Page 22 - The Indian EYE 011025

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JANUARY 10, 2025 | The Indian Eye 22

Mayor Adams announces Year-Long Celebration

of NYC’s History, Culture, Innovation,

and Creativity during City’s 400th Anniversary

Celebrations, Concerts, and Free Events Will Take Place Throughout 2025, Across All Five Boroughs

OUR BUREAU
NEW YORK, NY
ew York City Mayor Eric Adams has an-
nounced, “Founded By NYC,” a year-long
Ninclusive, comprehensive celebration of the
400th anniversary of New York City that launches
tonight. In partnership with NYC Tourism + Con-
ventions, Founded By NYC will celebrate how New
York City has made history, and continues to do
so — highlighting the achievements driven by the
creativity and resilience of the five boroughs and its
people, including the perspectives of marginalized
audiences like those of the Indigenous community,
women, and people of color.
“For four centuries, history has happened here.
And in 2025, through our ‘Founded By NYC’ cam-
paign, we will celebrate all those who came here
from around the world over those 400 years to
build our great city — the New Yorkers whose vi-
brant culture, innovation, and abilities continue to
make us the envy of the world today — as well as all
we continue to do every day to build a future that
is safer and more affordable,” said Mayor Adams. sion’s art installations, New York City Department itage at Gracie Mansion, to ensure the past con-
“But we know that our city’s history has not of Parks & Recreation free summer movies featur- tributions and painful experiences of the Lenape
been without its challenges, and that the story of ing notable films set in the five boroughs, the 47th people and other Indigenous communities are not
New York City began a millennia ago, long before Annual Museum Mile Festival, New York Philhar- lost to history.
the Dutch arrived, when this land was inhabited by monic free concerts featuring New York City-based “New York City has long been a beacon of in-
the Lenape people. To properly recognize our city’s composers and performances of iconic New York spiration and ingenuity, and the ‘Founded By NYC’
complex, diverse, and unparalleled history, we must City songs, performances by Broadway stars, and campaign captures that spirit,” said NYC Tourism
also acknowledge the painful parts of its origin, and the largest-ever New York City Department of + Conventions President and CEO Julie Coker.
ensure we are celebrating the Lenape’s rich contri- Transportation Summer Streets with 400 blocks of “Our year-long commemoration invites visitors and
butions to our city as much as anyone else’s. The free events citywide. Dates and times for events will locals alike to explore the rich history, cultural di-
story of New York City is one of perseverance and be announced in the coming months. New York versity, and innovation that define New York City.
triumph, and, in 2025, we will show the world why City’s 400th anniversary themes will be featured From the Lenape people’s legacy to the communi-
we are the greatest city in the world.” in additional events, parades, festivals, institutions, ties that have shaped the five boroughs, this cam-
Starting this week, organizations are encour- and celebrations across the city with announce- paign honors our shared past while looking to the
aged to visit Founded By NYC to submit events ments to come throughout the year. future. We look forward to welcoming the world to
to be added to the Founded By NYC celebration. The campaign is supported by “Hamilton,” the celebrate 400 years of New York City magic.”
Events should be in person, encourage visitors to Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, including “We look forward to continuing to partner
explore everything the five boroughs has to offer the song, “The Schuyler Sisters,” which provides with the city to honor the homeland and territo-
during this milestone year, and should highlight the soundtrack for the Founded By NYC teaser ry of Lenapehoking,” said Joe Baker, co-founder,
or commemorate one or more of the following video. Further integrations with the musical, which Lenape Center. “While much progress has been
themes: historical significance, cultural impact, in- celebrates its 10th anniversary in August, will be an- made, there is still more to do. This anniversary pro-
novation and creativity, authentic storytelling, or nounced in the coming months. vides an opportunity to teach New Yorkers about
sustainability and legacy. Throughout planning for New York City’s crucial principles of culture that have provided the
Founded By NYC brings together organiza- 400th anniversary, the Mayor’s Office has part- Lenape a harmonious and balanced existence with

tions across the city, including the Lenape Center, nered with the Lenape Center to uplift the voices Haki, Mother Earth.”
The Broadway League, the Museum of the City of of the Lenape community. Earlier this year, Mayor New York City continues to be the largest point
New York, Times Square Alliance, multiple Busi- Adams proclaimed November 20 “Lenape Heri- of entry to the United States, with more flights ar-
ness Improvement Districts, and all city agencies. tage Day” in a ceremony at Gracie Mansion. riving through city airports than any other destina-
All year, New York City’s 400th anniversary will be This announcement came one year after May- tion in the country. The New York City subway sys-
incorporated into major city events in the worlds of or Adams hosted the first-ever mayoral reception tem rebounded, reaching 1 billion trips nearly two
art, film, music, and more, including Gracie Man- celebrating Native American and Indigenous her- months before the end of 2024.

www.TheIndianEYE.com