Fab Five Freddy, Demetria Lucas, Danny Simmons and Michaela angela Davis Join Brooklyn Community Services’ ONE Brooklyn Community Movement

By wearebcs (Brooklyn Community Services).

Published June 1, 2015

BCS

Three of the participants, from let to right: Hip-Hop pioneer Fab Five Freddy, writer and actress Demetria Lucas and supermodel Freja Beja-Erichsen.

(Manhattan, NY) June 1, 2015 – BCS will premiere a short film at the Human Spirit Awards (Monday, June 1, 2015, at Grand Hyatt-Manhattan Ballroom, 109 E 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017), which is a behind-the-scenes look at the ONE Brooklyn Community campaign photo shoot.

The campaign includes hip-hop pioneer, Fab Five Freddy; international supermodel, Freja Beha Erichsen; international celebrity chef, Roblé Ali; image activist, Michaela angela Davis; expressionist painter, Danny Simmons; Grammy-nominated performer, Maiysha Kai and many more. (See below for full list of participants). BCS launched the ONE Brooklyn Community campaign to raise public awareness and community engagement around issues related to poverty in Brooklyn. The campaign’s call to action is to “Change the Math” for 25 percent of Brooklynites living in poverty.

“I am really proud to be a part of a campaign that brings attention to the underserved people in Brooklyn,” said Maiysha Kai, who also served as Art Director and helped organize Change the Math. “I am excited that so many people share my enthusiasm for both BCS and its mission.” Several campaign participants will be in attendance at the Human Spirit Awards to discuss the campaign and what ONE Brooklyn Community means to them.

The concept of the photo campaign is inspired by the work of the talented multi-media artist and photographer, Mark Holthusen. The concept blends images of local tastemakers, luminaries, investors and iconic natives with the clients that BCS serves. “We want to remind New Yorkers that Brooklyn is more than a destination or a trend,” said Ms. Kai.

BCS’s ONE Brooklyn Community campaign is helping to bring together the diverse voices of the borough through volunteerism, philanthropy and community engagement around issues of poverty in Brooklyn. The photo campaign will take the vision of ONE Brooklyn Community across the borough and throughout the city. Other initiatives of the ONE Brooklyn Community campaign include BCS’s panel discussions, “Brooklyn Stand Up!” and its networking a and fundraising events series, ONE BK Social. More information is available at onebrooklyncommunity.org.

“Change the Math” would not have been possible without the presence and participation of the following:

Anthony Evrard: Co-Owner, Court 16 (Gowanus)

Ben Bronfman & D Prosper: Producers/Musicians/Activists

Coco and Breezy: Fashion Designers

Danny Simmons: Artist/Philanthropist

Demetria Lucas: Writer/Cast Member, “Blood, Sweat & Heels”

Denae Howard: Artist

DJ Toni K: Celebrity DJ

Ebru Yildiz: Photographer/Co-Owner, Brooklyn Grain Studio (Greenpoint)

Fab 5 Freddy: Artist/Icon

Freja Beja-Erichsen: Supermodel

Heather Johnston: Owner, Good Wine (Park Slope)

Jaclyn Sarka & Matt Gelsomino: Agent/Co-Owner, JAG Models & Musician, ‘Ache’

Jeanine Hays & Bryan Mason: Owners/Interior Designers, AphroChic

Josh Grinker & Tracy Jane Young: Chefs/Owners, Kings County Imperial & Soy Works (Williamsburg)

Kristi Evans: Co-Owner, Verboten (Williamsburg)

Lauren Chan: Writer, Glamour magazine

Les Nubians: Grammy-nominated Musicians

Maiysha: Grammy-nominated Musician/Model

Marc Baptiste: Celebrity Photographer

Mari J: Street Style Blogger

Michaela angela Davis: Writer/Image Activist/Contributor, CNN

Mickalene Thomas: Artist

Neil Farinah: Celebrity Hairstylist

Nicole Ponseca & Miguel Trinidad: Owner & Executive Chef, Maharlika & Jeepney Restaurants

Rachel Aschalew: Broker, NY Casa Group (Dumbo)

Ralphy Ramos: BMX Pro Biker

Ravi, Tonya & Kian Sharma: Co-Owner, Verboten, Model/Philanthropist & Son

Roblé Ali: Celebrity Chef

Ron & Aki Baker: Owners, The Compound Cowork (Flatbush)

Sheryl Roberts: Model/Owner, Indigo Style Vintage

Stephen Greco: Writer/LGBT Activist, Co-Owner, Court 16

About Mark Holthusen:

Visual Artist Mark Holthusen is best known for creating images that push boundaries. With a career that spans photography, motion, theater and digital innovation, Mark’s work contains a relentless elegance that extends from his painterly imagery to his graphic animations. From album art to music videos, Mark has created distinctive work for performers including Roger Waters, American Music Club, The Tiger Lillies, 16 Horsepower and The Dodos. In 2009, Roger Waters and Sony Music asked Mark to rethink traditional stage design for the debut of Waters’ opera, Ça Ira. Over 120 of Mark’s photographs served as the opera’s sole visual narration and were met by critical acclaim. In 2012, Mark and The Tiger Lillies collaborated on a performance of Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, which the Telegraph declared “a haunting evening’s entertainment full of ethereal grace. […] Holthusen’s animation is gorgeous.” Communication Arts, Graphis, American Photography and PDN have lauded Mark’s award-winning work. Mark has also won the IPA Photographer of the Year Awards for both Advertising and Music.

About the Human Spirit Awards:

The Human Spirit Awards is BCS’s largest fundraising event of the year and attracts over four hundred of New York’s influential business, community and cultural leaders. Funds raised at the event provide vital resources to support BCS’s mission to empower children, youth, adults and families to overcome obstacles, as we strive together to ensure opportunity for all to learn, grow and contribute to ONE Brooklyn Community. With nearly 25% of Brooklynites still living in poverty, this year’s theme, “Impacting Lives at the Speed of Brooklyn,” speaks to BCS’s commitment to empower underserved communities. Through the efforts of 400 caring staff members and over 800 dedicated volunteers, at our 20 locations across the borough, BCS is helping to “change the math” for the communities it serves.

For more information, please visit: http://www.wearebcs.org/bcs/news_events/HSA2015
Follow BCS and the hashtag #HSAwards2015 for all of the coverage of the event on social media: @wearebcs on Twitter and Instagram; @BrooklynCommunityServices on Facebook