staten island

black heritage

A Movement, not a moment

Spreading awareness about BLACK HERITAGE FOR OUR community

The purpose of the Staten Island Black Heritage Family Day is to awaken our community to the dawn of a new day of hope and unity and to promote the best of who we are as offspring of the African Diaspora, by raising our consciousness and awareness that we are the descendants of a great people.

We are here to awaken our community to new realities of empowerment; while testifying to the fact that we can accomplish more when we unite, than when we are divided.

We declare a new day; of purpose and meaning for ourselves, our families and our communities.

13TH Staten island black heritage family day
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 , 2024

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STATEN ISLAND BLACK HERITAGE
MEMBERS 2023

$$ thank you $$

 our 2022 PARTNERS

we couldn’t have done it without you

STATEN ISLAND BLACK HERITAGE
UPCOMING EVENTS 2024

2023 Staten Island Black Heritage

Shawn Stradford
Enterpuneuer

NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Tania I. Kinsella embarked on her distinguished law enforcement career as a police officer in July 2003. Since then, she has made significant contributions across various precincts, including the 120th, 13th, 68th, 122nd, Police Service Area 1, Patrol Borough Staten Island, and the Patrol Services Bureau. Her dedication and excellence led her to be promoted through the ranks: Sergeant in July 2008, Lieutenant in August 2013, Captain in November 2016, Deputy Inspector in May 2019, Inspector in July 2021, Deputy Chief in December 2022, and First Deputy Commissioner in July 2023. In her current role as the First Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, her impact expands to a broader horizon. With the oversight of industry leading tactics and training initiatives and a robust disciplinary system, she shoulders the immense responsibility of fostering professionalism and fairness among the 55,000-member police force. Leading by example,

First Deputy Commissioner Kinsella champions the values of integrity and accountability, ensuring that every member of the police department adheres to the highest standards of conduct. Her vision is to create a cohesive and responsible police department, one that upholds the principles of justice while maintaining the safety and security of New York City’s residents. First Deputy Commissioner Kinsella’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies and an Executive Masters degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, demonstrating her unyielding dedication to continuous growth and advancement. As the First Deputy Commissioner,

 Tania I. Kinsella stands as a beacon of leadership, ensuring that the New York City Police Department continues to evolve, adapt, and serve all five boroughs with honor and distinction.

Neil Berry
Community Advocate

Shawn J. Stradford, Sr. was born and raised with his 4 siblings Wendell Stradford, Dr. Terrance Stradford, Brandon Stradford and Rhema Stradford in the West Brighton section of Staten Island, and Proud Father to Shawn J. Stradford II.  His parents are Mr. Rudolph and Rev. Yvonne Stradford. He is a graduate of Susan E. Wagner High School and the University of The District of Columbia (HBCU), with a degree in Mortuary Science, he excelled in his embalming class so much that his professors had him to teach the class on many occasions. After graduating he has been invited to his alumni to lecture to the students. He is licensed in the District of Columbia, certified by the National Board of funeral directors and New York State board certified and licensed New York State Funeral Director.

     He is the 2nd African American, appointed as a Forensic Medical Examiners Assistant for Nassau County, A position in which he proudly performed over 2000 autopsies in a five-year period before resigning to answer the calling to open Stradford Funeral Home (WWW.StradfordFuneralHome.Com). Formally located in Tompkinsville in 2000 where he and the staff ministered to well over 1600 families during their time of need by tailoring funerals and keeping them affordable and sharing every family’s grief, making an unbearable time just a little bit more bearable.

Shawn has over 20 years of funeral service experience where he has fine-tuned and further developed his natural capabilities for compassion and sympathy in the funeral business.  He also is also the owner of the Stradford Funeral Home, Inc now permanently located at 1241 Castleton Ave. (West Brighton) Staten Island, N.Y. 10310, where he and the staff continue their ministry of funeral service to the community.   (And YES for the record Stradford Funeral Home is still in operation and Only African-American owned and Absolutely separate and independent from any funeral home in Staten Island!). His participation in the community is extensive: He is a member of the Children of Hope Safe Haven Foundation, Liaison for Staten Island; Former member Staten Island African American Political Association; the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. He has participated in many Civic protests over the years, from doing a funeral procession around the North Shore to stop the violence, or standing on the steps of Boro Hall protesting for Police Reform to the protests for Mr. Eric Garner just to name a few. Always fighting for the Civil Rights for our Communities. He is a member of the Empire State Funeral Directors, A member of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Assoc., A member of The New Jersey State Funeral Directors Assoc., He is a Right Worshipful, District Deputy Grand Master Emeritus for The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge State of  NY, A Past Master of  Silver Lake Lodge No. 59 the only Prince Hall Masonic Lodge in Staten Island;  Member of The Long Island Consistory No. 61, where he became a 32nd degree Mason; Honorary Past Potentate  of Abu Bekr Temple No. 91 Prince Hall Shriners, The Past Associate Patron of Silver Queen Chapter # 43 Staten Island, Prince Hall Order of Eastern Stars (and yes it is the only Prince Hall Chapter on Staten Island).

     A founding member of Occupy the Block North Shore, A former board member of Seaman Society; a board member of the New York Urban League and a member of the New Brighton Citizens Who Care (Community Organization). Currently serving on the Family Life Center (Executive Board Member), Vice President of the Richmond County Black & Minority Chamber of Commerce. Shawn also created The Stradford Family Life Foundation a 501C3 Non-profit organization to assist families to obtain finances for burials and many other Educational, and Mental Health services.  Mr. Stradford is a recipient of numerous Community, Civic and Humanitarian awards most recent was the Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Award from the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. After going through the arduous task renovating a Beautiful 11k square foot building for the new Stradford Funeral Home.

     The new facility has a chapel that holds over 250 people, a state-of-the-art memorial and memory room where families may go to peacefully reflect on the lives of there loved ones, with spacious seating and very large waiting areas. Stradford Funeral Home is now one of the larger funeral establishments in seating capacity on the North Shore and parking and handicap capabilities. This will enable him and his caring staff to better serve families. And with all of the new amenities His prices have not gone up, which still allows him to be able to have many creative pricing options for ALL families who are in need of their services.

Emotionally and physically suffering through an unprecedented time of this Horrible Pandemic, Stradford funeral home NEVER turned away any family and also provided Funeral and Memorial services for those who had been turned away by other funeral establishments.

     We all will die one day, so the goal is not to Live forever. But to Create Something that Will. Being Blessed by the Heavenly Father to be put in a position to help my community by extending the Olive Branch of Friendship and True Compassion to all those who need it regardless of their situation is what myself and Stradford Funeral Home dedicate to each and every family. I believe that in order for us have financial stability in our own communities we MUST STOP spending our monies with those who do not care about the issues in our communities and only have a interest in taking our money to build their own communities. When this is accomplished, our communities will become empowered and not taken for granted.                                                                                                                                           May God Bless You All!!

Red Black and green ball
FRIDAY, march 22, 2024

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Join us as we celebrate the Pan-African flag and honor Community Change Agents. 

Families against violence all-star classic
SATURDAY, april 27, 2024

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The Families Against Violence (FAV) Anti-Violence, All-Star Classic Basketball Games provides an opportunity for the Staten Island community to come together in an afternoon of exhilarating basketball and entertainment for the entire family; while providing violence prevention information and education that addresses the issues of all forms of violence in our communities, schools and homes.

The Families Against Violence (FAV) Anti-Violence, All-Star Classic Basketball Games gives all Staten Islanders an opportunity to recognize the need for working together to make safer neighborhoods, by taking a definitive stand against crime and violence in our communities.

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13TH SMOOTH SOUNDS BY THE SEA
SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2024

13th staten island black heritage family day
SATURDAY, september 21, 2024

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BLACK SOLIDARITY DAY LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2024

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Staten Island Black Heritage
celebrates veterans Day
Saturday, November 11, 2023

Thank you to all our partners!
369th Veterans Association-Richmond District, Lambda for Community, and the Honorable Debi Rose

Staten Island Black Heritage Partners with the Community

Keeping the Light with National Lighthouse Museum Staten Island

Staten Island Museums and Sandy Ground Historical Society

Red, Black & Green Honorees 2023

New York City Police Department First Deputy Commissioner Tania I. Kinsella

Tina Garrett "Phenomenal Women"

Karesha Jordan "Legacy of Love''
Northfield Bank
Project Hospitality
Silver Queen #43OES

Donate and make a difference

Help support the "Al Peter's Communication Scholarship" and the "Sajda Musawwir Ladner Cultural Scholarship" for public high school graduating seniors who will be attending college majoring in communication or the arts.

Use the "friends and family" button on PayPal

Designate which scholarship you are supporting in the "Donation Description"

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