Harlem Inc. and BMORENews.com to Present the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Award
(HARLEM, N.Y. – July 8, 2026) — Every conversation has the power to deepen understanding.
A lengthy conversation this week with Harlem community leader Denise Mitchell did exactly that.
What began as a discussion about the upcoming Black Wall Street Harlem celebration quickly became a master class on the people whose lives have helped define modern Harlem. It also reinforced why Black Wall Street Harlem, scheduled for Saturday, July 25, is much more than another community event. It is a celebration of legacy, leadership, entrepreneurship, and the people who continue to make Harlem one of the most influential Black communities in the world.
Presented by Harlem Inc. in conjunction with BMORENews.com, the event will once again feature the prestigious Joe Manns Black Wall Street Award, honoring individuals whose work reflects the enduring spirit of Black enterprise and community leadership.
The conversation with Mitchell painted a vivid picture of Harlem through the lives of those who have devoted themselves to its advancement.
Among them is her brother, Billy Mitchell, better known throughout Harlem as “Mr. Apollo.”
Known as the official historian, tour director, and ambassador of the world-famous Apollo Theater, Mitchell began working at the Apollo in 1965, at age 15. For six decades, he has chronicled the theater’s extraordinary history while working alongside legendary artists including James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and Mary J. Blige.
To know Harlem, Mitchell suggested, is to know the people who have quietly preserved its story.
That conversation also highlighted respected community leaders including Dr. J.E. Franklin, whose advocacy has long strengthened Harlem, and Sylvia White of Harlem Hospital, a woman whose commitment to community health and service has earned widespread admiration.
I have had the pleasure of meeting Sylvia White before, and I look forward to seeing her again later this month.
Mitchell also spoke passionately about State Senator Cordell Cleare, describing a public servant whose love for Harlem is evident in everything she does.
Those familiar with Harlem already know.
Senator Cleare is everywhere.
She has consistently stood with neighborhood organizations, residents, businesses, and institutions. She is deeply engaged in community life, fiercely protective of Harlem’s legacy, and unapologetically proud of Black people and Black history.
Simply put, you can’t know Harlem and not know State Senator Cordell Cleare.
Nor can you know Harlem without knowing Walter Edwards and Regina Smith of the Harlem Business Alliance, whose decades of leadership and mentorship have helped strengthen the business community.
You can’t know Harlem without knowing Vito Jones, founder of Harlem Inc., whose vision has helped preserve Harlem’s rich tradition of celebrating Black excellence while creating opportunities for future generations.
And after speaking with Denise Mitchell, one thing became abundantly clear:
You can’t truly know Harlem unless you know her brother, Billy “Mr. Apollo” Mitchell.
That conversation left me even more excited about returning to Harlem on July 25.
Beyond presenting the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards, I’ll have the opportunity to spend time with many of these remarkable individuals, hear their stories firsthand, and share those stories with our audiences at BMORENews.com and BlackUSA.News.
Those conversations matter.
Institutional memory matters.
The people who build communities deserve to have their stories preserved while they are still here to tell them.
We’re especially grateful to Vito Jones and everyone at Harlem Inc. for once again welcoming us back to Harlem.
Thank you for continuing to include Baltimore in this important work.
One of the strongest themes to emerge from my conversation with Denise Mitchell was something we both believe wholeheartedly:
The New York-Baltimore connection is real.
It is historic.
It has always been strong.
From business and politics to music, media, education, faith, and civic leadership, generations of Black leaders have traveled between these two great cities, sharing ideas, building institutions, and strengthening one another.
Black Wall Street Harlem is another chapter in that ongoing relationship.
Over the past 15 years, we’ve proudly hosted approximately a dozen Black Wall Street Harlem events, recognizing entrepreneurs, educators, elected officials, nonprofit leaders, artists, and community builders whose work continues to inspire.
This year’s gathering promises to continue that tradition.
The event is scheduled as an outdoor celebration on 116th Street in Harlem, with additional venue details, program participants, and honorees to be announced soon.
In the meantime, nominations remain open for the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Award.
We’re looking for individuals whose leadership in business, entrepreneurship, education, media, public service, nonprofit work, or community development reflects the values that have defined Black Wall Street for generations.
To submit a nomination, email doni@bmorenews.com.
Nomination deadline: Wednesday, July 15.
On July 25, Baltimore returns to Harlem—not simply as visitors, but as partners celebrating a shared commitment to Black excellence, economic empowerment, and community leadership.
Stay tuned.
More details are coming soon.
