Dr. Preston Wilcox Honored at City Hall

By Donna Lamb

The noted Harlem activist Preston Wilcox washonored with a proclamation at a recent City Council meeting. As Deputy Majority Leader Bill Perkins stated, "Dr. Wilcox has been in the trenches for so long and with such fidelity to the principles that are important to all of us that we had to take this opportunity to pay tribute to him for the outstanding work he is done in so many ways."

Council Member Al Vann added his voice, remarking that there are not too many Ph.D.'s who hang out and hobnob with regular people, putting all their skills and knowledge into action to strengthen and empower others so they can make changes on their own. "Dr. Wilcox, you are a very unique man," Vann concluded, "and I am pleased and proud to be here with you as you receive this proclamation."

As the proclamation stated, Dr. Wilcox has been a vocal advocate for the nation's youth, working tirelessly to improve their well-being and to expand their academic opportunities. He played essential roles in the Wilmington Youth Education Action Committee in Delaware, and later the School Community Control Movement in Harlem. In addition to being the Founding Board Chairperson of the East Harlem Youth Employment Service, he has also played an essential roll at the national level through programs such as Head Start, Upward Bound, Follow Through, and Child Development.

Along with his outstanding service on youth issues, Dr. Wilcox has also worked for the betterment of the community in general. He helped author an anti-poverty proposal for Massive Economic Neighborhood Development, a local economic development organization that was later adopted as a citywide model. He has also been actively involved in such organizations as the National Association for African American Educators, the National Association of Black Social Workers, and the Congress of African People. Dr. Wilcox currently operates the AFRAM Alternative Information/Marketing Service and serves as a Social Worker Consultant at the Langston Hughes Rafael Hernandez Community School and the Harlem Block "Housing the Homeless" Project.

The proclamation concludes: "Preston Wilcox's community outreach and activism are to be truly commended. He has demonstrated the virtues of fine leadership and guidance, and it is with deep gratitude that we honor him today."

With his son David Wilcox at his side, Dr. Wilcox thanked the City Council for the award. He spoke of what an enriching experience it has been for him to try to serve the needs of his people, "getting them to believe in themselves and speak for themselves."

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