Picture the Homeless is so proud to announce the three fantastic folks we’ll be honoring at #DanceGiving 2018:
Hip Hop Icon Jim Jones; journalist and activist Joan McAllister; and New York City Council Member Antonio Reynoso!!!!
All three of these people have made incredible contributions to the struggle for justice for all New Yorkers, especially the most marginalized. And all three have championed and celebrated and supported our own work at so many crucial moments, so it’s an honor and a privilege to be able to celebrate them for once!!
DanceGiving will be Thursday, October 18th, from 6-9PM, at the Pier A Harbor House (22 Battery Place, New York NY). Click here for tickets!!
And to kick your support up to the next level, please check out our sponsorship rates, and ad rates for our electronic journal!
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Jim Jones is a Hip Hop Icon, Television Star, Entrepreneur, and Entertainment Mogul under Roc Nation Management. He is known for successful hits such as “We Fly High” and “Pop Champagne” along with starring television roles on VH1’s Love & Hip Hop,” “Chrissy & Mr. Jones,” “Vow or Never” and currently “Marriage Bootcamp Family Edition” via WEtv. Jim recently starred in Irv “Gotti” Lorenzo’s anthology series “TALES” on BET. Jim is the owner of the Richmond Roughriders AFL football team, VL-mobile communication service, ,Vampire Life Clothing as well as the VampBerry beverage brand. His most recent album Wasted Talent released April 2018, received significant praise from critics – the Howard Stern Show called the album a “masterpiece,” and the Joe Budden Podcast, as well as Complex, said Jones has one of the top albums of the year. Jim has a significant social media following, with over 5 million followers on Twitter and Instagram combined, and is dedicated to various humanitarian efforts have displayed his affinity for giving back to the inner city youth community. | @jimjonescapo
Joan McAllister was born in Los Angeles in 1929, but moved to New York after college and never looked back. In the first half of her career, she worked as a journalist in both print and TV. In the 1980s, she got her master’s in urban policy from the New School, hoping to work on issues of importance to New Yorkers. She particularly wanted to be of assistance to the families living in the hotels and shelters, many of whom were single mothers. Having been a single mother herself for a decade, she was horrified to imagine doing this hard job under these appalling conditions. She had a lot of ideas based on her own experience of single parenting, but came to think that there was nothing these parents needed more than they needed information. So she went back to journalism, but this time a home-made variety. Under the business name of “Information for Families,” she researched, wrote and published a monthly newsletter, called “How… When… Where… “ devoted to the needs of people living in temporary shelters and hotels. In 1989 the first issue was printed in a simple four page black and white format in English, with a full Spanish translation. Kept out of the shelters and hotels by the owners’ security services, she hired people living inside to distribute the newsletter, and over the next 27 years unhoused women and men slid 10 issues a year under doors all over the city. Her work was always inspired and energized by her admiration for the people of New York making families and communities work under conditions of terrible insecurity.
Antonio Reynoso was born and raised in the Southside of Williamsburg to immigrant parents from the Dominican Republic. After graduating from LeMoyne College with a bachelor’s degree in political science, Antonio began his career in public service as a Community Organizer for A.C.O.R.N., where he led a coalition to unionize child-care providers. On January 1st, 2014 Antonio assumed office as the Council Member for the 34th District. During his first term, Antonio was critical in the passage of the Right to Know and sponsored several bills focused on strengthening tenant safety measures. Within his district, he focused on bringing greater transparency and democratic participation to community members through the introduction of Participatory Budgeting and the Bushwick Community Plan. Antonio began his second term in office this past January. He resumed his role as Chair of the Sanitation Committee and recently passed the Waste Equity Bill which limits the amount of trash handled by low-income communities. Antonio continues to advance progressive policies that address inequality throughout our City while working to better the quality of life for residents throughout his district.