$AP Ferg hopes to encourage the youth of Harlem to reach for their dreams.

“I just want them to be inspired. Inspired to know, inspired to be curious, be curious about themselves and what’s going on in their bodies as far as health,” he said. “I was always curious as a young child, wanting to know what was happening in New York City besides Harlem. I think that curiosity led me to where I am right now.”

A$AP Ferg signing autographs at the Ferg Fair. Photo by Christina Dun.

The event ended with a performance by Ferg and a Q&A session with the audience. He sat on the edge of the stage, surrounded by excited fans. The intimate setting and genuine answers proved he’s like the big brother they’ve been looking for.

“I’m here if they need that guy who came from the same place they came from. I’m cut from the same cloth, I’ve probably gone through the same battles. I made it out, so you can make it out too,” he said. “As long as you got that goal in your head of where you want to go on top of that mountain, you’ll find a way to get up there. I can’t tell you how you’re going to get up there, but you’ll find a way and I’ll meet you up there.”

With events like the Ferg Fair, he’s setting a great example for teens and spreading a positive message about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.

The post A$AP Ferg Hosts Health Fair For Youth appeared first on Pavement Pieces.

Born in Ghana, international artist, Tafa, opens his Harlem studio and shares his inspirations.

The post NY People: Tafa the artist appeared first on Pavement Pieces.