TESTIMONY
Testimony: Zachal Farrell, Community Liaison, from Belongo on Park Avenue Project
0:37:16
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128 sec
Zachal Farrell, representing Belongo as a community liaison, proudly testifies about the organization's deep connection to various parts of Harlem and their enthusiasm for their involvement in the Park Avenue project. He highlights the intended benefits of the project, including performance spaces that are diverse, culturally relevant, educational spaces for the community, and opportunities for local artists and the community to engage in various activities.
Speaker 6
0:37:16
My name is Zachal Farrell.
0:37:17
I am the community liaison with Belongo, formerly known as the African Jazz Alliance.
0:37:24
I just first wanna say that we are very proud to have called various parts of Harlem home for a long time.
0:37:30
From when we had our offices at Harlem School of The Arts, 2, when we had our offices at the Minneapolis Townhouse with the Mission Society, then to the one bedroom apartment that we turned into an office on at 20 West 125th Street between Malcolm X And 5th.
0:37:46
And now we're at Arcspace, El Barrio on 99th between 2nd 3rd.
0:37:51
So we feel a deep connection to the area and our very proud to be a part of this project and that our forever home can be on Park Avenue between 118th 1 19th.
0:38:02
I just wanna talk about the activation of of that of Park Avenue and all the activities, all that all that we'll be able to offer to the community up there.
0:38:12
Whether it's our performance spaces, where we'll be presenting artists and performances that are diverse and culturally relevant to people in community.
0:38:21
That reflect the incredible diversity of the community to the smaller venue that we'll have as part of our cafe, which we can treat as like a jazz which can be an opportunity for local artists to meet each other and perform together and have opportunities to make music and build community almost every night of the week.
0:38:43
We have educational spaces where we are playing, oh my god.
0:38:46
I'm already almost done.
0:38:48
Where do we want to?
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We want to be the community music school in East Harlem.
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We want to be where young people can come and take classes that are affordable.
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We want to we wanna use our co working spaces as places where people can get English classes or as has become increasingly important Spanish classes.
0:39:06
Personal finance classes.
0:39:09
That's my time.
0:39:11
Thank you.
Speaker 1
0:39:11
Thank you, Linda.
0:39:12
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2
0:39:13
Yes, sir.
0:39:14
We did not announce that the public will be given 2 minutes to speak.
0:39:17
I apologize.
0:39:19
You
Speaker 14
0:39:21
you're clearly at Maybe again okay.
