Harlem Renaissance StoryBook Collection

You are Your Story
How often do you
Share Your Story
To let folks know who you, what you do and what you’ve accomplished.
Harlem StoryBook Collection is our opportunity for you to share your story.

“Tell it like it is”
In your own words…
for the world – particularly, our young people – to be enriched, energized and inspired

Harlem’s Storybook Collective is HREDC’s groundbreaking oral history project in collaboration with the New York Public Library that records and preserves the voices, experiences and wisdom of Harlem’s business community, ARTEntrepreneurs, and community leaders and residents. HREDC trains Harlem’s young people to conduct interviews. The recorded oral histories have become a part of an enduring legacy for not only Harlem’s young people but also for people from around the world to enjoy, learn from, and be inspired by.

“If life gives you a lemon, make lemonade”

— Grandma Dawn

Meet Dawn Harris Martine, the owner of Grandma’s Place in Harlem, a well-renowned toy and bookstore. She was 79 years old when interviewed in 2018. A retired schoolteacher, an architectural draftswoman and an entrepreneur, she thinks we all need to find our life’s passion.

You can watch the entire interview on our Youtube channel. Part 1 and Part 2.

“Your passion should lead you to money”

— Moikgantsi Kgama

Moikgantsi is the proud founder of ImageNation Cinema Foundation, a Harlem-based media arts group that strives to “foster media equity, media literacy, solidarity, cross-cultural exchange and highlight the humanity of Pan-African people worldwide.” Listen to her advice about making your passion sustainable.

You can watch the entire interview here.

“You are the help that you are looking for”

— Leon Ellis

Ellis owns 2 businesses in Harlem: the soul food restaurant Chocolat and Harlem Underground Clothing Company, which offers “apparels that transcend time”. Not knowing how to give up, Ellis strove to meet the community’s needs despite challenges and disbelief in the early 1990s.

You can also watch this on our YouTube channel here.