What is The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce (GHCC)?

A: The Chamber is a nonprofit, non-partisan business, civic, and community development organization founded in 1896 as the Harlem Board of Commerce. It is dedicated to improving the quality of life in Harlem and Upper Manhattan through business, educational, cultural, and civic initiatives.

What are the benefits of becoming a member?

Members gain access to: • Networking events & business expos • Business development resources • Sponsorship & vendor opportunities at major events like HAELEM WEEK. • Advocacy on community and policy issues • Promotion through GHCC platforms

HARLEM WEEK is the Chamber flagship event series, celebrating Harlem’s rich cultural, political, and business legacy. It includes concerts, conferences, expos, health fairs, and youth programming across several weeks each summer.

WHERE "THE BUSINESS OF BUSINESS IS PEOPLE!"

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Black History Month 2026

GHCC INVITES YOU TO JOIN NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS Virtual 5K Black History Month Challenge

OUR PARTNERS

IMPACT Repertory Theatre: Bridging Communities Through Art and Solidarity

Congratulations to GHCC member and creative, community partner, IMPACT Repertory Theatre, for their featured interview on CBS News NY! This Grammy-nominated artistic collective recently delivered a powerful performance for the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene’s "Soul to Soul" concert at the Queensborough Performing Arts Center. Celebrating Black History Month and the enduring legacy of solidarity between the Jewish and African American communities, the performance honored a shared history of marching together for civil rights. The event featured a moving selection of Yiddish and English songs performed by a star-studded lineup, whose artistry expressed both a poignant protest against racism and antisemitism and a collective hope for a brighter future. We are proud of IMPACT’s continued commitment to using the arts as a bridge for mutual respect and social change.

Lucille’s Coffee & Cocktails: Redefining Community in Harlem

In the heart of Harlem, Lucille’s Coffee & Cocktails stands as much more than a culinary destination; it is an energetic community hub where the spirit of service is just as essential as the menu. Owned and operated by restaurateur Matthew Trebek, the establishment has spent years cultivating a reputation as a sanctuary for emerging artists and creatives.

By providing a safe and welcoming stage for self-expression, Lucille’s has become a cornerstone of the local arts scene. It currently serves as the home for the Harlem Bomb Shelter and Jazzmobile’s monthly Poetry & Soul set, while regularly filling its space with the soulful sounds of live jazz concerts and a rotating schedule of community-focused activities that bring the neighborhood together.

The mission of Lucille’s extends far beyond its four walls through a dedicated effort to combat local food insecurity. In partnership with St. Matthew's Church, the restaurant’s staff lovingly prepares over 200 nutritious meals every week.

“At Lucille's, we believe in feeding the community in every sense of the word,” shared Matthew. “We are proud to serve as a gathering place for Harlem's vibrant arts scene, and even prouder to partner with St. Matthew's Church to ensure our neighbors have access to nutritious meals every week."

The commitment to neighborly well-being is further exemplified by Lucille’s sponsorship of Project Art, an impactful community-wide program that addresses the educational gap for children who lack access to arts programming within their schools. By partnering with public libraries, the initiative provides free, high-quality art classes taught by resident teaching artists. This collaboration ensures that the next generation of Harlem’s creatives has the resources and mentorship necessary to develop their talents, reinforcing the restaurant’s role as a patron of both the culinary and visual arts.

Matthew Trebek’s influence on the community is also felt through his extensive civic leadership and his dedication to honoring his family’s legacy of education. In addition to his work with the restaurant, he serves on the board of The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce. One of his most personal contributions to the neighborhood is sponsoring the HARLEM WEEK Annual Alex Trebek Harlem Children’s Spelling Bee. Named in honor of his late father, the legendary TV host Alex Trebek, the event celebrates academic excellence and provides a platform for local youth to shine. At Lucille’s, the menu may bring people in, but the mission makes them stay.

GHCC WELCOMES THE GEORGE AT COLUMBIA HOTEL TO HARLEM

The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) congratulates its newest member, The George at Columbia, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, on their successful ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, November 18, 2025! We are honored to welcome GM Sam Martinez, a Harlem Native, and the entire Hilton Property family for their significant investment and commitment to our community.

GHCC & BEYOND BEDTIME

Deliver "Good Nights" to Harlem Youth

HARLEM, NY — This holiday season, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) joined forces with Beyond Bedtime (formerly The Pajama Program) to distribute pajamas to children ages 1 through 12 in the Harlem community. Recognizing that healthy sleep is the foundation for a child's success, GHCC mobilized its network of community-based organizations to ensure that children facing the greatest adversity receive resources that can support them. To facilitate the distribution, the Chamber reached out to key partners including the Harlem YMCA, GiGi’s Playhouse, The Salvation Army in Harlem, Salem United Methodist Church, Harlem Mother’s Father’s S.A.V.E., and others to help spread Beyond Bedtime's sleep equity message throughout the neighborhood.

THE LEGACY OF Lloyd A. Williams

Upcoming Events

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OUR MISSION

The mission of The Chamber since 1896 is to improve the quality of life for all of Harlem’s residents, as well as to develop, attract and retain quality businesses and professional services. We are pleased that The Chamber dramatically continues to attract an ever-growing local, regional, national, international support base, ranging from single proprietors to Fortune 500 corporations.

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CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP

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GHCC HISTORY

Since 1896, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce has served as a pillar within Uptown’s ecosystem; leading an array of initiatives designed to economically, socially, and culturally empower Harlemites with an overarching mission of preserving and strengthening the community. The nonprofit marked a historic milestone in February by ushering in its 129th year of service.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) offers sponsorship opportunities for events like HARLEM WEEK.

The GHCC has hosted events with corporate sponsors including: Amazon Access

JP Morgan Chase, Citi Bank, MCU, Carver Bank, Bank of NY Mellon, Verizon, Disney, ESPN, Spectrum, Macy's, & Bloomberg.

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HARLEM WEEK

HARLEM WEEK began in the summer of 1974 as a “one-time only,” one-day event (HARLEM DAY) with the huge objective of creating a much-needed “positive vibe” and pulling the greater Harlem community’s residents, businesses, religious, educational, arts and cultural institutions out of the most severe economic and social doldrums that New York City and the nation had faced in generations

KEY PILLARS

THE 3RD HARLEM
RENAISSANCE

During the launch of HARLEM DAY, in 1974, legendary activist, actor, director Ossie Davis, Jr. proclaimed its creation would usher in “The 2nd Harlem Renaissance.”

A half century later, The Chamber continues to work diligently with stakeholders, small businesses and corporations in strengthening Harlem's economy through tourism, artist & culture, education, technology, health & wellness. Therefore, setting the stage for Harlem’s 2nd Renaissance.