Meet Our Team
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Jwahir Hawkins
Interim Director
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Craig Harriss
Artistic Director
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Darrell Bridges
Emeritus Director
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Jwahir Hawkins
INTERIM DIRECTOR
Jannette Jwahir Hawkins is an artist who lives and works in Harlem, New York City. Sensitive to multilayered visual rhythms, Jwahir’s work relies on a gestalt of compositions and improvisations to seek healing for herself and others. An award-winning alumnus of the City College of New York with a BA and MFA in Studio Art, Jwahir studied closely with sculptor Colin Chase for ten years. Invited to complete a postgraduate residency in Studio Art at City College with advanced studies in Community Engaged Art (Art Education), Jwahir also facilitated TArt (Talking Art) Salon, a CCNY student intellectual discussion group. An artist-educator with the Whitney Museum of American Art (until the pandemic), Jwahir (whose life is always better when she dances) is currently a visual artist-in-residence, creative consultant for a longrunning live Harlem music series, an arts and culture grant proposal storyteller for over 20 years and the Interim Executive Director of Arts and Education Continuum, a Harlem-based nonprofit community organization.
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Craig Harriss
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Craig Harris is a trombonist, composer, bandleader, and gifted sonic shaman. Seeking an inspired career, he skillfully navigated his musical journey that began when touring with the inimitable Sun Ra, onto a path affirming Craig’s place in performance with and among the ranks of creative music’s most progressive thought-leaders. With a repertoire of various-sized ensembles, including Nation of Imagination, Tailgater’s Tales and Harlem Nightsongs, Craig has amassed an extensive discography of his own recorded work in addition to contributing to the musical projects of his many esteemed colleagues. Steeped in the tradition of using art as cultural facilitation to promote change, Craig has flexed his musical voice to comment on social injustice and humanity with influential original works including God’s Trombones, based on James Weldon Johnson’s book of sermons; Souls Within the Veil, commemorating the 100th anniversary of W.E.B. DuBois’s seminal work; TriHarlenium, a sound portrait and 30-year musical time capsule of Harlem; Brown Butterfly, a tribute to the exquisite movements of Muhammad Ali; and BREATHE, a sonic statement in response to the long term and current injustices inflicted upon African American people. An award-winning prolific composer, Craig’s recent projects include the stage premiere of Craig Harris’ FESTAC ’77, plus Harlem Sonic Communiversity, featuring open rehearsals and free public concerts introducing Craig’s compositions to new and established audiences. Committed to presenting music in the iconic communities where it was created, Craig’s designation as a Jazz Hero for his longstanding curation of Harlem concerts, joins an array of prestigious honors bestowed upon him as artist, and community advocate. Nominated by NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album, Craig is co-composer of the score for the Oscar-winning film Judas and the Black Messiah. Craig’s newest recording, Managing the Mask, was successfully released in 2022.
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Darrell Bridges
EMERITUS DIRECTOR
Darrell Bridges is the Founder and Director of Arts and Education Continuum, Inc. (A&EC), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. At A&EC he developed multidisciplinary educational services for students at all levels and led strategic partnerships with other organizations connected to the arts, education, social services, and legacy preservation.
For over three decades, Darrell has demonstrated unwavering dedication and entrepreneurialism as a music industry veteran. Through A&EC, Darrell also provides management services to various artists in the New York area and is presently working with Craig Harris, trombonist, composer.
Darrell’s in-the-trenches experiences have included a vast array of responsibilities, including concert production, business administration, tour and stage management, publishing, photography, studio management, and other tasks that arise in day-to-day music business endeavors. He has produced shows at a variety of New York area clubs and larger venues like Symphony Space, LaGuardia Community College, Grand Central Station (Music in Motion) and Hudson River Museum. Most recently, the weekly Friday night Harlem Jazz Series located at Mount Morris Ascension Presbyterian Church, West 122nd Street, Harlem, NYC.