Connecting to our communities gives our stories the resonance required to foster meaningful connections and impact change. To that end, we host and participate in a vast array of special events that amplify our activism and enhance the communities we call home.
Sylvia Wong Lewis greets Brooklyn Historical Society audience, 2019.
Paula Giddings, seated, author, Smith College professor flanked by Smith College alums in Brooklyn at Ida B. Wells event.
Ida B. Wells event honoring Paula Giddings, Smith College professor and author of Ida: A Sword Among Lions, among other books. Co-sponsored by Black Alumnae of Smith College (BASC) and Smith College Club of NYC, January 2019 at the Brooklyn Historical Society.
Smith College Alumnae Relations
Politics – See our ‘Meet and Greet with Cynthia Nixon,’ candidate for New York State Governor. Click here for photo highlights.
Sisterhood – Programs n honor of Otelia Cromwell, the first black woman to graduate from Smith College (1900), click here.
Tea Lover – Check out our famous ‘Soul Sista Tea Parties,’ click here for highlights. To view another happy tea event, click here.
Activism – We lead dialogues on racism, slavery, reconciliation, and healing through Coming to the Table, the local NYC chapter.
Flavor drama – My rosewater-mace-caraway seeds cookies had an aromatic role in an Off-Broadway production about Harriet Tubman. “Sylvia’s historically authentic ‘get-away snacks’ provided aroma, flavor, and drama,” said Karen Jones Meadows, Playwright, Actor, ‘Harriet’s Return.’
Community Outreach – My contract for a mental health project for Black and Latina/o children in Harlem and Upper Manhattan was funded by Billy Esposito Foundation and MetLife Insurance grants. Click here for the press conference we produced, as featured on NY1 Noticias.
Food Activist, Environmentalist, and Urban Gardener – I am an urban gardener and home-trained chef specializing in Afro-Asian-Creole cuisine. Our team helped to set up social media and a fundraising campaign for an award-winning urban garden and former food desert in Columbus, Ohio. Click here for the garden’s Facebook page.
Certified Education and Training Consultant with New York and New Jersey State Department of Education, Newark Public School, and Newark Museum. I designed and implemented literacy and media arts programs for teacher-training workshops.
Theater Producer – We co-produced the ’60s musical “On Kentucky Avenue” with CUNY’s City College Center for the Arts at Aaron Davis Center.
Environment – Our community garden press conference, press releases, and archival research resulted in transforming a dirt patch and an ordinary traffic triangle, into a lovely Tribeca community garden and popular pedestrian center, aka Bogardus Garden.
University Lecturer – “You were a terrific guest lecturer on the ‘Power of Storytelling.’ My Public Relations-Marketing course students benefited greatly from your corporate communications knowledge and passionate film!” Donald Singletary, Professor, CUNY/Baruch College.
Book Launch – “Awesome results from your publicity and promotion campaign about our Coming to the Table National Conference. Your efforts led to increased registrations and book sales.” Susan Hutchinson, Eastern Mennonite University.
“Sylvia worked tirelessly to make our New York City book launch a success. She generated a quality audience and media placements–especially an NPR interview, that spread the word of our work exponentially.”
Sharon Leslie Morgan and Tom DeWolf, co-authors of Gather at the Table.
Fundraising – “For more than a decade Sylvia has been a trusted partner, helping us to fundraise, expand our profile and support our anti-apartheid South Africa reinvestment program. We appreciate her development strategy to help our micro-loan program for South African women entrepreneurs.” Donna Katzin, founder, Shared Interest.
Media Placements – “Your press contacts for our Harlem Sakura Cherry Blossom Festival were awesome. The media placement in the New York Times raised the bar. The response was impressive.” Voza Rivers, CEO, New Heritage Theater Group.
Film Launch – “You delivered a film launch for ‘Red Tails’ film screenings in NYC and coordinated the Tuskegee Airmen, a local chapter fundraiser. Your hard work led to great media and audience turnout, including CBS-TV, NY1, and NY Daily News. We achieved impressive fundraising results too.” Patt Terrelongue, CEO, Tuskegee Airmen, NY.
Audience Development – “Ambassadors are influencers who generate high-level buzz. What a terrific ambassador you were for our Broadway theater productions Stick Fly and The Trip to Bountiful. Thank you for Audience Development that generated major group premium ticket sales.” Nelle Nugent, President, The Foxboro Company, Inc.
Events Management – “Your team’s expertise in managing major public events including Memorial Day, 9/11 Memorials, Veteran’s Day parades, and receptions are a true blessing. Because of you, we are NY’s go-to veteran’s group.” Dwight Webster, CEO, MTA-Transit Veterans Association.
Marketing & Public Relations Pro: “Sylvia paved the way to Brooklyn for us! Her very creative and talented team combined marketing, communications, events, art, and strategy! She delivered beyond expectations two original short films with Japanese subtitles; coordinated a press conference; produced several events that drew huge audiences; designed a website, brochure, and marketing collateral materials. Her major photography, video work documented our global inaugural cultural exchange program, Brooklyn to Japan – Kakehashi Program. Thank you!” Osamu Honda, Director General, Japan Foundation.
Speaker: “Awesome university lecture and presentation! Your film ‘From Shanghai to Harlem’ generated lively discussions and learning opportunities for students about ‘family stories’ in my ‘Chinese History in the Americas’ course.” Professor Lisa Yun, Binghamton University (SUNY)
Media placements: BBC Radio, New York Times, NPR Radio, AP, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, TV-NY1, MSN.com, and more.
Twitter: @sylviawonglewis
Contact: Hello@narrativenetwork.net