Celeste Lacy Davis

Project: Development and production of a substantial group photography exhibition which will provide a close-up look at the daily lives of America’s aging populations, most especially those of Harlem, USA. Beyond the public presentation of this comprehensive visual essay, the intent of this project is to also include an exhibition photobook as well as a series of community-based and online discussion programs on the rewards and challenges of America’s aging populations in an increasingly youth-oriented society.

Celeste Lacy Davis is a resident of Harlem, a female griot with a camera, and a proud senior citizen on a mission to give voice to the voiceless and visibility to those who are invisible in contemporary American society. In fact, she’s been on that mission since her teen years as a freedom protester in the Civil Rights Movement, to her post-college years as a full time community organizer (Congress of African People) and then onto her professional careers as people’s lawyer and public policy advocate (Legal Aid Society, NYC Commission on Human Rights, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She has also served in academic administration as an Assistant Dean for Diversity (The New School); Director of External Relations and Alumni Affairs (CUNY Law School) and as Executive Director in the nonprofit and philanthropy sectors (The Fannie Lou Hamer Project, The Funding Exchange). As a former owner and director of a community art gallery specializing in the art of the African diaspora (Imarisha Art House), and now armed with the resources of Columbia University, she is excited to revive an activist role in a familiar fight for justice, equality and respect, this time as a creative. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, with a Bachelor of Science in Television Production and is a member of the inaugural class of the City University School of Law.