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WHILE WE ARE STILL HERE INCORPORATED
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 473980592 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE A20 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Micro (<$100K) · whilewearestillhere.org
revenue
$50K
expenses
$334K
net assets
$18K
employees
—
program ratio
82%
mission · from form 990

WHILE WE ARE STILL HERE (WWSH) WILL EDUCATE, ENSHRINE AND PRESERVE THE EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY OF HARLEM AS AN INFLUENTIAL INCUBATOR THAT WAS VITAL TO THE INTELLECTUAL, CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ADVANCEMENTS OF THE HARLEM COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE AFRICAN DIASPORA.

profile · synthesized from sources

While We Are Still Here Incorporated is a Harlem-based cultural organization dedicated to preserving and educating about the intellectual, cultural, and political legacy of Harlem as a vital incubator for African American and diasporic advancement. The organization highlights Harlem’s historical significance through profiles of prominent artists, activists, musicians, and scholars connected to the community, emphasizing its enduring influence on American culture.

named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

Harlem Cultural Legacy Project
Profiles and promotes the contributions of Harlem-based artists, musicians, writers, and activists to preserve the neighborhood’s historical and cultural significance.
Preservation and Education Initiative
Documents and disseminates the intellectual and social advancements of the Harlem community and its impact on the African diaspora.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Documentary Film Production 2 activities
    • Premiere of documentary at Columbia University
      Hosted the premiere of the documentary _In the Face of What We Remember: Oral Histories of 409 and 555 Edgecombe Avenue_ at Columbia University's Miller Theater.
    • Production of documentary on 409 and 555 Edgecombe Avenue
      Produced the documentary _In the Face of What We Remember: Oral Histories of 409 and 555 Edgecombe Avenue_, chronicling the history of two significant Harlem buildings as centers of Black cultural, social, and political life.
  • Free Outdoor Music Concerts 1 activity
    • Annual Sugar Hill Music Festival
      Organizes and presents the annual Sugar Hill Music Festival, including the 9th Annual event featuring performers such as Nnenna Freelon.
  • Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
    • Harlem Markers Project: historic marker installations and public engagement
      Initiated and installed twenty-five historic markers through the SIGNS OF THE TIMES: Harlem Markers Project to honor significant people, events, and organizations in Harlem; includes public programming such as bus tours of marker sites and a day-long celebration at the Victoria Theater Building.
  • Oral History Collection and Preservation 1 activity
    • Oral history and digitization project in Harlem
      Conducts The Harlem We Know: Oral Histories and Digitization Project to record oral histories and digitize personal materials from Harlem residents and organizations.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Community programming honoring Black cultural and historical figures
      Hosts events such as “Lift Ev’ry Black Voice of Fire” to honor Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Larry Neal, and J. Rosamond Johnson, and organized a book giveaway in honor of Regina Anderson Andrews at the Washington Heights New York Public Library branch (May 2024).
    • Development and operation of Harlem Markers Project mobile application
      Develops and operates a mobile application called SIGNS OF THE TIMES: Harlem Markers Project to support public engagement with Harlem's historical markers.
    • Preservation and documentation of Harlem's African American history
      Documents and preserves the history of African American residents at 409 and 555 Edgecombe Avenue, highlighting the socioeconomic diversity of Black America during the early to mid-20th century, and works to educate, enshrine, and preserve Harlem’s legacy as a center of intellectual, cultural, social, and political advancement within the African diaspora.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$50K
Contributions & grants$50K100%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$334K
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$131K
Grants paid out—
Largest expense lineOther
balance sheet
Total assets$23K
Cash$342K
Investments$0
Liabilities$21K
Net assets$18K
Liquid reserves12.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -49.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
KAREN D TAYLOR Executive Dir. 40 $80K
board members · 4
  • BYRON C SAUNDERS — BOARD MEMBER
  • JUNE WATSON BENJAMIN — BOARD MEMBER
  • PAULETTE J TABB — BOARD MEMBER
  • VERA E SIMS — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 40

Who they work with

  • African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund Funder — Grant funder for a project, supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
  • Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Partner — Marline A. Martin, team member of While We Are Still Here, is affiliated with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
  • City University of New York Partner — Multiple team members, including Herb Boyd, Professor Rosemari Mealy, and William Seraile, are affiliated with CUNY
  • Columbia Community Services Funder — Institutional donor supporting the organization
  • Columbia University Partner — Hosted the premiere of the organization's documentary at Miller Theater.
  • Columbia University Partner — Professor Jamal Joseph, team member of While We Are Still Here, is affiliated with Columbia University
  • Department of Cultural Affairs Funder — Institutional donor supporting the organization
  • Fordham University Partner — Professor Mark Naison, team member of While We Are Still Here, is affiliated with Fordham University
  • Google Analytics Partner — Shares user information with Google Analytics to track and analyze service usage.
  • Harlem Community Development Corporation Funder — Institutional donor supporting the organization
  • Harlem Entrepreneurial Fund Funder — Institutional donor supporting the organization
  • Humanities NY Funder — Institutional donor supporting the organization
  • J. Rosamond J Partner — Individual honored in the "Lift Ev’ry Black Voice of Fire" program.
  • J. Rosamond Johnson Foundation Funder — Institutional donor supporting the organization
  • Jazz Foundation of America Funder — Institutional donor supporting the organization
  • Jazz at Lincoln Center Partner — Co-founder of While We Are Still Here is affiliated with Jazz at Lincoln Center
  • Jenn Jade Ledesna Partner — Featured performer at the Sugar Hill Music Festival.
  • Larry Neal Partner — Individual honored in the "Lift Ev’ry Black Voice of Fire" program.
  • Lavender Light, The Black and People of All Colors Lesbian and Gay Gospel Choir Partner — Performing gospel choir at the Sugar Hill Music Festival.
  • Lehman College Partner — William Seraile, team member of While We Are Still Here, is Professor Emeritus at Lehman College, CUNY
  • Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Funder — Institutional donor supporting the organization
  • Malcolm X Partner — Individual honored in the "Lift Ev’ry Black Voice of Fire" program.
  • Marcus Garvey Partner — Individual honored in the "Lift Ev’ry Black Voice of Fire" program.
  • Medical Center Neighborhood Fund Funder — Institutional donor supporting the organization
  • Mellon Foundation Funder — Institutional donor supporting the organization
  • National Endowment for the Humanities Funder — Institutional donor supporting the organization
  • National Trust for Historic Preservation Funder — Funded a project through the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund
  • New York Community Trust Funder — Institutional donor supporting the organization
  • New York Life Funder — Institutional donor supporting the organization
  • New York Public Library Partner — Co-hosted a book giveaway in honor of Regina Anderson Andrews at the Washington Heights branch.
+ 10 more
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Centered Historical Narrative
    methodology: community-centered historical preservation
    By broadening the historical narrative of Harlem beyond dominant themes of the Harlem Renaissance, poverty, and gentrification to include everyday resilience and community life, the organization strengthens local ownership of history because inclusive storytelling fosters relevance and connection in a changing urban landscape.
  • Cultural Preservation as Community Empowerment
    methodology: cultural_preservation_and_education
    By preserving and promoting Harlem's legacy as an incubator of African American intellectual, cultural, social, and political advancement, the organization fosters cultural continuity, diasporic connection, and community empowerment, because reclaiming historical narrative strengthens identity and resilience in the face of gentrification and erasure.
  • Oral History as Intergenerational Transmission
    methodology: oral_history_preservation
    By collecting and sharing oral histories from elder residents, the organization preserves culturally significant knowledge and lived experience, because firsthand narratives ensure authentic, community-rooted transmission of Black history across generations.
  • Public Memorialization for Cultural Memory
    methodology: public history and memorialization
    By installing public historical markers and hosting remembrance events, the organization reinforces collective identity and cultural memory in Harlem, because visible, communal recognition of influential people and events sustains community pride and continuity.