Dionne Warwick on Apollo Theater Return, Cancer Study, and Hip Hop Museum

Voices of Black Women Study

• 🔬 The American Cancer Society's Voices of Black Women study aims to understand how lived experiences impact cancer diagnosis and survival in Black women.
• 💡 It's an observational study following over 100,000 Black women longitudinally through surveys, not a clinical trial.
• ⚠️ Dr. Lauren McCulla, co-principal investigator, was personally motivated by her father's cancer diagnosis and the impact of environmental exposures.
• 🎯 The study focuses on Black women due to the intersection of racism and sexism affecting their health outcomes, and a lack of detailed data for this population.
• 📈 Enrollment began in May, with a goal of 100,000 women across all 50 states; currently, nearly 3,000 are enrolled, including 264 from New York.
• ⏳ The study targets women aged 25-55 to understand cancer drivers in younger age groups and before cancer typically develops.

The Hip Hop Museum

• 🚀 Construction is underway for the Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx, the birthplace of hip hop, set to open in Summer 2026.
• 💡 The museum aims to be a transformative, interactive experience using advanced technology to showcase hip hop's origins and global impact.
• 🎤 CEO Rocky Buchanano and Chief Curator Paradise Gray, both deeply involved in hip hop history, are leading the project.
• 🖼️ The collection will feature artifacts like Slick Rick's throne and Kulio's bicycle, with a focus on preserving the culture's history.
• 🤝 Microsoft is a partner, developing AI tools for lyric creation and an AI companion.
• 🏛️ The 55,000-square-foot museum is part of a mixed-use development on the Harlem River and is funded by government support and ongoing capital campaigns.

Jackie Robinson Museum and Foundation

• ⚾ The Jackie Robinson Museum, which opened in September 2022, honors the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson beyond his baseball career.
• 🌟 Exhibits include his Rookie of the Year award, game-used jerseys, a World Series ring, and military uniform.
• 🤝 The Jackie Robinson Foundation offers four-year scholarships and development programs to deserving students, emphasizing education and leadership.
• 🗣️ Rachel Robinson, Jackie's wife, was instrumental in founding the foundation and perpetuating his legacy.
• 🌍 The museum's main gallery focuses on his military career, activism, and entrepreneurial endeavors, including founding Freedom National Bank.

Southampton African-American Museum

• 💈 The Southampton African-American Museum is housed in a former black-owned barbershop and beauty parlor, designated a historical landmark.
• ✊ Brenda Simmons, president and CEO, spearheaded the 16-year effort to preserve the building, which was slated for demolition.
• 🎨 The museum features a mural depicting the Great Migration and the history of Black life in the Hamptons, including figures like Pierpont Concklin.
• 🗓️ Programming includes Black History Month events, Juneteenth celebrations, and an annual Amistad celebration, featuring a replica of the Amistad ship.

Dionne Warwick's Apollo Return

• 🎤 Legendary singer Dionne Warwick is returning to the Apollo Theater for its final show before renovations.
• 💬 Her performance will be different, focusing on talking and sharing stories, with film clips, rather than singing for 90 minutes.
• 🌟 Warwick expressed humility about her iconic status, emphasizing the influence of artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne.
• 💖 She shared that her son, Damon, will be part of the show, asking questions that allow her to share personal stories and insights.
• 🎶 While not singing for the entire duration, she will perform her most well-known hits, acknowledging their impact on fans' lives.