There are many
good things in Harlem and there are many bad things. It's sad that
we only hear about the bad and not the good, such as "The Community
Mayor Of Harlem".
"The Community
Mayor Of Harlem" is an honorary position given to someone for their
great support and dedication to the community. Dr. Ben Watkins was
the last elected honorary Mayor in Harlem. Dr. Larry Desmond who
was also elected honorary Mayor of Harlem in the past was the one
who recommended Dr. Delois Blakely to be Community Mayor of Harlem.
Each day Dr. Blakely deals with the needs of youth and children.
She was sworn in along with 25 other Community Mayors from other
areas around the United States by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. She was
appointed by the Chief of Community Mayors. The Chief of Community
Mayors is a non governmental organization and is known internationally.
Community Mayors are found all over the nation.
Dr. Blakely
was appointed "The Community Mayor Of Harlem" by the Chief of Community
Mayors. She was sworn in by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Her duty as
the "Community Mayor of Harlem" is to deal with the needs for youth
and children as well as the special needs for children who are homeless,
handicapped, and are in foster care. She is also recognized for
the commitment and dedication to the children and youth of Harlem.
In 1982,her title was known as the "Deputy Mayor" but in 1995 her
title changed to "The Community Mayor of Harlem".
When she was
a very young girl, growing up in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Dr. Blakely's
mother died, leaving responsibility for raising five girls with
her father to raise. She grew up around Simanur Indians and is part
Native American and African. As a child, Ms. Blakely loved going
to church to sing. When she was 14 years old, she decided she wanted
to be a missionary for the church, wanting to help people who were
less fortunate. Also while growing up she was into medicine.
Dr. Blakely
never finished high school and as the years went by she became interested
in becoming a nun. She came to Harlem at the age of 16 in 1958 and
served as a nun until 1969. Over the years, Dr. Blakely has been
promoting Harlem all over the world. She worked in the Kennedy Center
in the Nursery for the Nuns located next to the Bath House on 135th
Street. She taught children there and later she taught in prisons.
She remembers when Harlem Hospital was being built.
Dr.
Blakely has a book out which is called "The Street Nun". She talks
about life as a nun in Harlem.
"I want to save
the world through the youth," says Dr. Blakely, "Harlem is the Black
Mecca".
In Gambia, Dr.
Blakely is a Gambian citizen. She is known as Dr. Fatou Delois Blakely
Kinteh.
