A place to stand, connect, and shape Harlem’s future—together
Why Join?
Defend Harlem brings everyday people together—not just to respond to what’s happening to Harlem, but to actively shape what comes next.
Members come together to:
- Push back against displacement and predatory development
- Shape policies that protect Harlem families, culture, and institutions
- Stay connected to what’s happening on the ground—early and clearly
- Turn shared concerns into collective action and visible community power
- Bring your own ideas and ongoing work into a shared space for collaboration, support, and momentum
This is about showing up for Harlem—and for each other.
What You Receive
Membership is about connection, access, and participation. As a member, you’ll receive:
- Monthly Harlem updates and timely policy alerts
- Invitations to meetings, trainings, cultural gatherings, and community actions
- Quarterly networking, rallying, and relationship-building events
- Opportunities to plug into neighborhood groups and issue-based working groups
- A Defend Harlem membership card and digital badge
- Access to shared advocacy tools and coordinated campaigns
You decide how deeply to engage—there’s room for many kinds of participation.
What’s Expected
Defend Harlem works because members show up in ways that fit their lives.
We ask members to:
- Share time, talent, or resources—through an optional contribution or a working group
- Join at least one meeting or event per quarter
- Participate in actions when you’re able
- Help spread the word and amplify collective calls-to-action
No one does everything—but together, we do enough to matter.
Who Can Join?
Defend Harlem is open to Harlem residents and neighbors of all ages and backgrounds—tenants and homeowners, elders and youth, artists and organizers, faith leaders, small businesses, community organizations, and anyone committed to protecting Harlem’s people, culture, and future.
Whether you’ve lived here for generations or arrived more recently and put down roots, if Harlem matters to you, there’s a place for you here.
Optional Monthly Contribution
Membership is open to all. Contributions are voluntary and sliding-scale.
- Suggested: $5–$15 per month
- Annual option: $60–$150
Your support helps make community gatherings possible, sustains organizing and communications, and strengthens our collective voice.
Get Involved
Members can choose one or more pathways to engage:
- Media & storytelling
- Outreach & relationship-building
- Research & data
- Membership & fundraising
These pathways are flexible and evolving—shaped by the people who step into them.
defendharlem.org 