NYCEDC Issues RFP for Operator of the Harlem African Burial Ground Cultural Education Center

NYCEDC is Seeking Proposals from Qualified Parties Who Will be Responsible for Operating the Cultural Education Center, Honoring and Commemorating the Burial Ground's History and Those Who Were Buried There

NYCEDC and HABGI with Support of BPC Release Community Engagement Report Highlighting the Engagement and Archaeology Work Done in the Years Since the Burial Ground's Rediscovery

NEW YORK, NY-New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), in partnership with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), today announced the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for qualified parties interested in creating and operating the future Harlem African Burial Ground (HABG) Cultural Education Center and providing programming on the history of the Burial Ground and its continued relevance. The Cultural Education Center will be located alongside a permanent Outdoor Memorial on the historic footprint of the Burial Ground and are key deliverables of the 126th Street Harlem African Burial Ground Memorial and Mixed-Use project which will also include affordable homes, commercial and community facility space, and an improved streetscape. The City has committed $25 million to support the construction of the Cultural Education Center and the Outdoor Memorial. And once constructed, the Cultural Education Center is anticipated to receive approximately $1 million in annual contributions from the developer of the mixed-use project to support eligible operating and maintenance costs.

From the mid-1600s to the mid-1800s, both enslaved and free New Yorkers of African descent were laid to rest at the Harlem African Burial Ground. After the land was sold, the Burial Ground experienced heavy disturbance due to redevelopment over the years. For over a century, the story of the Burial Ground was forgotten, and the site disrespected, but tireless research and advocacy from community members brought this history to light.

For over a decade, NYCEDC has worked in partnership with the Harlem African Burial Ground Initiative (HABGI) and its predecessor groups to honor that history through developing a vision and goals for a memorial and revitalization of the bus depot site. The City, with the support of AKRF Inc. and in close consultation with the HABGI and Indigenous Nations, is nearing completion of a two-year archaeological investigation of the site. In parallel, NYCEDC, in partnership with Bridge Philanthropic Consulting (BPC), has led an 18-month engagement effort to expand awareness of the project and learn from the community. Through this effort team has engaged over 1,000 community members across 20 in-person and virtual events. This has included family history workshops at senior centers and afterschool programs, panel discussions at institutions such as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and presentations to NYCHA residents and Harlem-based organizations.

Following this dedicated community engagement, NYCEDC and the HABGI, with the support of BPC, released a community engagement report, Unearthing Our Legacy Together: Sharing the History of the Harlem African Burial Ground and Planning for the Future. The report highlights the engagement and archaeology work done in the years since the Burial Ground's rediscovery, as the project partners continue to understand and share the history of the site and prepare for the next phase of the project.

"The release of this RFP and report is another major step towards realizing the 126th Street Harlem African Burial Ground Memorial while honoring the Burial Ground's history and those buried here," said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. "This has been a collective effort, and we are grateful to DCLA for their support with this process and especially grateful to the Harlem African Burial Ground Initiative for their tireless advocacy and unconditional support in shedding light on this historic burial ground."

"The Harlem African Burial Ground shows the power of communities to lead the way in exploring, examining, and reckoning with our shared history, creating a path toward a more inclusive future where the stories of our ancestors are honored and remembered," said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. "We're proud to support NYCEDC's efforts to collaborate with residents and cultural institutions to pay tribute to the people whose lives and legacies we're committed to commemorating."

"The Cultural Education Center will be a place to honor and recognize the contributions of the free and enslaved New Yorkers of African descent buried at the Harlem African Burial Ground. This milestone signifies that their legacy will not be forgotten and provides a pivotal community resource about the history of Harlem and New York City," said Harlem African Burial Ground Initiative Leadership Dr. Patricia A. Singletary, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Sharon Wilkins, and Melinda Velez. "We are thankful to all of our partners that have made this project possible and look forward to working with the operator to ensure our ancestors are properly memorialized, and we can educate everyone on the significance of the Harlem African Burial Ground."

"This moment reflects years of community advocacy, rigorous research, and intentional engagement," said Dwayne Ashley, CEO of Bridge Philanthropic Consulting. "The Harlem African Burial Ground is not only a sacred site-it is a powerful testament to resilience, memory, and truth. We are honored to have partnered with NYCEDC and the Harlem African Burial Ground Initiative to help elevate community voices, deepen public understanding, and support a process that ensures the Cultural Education Center is shaped by those most connected to its history and meaning."

"Honoring the ancestors is a tremendous step forward in the years-long process to acknowledge the enslaved and free New Yorkers of African descent who were interred in our community generations ago," said Joy L. Bivins, Director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of The New York Public Library. "Greater awareness of Harlem's rich history bolsters the lives and experiences of residents, students, and visitors and keeps Harlem and the African Diaspora an essential part of the American narrative."

"The Harlem African Burial Ground is a sacred space, a space of truth and acknowledgment of a history of injustice. It is a testament to the lives of New Yorkers of African descent, both free and enslaved, that shaped the foundation of this city, and whose stories were buried and disregarded," said Nick Martinez, Vice President of Education and Engagement for the Museum of the City of New York. "The HABG and Cultural Education Center will not just preserve history; it will be a place of remembrance, dialogue, justice, and empowerment, helping generations to understand the very fabric of this city and the nation through the lens of Harlem."

"Recognizing and interpreting sites like the Harlem African Burial Ground is essential to understanding New York City's full history," said Jessica Striebel MacLean, Historian at the Central Park Conservancy. "Too often, the stories of Black communities have been displaced from the public landscape, even though they are foundational to the City's growth and identity. As with Seneca Village in Central Park, sustained research paired with public engagement and education ensures that these histories are not forgotten and that Black New Yorkers can see themselves reflected in the City's shared spaces and collective memory."

The Cultural Education Center and Memorial will honor the contributions of the New Yorkers buried there and inspire and educate a new generation on Harlem and New York City's rich history. The designated operator will carry this vision forward by developing high-quality programming that advances these goals while incorporating themes and principles articulated by the communities of Harlem.

The RFP seeks an operator that will accomplish key goals identified with the Harlem African Burial Ground Initiative, informed by community input and dialogue:

• Conceptualize the Cultural Education Center and its programming within the guidelines provided
• Support the design and construction of the facility in partnership with the City and the developer of the mixed-use project, who will be identified in a separate and subsequent procurement
• Make a long-term commitment to continuously operating the Cultural Education Center
• Consult regularly with the Harlem African Burial Ground Initiative, communities related to the Burial Ground, and residents and organizations based in East Harlem on matters related to the Cultural Education Center

Following the selection of the designated operator, NYCEDC plans to release a separate RFP for a development partner to manage the design and construction of the mixed-use project. The designated operator will collaborate with the selected developer on design and construction of the Cultural Education Center.

Respondents may be existing nonprofit organizations, proposed new nonprofits, or consortiums or partnerships that include nonprofit organizations alongside individuals or for-profit entities.

"I am extremely grateful for the collaborative work of the Harlem African Burial Ground Initiative, the Economic Development Corporation, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and our community stakeholders for making this RFP a reality. The creation of the HABG Cultural and Education Center is a tremendous achievement that would not have happened without their combined hard work, dedication, and vision," said New York City Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala. "Through the creation of this Center, we will have the opportunity to educate all those interested in learning of the forgotten and unacknowledged contributions enslaved and free African Americans made to building this great city. The release of this RFP and eventual creation of the Center will stand as an enduring testament to their notable presence and influence by marrying their past with our present."

"This RFP opens the door for a Cultural Education Center operator who will honor the legacy of those buried at the Harlem African Burial Ground, share their narratives, and preserve an invaluable part of our collective heritage. The archeological exploration, community engagement work, and future programming at the site are vital to keeping these early New Yorkers' stories alive," said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. "This has been a decades-long partnership, and I'm especially grateful to former Manhattan Deputy Borough Historian Sharon Wilkins and Christopher Moore, the preservationist who initially re-discovered the site, for their tireless work. The unveiling of this history will not only deepen our understanding but also inspire a renewed commitment to inclusivity, education, and remembrance for the communities of East Harlem, Harlem, and beyond."

"For too much of history, our history was literally buried and paved over like it was here. The East Harlem community did the work to uncover the truth and force recognition of the Harlem African Burial Ground," said Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs. "This RFP is an opportunity for our community to put forward a vision for how we want to tell our story, and my office stands ready to encourage and support any of our East Harlem cultural institutions and experts ready to take on this generational responsibility."

For more information about the Cultural Education Center RFP, visit the Procurement Opportunities on NYCEDC's RFP webpage. NYCEDC will facilitate optional information sessions, one in-person that will take place at the Julia De Burgos Latino Cultural Center at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 26, 2026, and a virtual information session that will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, February 2, 2026. Responses to the RFP are due by 4:00 p.m. ET on Monday, April 6, 2026.

About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About Harlem African Burial Ground Initiative
Founded in 2009, the Harlem African Burial Ground Initiative (formerly known as the Harlem African Burial Ground Task Force) is a group of community leaders whose goal is to advocate for and guide remembrance, honoring, and memorialization for the Harlem African Burial Ground. HABGI is led by former District 8 City Council Member and Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Pastor Emerita of Elmendorf Reform Church Rev. Dr. Patricia A. Singletary, former Manhattan Deputy Borough Historian Sharon Wilkins, and former Legislative Advisor and East Harlem resident Melinda Velez. To learn more about the Harlem African Burial Ground Initiative's advocacy work, please visit HABGI's Instagram.