The Northeasterners Inc. have been around since 1930. Agatha Scott, wife of Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis Jr., in New York, founded the group. There are 12 chapters of The Northeasterners–Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington D.C.
June 2-4 was when the Pittsburgh Chapter hosted the national convention. On June 3, the Northeasterners were fabulous in striking fascinators as they hosted the convention luncheon, “The Color of Jazz Celebrating The Hewitt Collection and Mary Lou Williams.” The soiree was held at the trendy Hotel Monaco in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Each year at the convention a donation is given in the name of the Northeasterners to a non-profit organization that is making a difference in the African American community. This year, $12,500 was presented to The Hill Dance Academy Theatre (HDAT); $5000 of the award was from the national and $7500 was from the Pittsburgh Chapter. Convention co-chairs Judith Davenport and Darryl Ford Williams presented the donation to Ayisha Morgan–Lee, HDAT’s founder, CEO and Artistic Director.
Nancy Washington introduced the dance presentation, “A Tribute to Mary Lou Williams” choreographed by Morgan-Lee and Winny Benaiah, then HDAT danced to the music by Mary Lou Williams’ “Roll ‘em” and “A Grand Night for Swinging.” Morgan-Lee received the award humbly and gracefully. HDAT was founded in 2005 by Morgan-Lee to provide children, youth and teens, ages 3 to 18 years of age, access and opportunity to dance. Since that time HDAT’s members have studied and performed with noted national master artists such as Carmen de Lavallade, Misty Copeland, and Debbie Allen, and have attended summer intensives with Joffrey Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem.
After a delightful lunch, Dame Vivian Hewitt, a member of the New York Chapter of The Northeasterners, spoke to the group about her life as a collector of African American art. Hewitt said as a young bride she would rather have art than an appliance. The John and Vivian Hewitt Collection was on display at the August Wilson Center at the time of the convention. As the lunch concluded, the ladies boarded buses and headed to the August Wilson Center to view The Vivian and John Hewitt Collection.
Like us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Pittsburgh-Courier/143866755628836?ref=hl
Follow @NewPghCourier on Twitter https://twitter.com/NewPghCourier
About Post Author
