by Wendy Greenberg

It’s a celebration of, and a reflection on, where the Witherspoon-Jackson community has been, and where it is going. And it’s an annual coming together of the community. The Witherspoon-Jackson Joint Effort Princeton Safe Streets Summer Program kicks off this Friday, August 2, acknowledging the legacy of Princeton resident Paul Robeson, and heralding many more local heroes.

Each day in the program, which runs from Friday, August 2 through Sunday, August 11, is named for someone important to the Witherspoon-Jackson community, and also important to Princeton. “Each one is a ‘hero and sheroe’ to the community,” said John Bailey, Joint Effort Community Sports Program and Joint Effort Princeton Witherspoon-Jackson Community Safe Streets Summer Program founder and director.

“The kickoff brings elected officials and concerned citizens together to recognize and acknowledge the contributions of African Americans to the Princeton Community,” said Bailey, who grew up in Princeton and is now a consultant and community organizer in Denver, Colo., but gives back to Princeton in many ways.

The festive and informational event has been going on for almost 40 years. In addition to this year’s focus on Princeton activist Paul Robeson, the future of Princeton, and community bonding through panels, sports, and honorees are all on the schedule.

The kick-off event on Friday, August 2, a reception at Studio Hillier, 190 Witherspoon Street from 5 to 7 p.m., is named “A Salute to Our Ancestors.”

Remarks by Princeton Mayor Mark Freda, Council President Mia Sacks, and Councilman Leighton Newlin will precede recognition of several award winners. These include Dr. Terry McEwen, president and CEO of Tioga Franklin Savings Bank, the Jim Floyd Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, with remarks by Shirley Satterfield, founder and president of the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society; and Councilwoman Eve Niedergang, winner of the Mildred Trotman Community Service Award, with remarks by Newlin.

Also to be recognized are Jon Bucchere, recently retired Princeton Police chief, with remarks by Bernie Hvozdovic, Princeton administrator; Anastasia ‘Stacie’ Ryan, retiring administrative assistant at the Princeton Recreation Department, with remarks by Evan Moorhead, director of Princeton Recreation Department; and Felicia Spitz, board chair of the Princeton Housing Authority and chair, Princeton Municipal Democratic Committee, with remarks by Sacks.

The Paul Robeson Witherspoon-Jackson Community Honors will be presented to J. Robert Hillier, principal of Studio Hillier (and a Town Topics shareholder); the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society; and Tommy Parker, a beloved community member, activist, and co-founder of the American Legion Post 218 baseball team, and its general manager and coach.

“The entire event is dedicated to the Witherspoon-Jackson community, Princeton’s 20th Historic District and focused on Paul Robeson,” said Bailey. “In this time of chaos, contradictions, and confusion, Robeson’s legacy, his story, and his leadership in social justice is a must read. If people were trees, Paul Robeson would be the tallest tree in the forest.”

Robeson, who was born in Princeton and spent his childhood in Princeton, was a social justice activist who was also renowned for his bass-baritone singing voice.

“The important thing is for the young people to know their history and from whence they came,  and that it is important not to lose sight that Princeton is of national historical significance, and the African American community’s role in that,” said Bailey, who added, “It’s about bringing folks together, and bringing the community out for meaningful activities.”

The schedule is filled with both fun and meaningful activities. Saturday August 3, designated Ruth Parker Day, will include a fish fry and community meet and greet from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 124 Birch Avenue.

Sunday, August 4, Donald Johnson Day, features the Capital Health Gospel Music Festival from 5 to 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Princeton, 30 Green Street, with musical selections by Dr. Donald Locklear and the First Baptist Church of Princeton Choir; Karen Yvette Jones; Dennis Rogers, Sam Frisby and Friends, and Jennifer Bell and the Faith Band.

The day will also include remarks by Lance Liverman, who is a trustee of the First Baptist church of Princeton, and a poem read by the Rev. Gregory Scott Smith, pastor of Fisk Chapel AME church. Several families will make presentations on their family histories.

Tuesday, August 6 is Frank Wells Day, and will include a community panel discussion, “A Sense of Where We Are,” at the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, from 6 to 7 p.m.

The panel, discussing the future of the town, it’s “vision, voice, viable plan, a sense of where we are” will include Mercer County Commissioner Sam Frisby; Sacks; Newlin; Hillier; Josh Zinder, principal, Josh Zinder Architect + Design; Sheldon Sturges, founder of Princeton Future; Deanna Stockton; Princeton municipal engineer; Beth Behrend, member of the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education; Spitz; and Christine Symington, executive director, Sustainable Princeton.

Mercer County Executive Dan Benson will speak on the role of Princeton and other municipalities in the county, and will receive the Jim Floyd Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award.

Frisby will receive the Paul Robeson Witherspoon-Jackson Community Honors.

Wednesday, August 7, will include a discussion on Paul Robeson, the Chip Fisher Memorial Art Exhibit, and scholarship presentations from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Arts Council of Princeton. Remarks will be given by State Sen. Andrew Zwicker, Newlin, and Councilman David Cohen. A special video on Robeson will be shown, and a panel on Robeson’s legacy will include Ben Colbert of The Paul Robeson House; Satterfield; Adam Welch, executive director, Arts Council of Princeton; Rhonda Stewart, Paul Robeson Institute for Ethics, Leadership and Social Justice, Raritan Valley Community College; Janice Sykes Ross, West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance and Paul Robeson House and Museum; the Rev. Gregory Scott Smith; and Joy Barnes Johnson, The Paul Robeson House.

Saturday, August 10, Laura Wooten Day, features a community panel discussion on “The Future of the Town: Governance and Leadership,” from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (networking at 9:30 a.m.) at the First Baptist Church of Princeton, 30 Green Street.

A Joint Effort Bailey Basketball Academy Hoops Clinic will be held at Princeton Middle School from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and a New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Group Community Block Festival is planned from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Princeton YMCA field, 59 Paul Robeson Place. One topic for this day’s agenda discussion is “Robeson, Reparations, and DEI: The National Pushback.”

On Sunday, August 11, John Young Day, the Pete Young Sr. Memorial Basketball Games will take place at Princeton Middle School from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The basketball games are sponsored in conjunction with the Princeton Recreation Department, Princeton Police Department and PBA #130, Princeton Public Schools, and the Bailey Basketball Academy.