Press Release
June 27, 2003

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, along with members of the Fulton FIRST Cultural Coalition, today released “Bedford-Stuyvesant, A Cultural Heritage Guide,” the first-ever, self-guided walking tour map for the historic Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood.

“Arts and cultural institutions are fundamental to economic development,” Kenneth Adams, President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, said.  “This new neighborhood map is a helpful tool to showcase the jewels of Bedford-Stuyvesant and attract visitors to this historic community.”

“The Fulton FIRST Initiative is near and dear to my heart,” U.S. Congressman Edolphus Towns, (D-Kings County), who played a key role in requesting the funds for the project, said.  “I am heartened that I was able to play a part in bringing resources to help re-awaken Brooklyn to the spirit of Bedford-Stuyvesant.”

“Bridge Street Development Corporation was one of the early supporters of the revitalization initiative for Fulton Street and the surrounding neighborhoods,” Rhonda Lewis, President & CEO for Bridge Development Corporation, said.  “Our neighborhood has a wealth of historical and cultural treasures to share.  We are delighted to have the walking tour map to promote Bed-Stuy as a unique destination.”

The map features the rich history and heritage of one of Brooklyn’s first communities, encompassing the neighborhood boundaries dating back to the 1940s.  The self-guided walking tour features more than 50 of Bedford-Stuyvesant’s unique landscape and landmarks including historic churches, the walk of fame – former homes of neighborhood pillars and celebrated stars, cultural attractions, architectural landmarks, and the neighborhood’s fine eateries.

The Cultural Heritage Guide was unveiled during an event at Akwaaba Mansion Bed and Breakfast, 347 MacDonough Street in historic Stuyvesant Heights.  The 1860’s mansion turned Bed and Breakfast is one of the sites on the self-guided walking tour.  Following the announcement, guests took a sample tour of Bedford-Stuyvesant’s rich historical and cultural attractions along Lewis Avenue.

The Cultural Heritage Guide has been made possible with the generous support of the New York City Department of Small Business Services, FleetBoston Financial Foundation and the Brooklyn Chamber’s Fulton FIRST Initiative.  In the coming weeks, 20,000 copies of the guide will be available at various locations including The Akwaaba Mansion Bed and Breakfast, Akwaaba Café, Brownstone Books, and Mirrors Coffee House.

“Fleet is excited that our initial commitment to the redevelopment of Fulton Street has created dynamic programs to unleash the creative offerings of the Bed-Stuy community,” Rich McKeon, Vice President, Community Relations Manager for FleetBoston Financial Foundation, said.

In addition to the release of the cultural heritage guide, Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce together announced that they had received a grant from Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation and Rockefeller Brothers Fund to promote the arts as a tool for community revitalization.  The two-year $150,000 grant will be used to develop a brand identity campaign for Bedford-Stuyvesant and to produce the second edition of the cultural heritage guide. 

The Fulton FIRST Cultural Coalition is a marketing and tourism initiative serving Bedford-Stuyvesant that grew out of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s Fulton FIRST Initiative – a three-year economic redevelopment initiative focusing on the retail revitalization of Fulton Street in Fort Greene, Clinton Hill and Bedford Stuyvesant.  The Fulton FIRST Cultural Coalition unites 11 cultural organizations on and around Fulton Street in Central Brooklyn to promote the diverse cultural institutions, historical attractions, programs and events throughout the Bedford-Stuyvesant community.  The coalition consists of 651 Arts, Akwaaba Enterprises, Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corp., Braggin’ About Brooklyn, Bridge Street Development Corp., Brownstoners, International African Arts Festival, MoCADA Cultural Center, Inc., Red Clay Arts, ReelAlternative Film Salon, and Society for the Preservation of Weeksville and Bedford-Stuyvesant History.