To the Editor:

On behalf of the Board of Housing Initiatives of Princeton (HIP), I thank everyone involved in HIP’s Annual Rent Party, which was enormously successful this year, in spite of the challenges of COVID.  The party was a COVID-safe virtual celebration consisting of a series of videos that brought to life the art and music that thrived during the Harlem Renaissance, a time when rent parties originated as a vehicle to help folks pay the rent. HIP’s virtual Rent Party raised the much-needed funds HIP will use to help our neighbors who currently struggle to pay their rent and stay safely in their homes.

Some of Princeton’s most renowned scholars and citizens gave their valuable time and contributed their voices to these videos to make them so powerfully inspiring:  Professor Eddie Glaude Jr., Tracy K. Smith, Ruha Benjamin, Mayor Liz Lempert, and Professor Wallace D. Best. Our newly re-elected senator, Cory Booker, showed his support for the HIP mission by making an appearance, even though he was in the midst of a demanding political season.

I can’t thank them enough!

I’d also like to thank Lance Liverman, Melissa Urias, and Luis Estrada for lending their voices to this effort. HIP can always count on these folks.

Joe Bongiovi and the members of Princeton High School Studio Band are astoundingly talented and made the videos pop with joy.

Mike Barry, Kathleen Gittleman, and Emily Gittleman brought the concept of these videos to fruition and deserve a big shout out!

And a heartfelt thank you goes out to all of the Rent Party sponsors and donors who contributed to this effort. HIP has such loyal supporters who really care about their neighbors and are always there to offer a helping hand and compassionate heart.

Please visit HIP’s website to watch all six videos: https://housinginitiativesofprinceton.org/rent-party-2020.

Carol L. Golden
Chair, Housing Initiatives of Princeton CT
Mercer Street