By: Gloria Smith, Associate Editor  for  World Liberty TV

The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce leads or partners with major local, citywide, regional and national entities to host a series of business breakfasts, seminars, forums and conferences focused on key topics impacting Economic Development including traditional and non‐traditional lending, health services for employers and employees, e‐marketing, professional services and many other needs of a thriving business sector.

Exemplifying our year round activities is the annual Economic Development Day (EDD) conference hosted in partnership with Chamber member, Columbia University. EDD features topical conferences on the business and economic impacts on the Harlem community.

Each EDD Conference has its own theme a sampling of which includes presentations by developers of new projects in Upper Manhattan and New York as well as providing and promoting regional and international business opportunities for women, local and minority owned businesses, job fairs, business expos, loan pavilions and more.

Four key features are part of each EDD Conference: the Business Conference; the Health Conference; the Business Expo; and the Basil A. Paterson Business Awards Luncheon which is attended by city, state and regional business leaders.

Additionally, as part of GHCC’s educational endeavors, scholarships and grants are awarded that day to approximately twenty deserving college students pursuing degrees in various disciplines of higher education.

The Program started of with Program Emcee Dr.Bob Lee of WBLS.FM welcoming guests and introduction of the Dias guests, National Anthems were done by Joey Morant ,renowned trumpeter, Lloyd Williams President of Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce , organizers of Harlem Week’s NYC Economic Development Day  at Columbia University, welcoming remarks.

Guest speaker was Andy Byford, president of MTA New York City Transit, who spoke about the 2^nd ave, subway project becoming a reality very soon, and a good amount of funding was in place for that, he also went on to mention that he will squeeze and keep the pressure on the politicians as much as he can.

He also went onto say, he worked as a railway man, in London, Canada , Australia and was the best man suited to take on the challenges of the MTA NYC Transit.

Corey Johnson , the speaker of the New York City Council , Corey Johnson embodies the values of community service and political engagement .Johnson is known as a tenacious advocate for all New Yorkers .He advocates for National LGBTQ+ causes and tenant rights.

Mr Johnson was honored with the Harlem Week Pride 50 Award,  he started of thanking the committee for bestowing this great honor on him,he also mentioned he was an open gay man with HIV, in politics and he was a very big fan of 1^st Black Mayor of New York City, David N.Dinkins, who fought in having the LGBTQ members march in the St Patrick’s day parade here in NYC,and helped in establishing many programs throughout the city when the HIV crisis was going through the roof.

Hon.H.Carl McCall ,in an distinguished career as a government official and civic leader .H.Carl McCall ,over the years ,has served as NY State Senator : Ambassador to the United Nations and vice president of Citicorp .

He was a member of the board of NY Stock Exchange ,and was the first African-American elected as New York State Comptroller,and as Chairman of the State University of New York  Board of Trustees.

Carl McCall was honored with the Citi Founders Award, he was not able to attend due to an medical issue, he had representatives who was there to get his well-deserved award.

Hon.David N. Dinkins, and internationally renowned politician ,lawyer, and author who served as the 106^th Mayor of New York City. He was the first and, to date, the only African-American to hold that office.

Dinkin’s served in the NY State Assembly and also as President of the Borough of Manhattan before coming Mayor. After  leaving office ,Dinkin’s joined the faculty of Columbia University .

He serves on the boards of the New York City Global Partners, and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. Mayor Dinkin’s was honored with the 2019 Basil Patterson Award. Congress member Charles Rangel picked up his award for him as Mayor Dinkin’s had a cold and could not attend.

Remarks were made by guests from The City of Memphis, Presentations of Harlem Week 2019, Scholarships , Grants and Internships were presented .Closing remarks were by Lloyd Williams President of Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce , organizers of Harlem Week’s NYC Economic Development Day  at Columbia University.

After the Economic Development Day , we attended The Urban Technology and Cybersecurity Summit which was organized by Silicon Harlem ,headed by Clayton banks.

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