Harlem Children’s Zone Rasuli Lewis March for Peace
By Bowdoin News“We’re gonna shout it out: peace is what we’re all about” and other chants echoed through the streets of Harlem on a hot sunny day in August.
Hundreds of Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) scholars—ranging from toddlers all the way to postcollege-aged—and staff and community members made their way through the neighborhood for the Harlem Children’s Zone Rasuli Lewis March for Peace.
Named in honor of Rasuli Lewis ’73, one of HCZ’s founding members, the march, now in its thirty-second year, has a far-reaching legacy.
Named in honor of Rasuli Lewis ’73, one of HCZ’s founding members, the march, now in its thirty-second year, has a far-reaching legacy.
In recognition of the organization’s deep connection to Bowdoin, members of the Bowdoin College Black Alumni Association (BCBAA) organized a group to attend the march. The alumni in attendance had a wide variety of connections and motivations to attend. Whether they were Lewis’s classmates, former HCZ staff, or simply those who believe in the organization’s mission, the march served as a moment of hope and inspiration.
“You can really see how much they pour into these kids and the community,” said BCBAA event committee chair Anita Lewis ’80. The march reflected the Bowdoin ethos of the common good as well as the power of education to enact social change.
The march itself concluded at the HCZ’s Armory space, where the event continued with musical performances, dance routines, and speeches. HCZ founder Geoffrey Canada ’74, H’07 acknowledged the group from Bowdoin during his remarks, celebrating the longstanding sense of community that brought alumni to support the organization and their classmates.
Gathering after the festivities, the alumni shared their own memories of Lewis and connected across generations, swapping stories of their time on campus and paths after Bowdoin. Conversation flowed well into the evening, with talk of future events and gatherings.
“It was an honor to be able to return home and attend the Rasuli Lewis Children’s March for Peace with the HCZ,” said Eric Bell ’93, a former HCZ staffer and mentee of Lewis’s.
“The energy and focus of the event never disappoint. I was one of the original organizers of the march since 1994. The day took me back and allowed me a chance to laugh, cry, and celebrate with Rasuli’s family and former coworkers and fellow BCBAA members. Simply put, the day was awesome! Thank you, Bowdoin, for your support of the event.”
Gathering after the festivities, the alumni shared their own memories of Lewis and connected across generations, swapping stories of their time on campus and paths after Bowdoin. Conversation flowed well into the evening, with talk of future events and gatherings.
“It was an honor to be able to return home and attend the Rasuli Lewis Children’s March for Peace with the HCZ,” said Eric Bell ’93, a former HCZ staffer and mentee of Lewis’s.
“The energy and focus of the event never disappoint. I was one of the original organizers of the march since 1994. The day took me back and allowed me a chance to laugh, cry, and celebrate with Rasuli’s family and former coworkers and fellow BCBAA members. Simply put, the day was awesome! Thank you, Bowdoin, for your support of the event.”