One year has passed since The Black Library, an innovative library and community art space in the Village of Monticello, Sullivan County, NY, first opened its doors to the public.

About The Black Library

Created to celebrate and educate the community about Black history and culture, The Black Library has grown into a beacon of creative expression and a hub for local artists. Co-founders Douglas Shindler and Michael Davis have worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality, providing a space for artistic incubation, education, and community engagement. Both are respected artists. Shindler is a painter/photographer/designer, and Davis is a photographer/designer.

A Space for Creativity and Community

The Black Library began with a simple yet profound mission: to celebrate Black culture and history while fostering a collaborative, creative, and educational atmosphere for Sullivan County residents. Located in a city with a 25% poverty rate, The Black Library has become a critical resource for those seeking to explore creative careers and learn about Black history and culture.

“The employment pipeline around here after high school is limited,” explains Shindler. “There are supermarkets or a few different organizations. And without a car, these are difficult jobs to commute to. When we graduated, we didn’t have any photographers or videographers that looked like us, our age, telling us, ‘Hey, come this way. You can do this. Travel the world and meet people.'”

“We’ve both been very successful in the arts, and we wanted to share our knowledge with this community,” continues Davis. “Growing up, we didn’t have any mentors or professionals telling us about the possibilities in photography, design, or art. We wanted to change that.”

Educational Opportunities

From mixed media and photography workshops to financial literacy classes and agriculture weekends, the library offers a wide range of educational opportunities. These programs are designed to empower residents with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive creatively and economically.

The Black Library partners with Andre Lafond

As The Black Library celebrates its first anniversary, the founders have partnered with racecar driver Andre Lafond in a move that symbolizes both the growth and the broadening reach of their mission. The partnership with Lafond and Hansen marks a new chapter for The Black Library.

Andre Lafond

Lafond, a promising race car driver, brings a unique element to the library’s cause marketing efforts.
For The Black Library, the partnership with Lafond offers an opportunity to tap into a new demographic—racing enthusiasts and the local motor club.

Impact and Challenges

In its first year, The Black Library has hosted a variety of successful events, including art exhibitions, live music, fashion shows, and educational workshops. These events have drawn significant attendance, showcasing the community’s enthusiasm for the library’s offerings. The grand opening set the tone for what has become a vibrant and dynamic space, with local artists selling work and gaining exposure.

However, the journey has not been without challenges. In addition to the high poverty rate, limited employment opportunities and lack of transportation, Sullivan County has been hit hard with the drug epidemic. It has the highest rate of opioid-related deaths in New York State.

“There’s a real need for spaces like ours in communities like Monticello,” Davis notes. “We’re dealing with both rural and urban issues—poverty, lack of access to education, job opportunities, drug addiction, and a general feeling of being overlooked.”

The partnership with Lafond and Hansen is a strategic move to address some of these challenges. By expanding their reach and attracting new supporters with a range of programming, The Black Library hopes to secure the funding needed to continue its work. “We’re in a critical phase right now,” says Shindler. “Our focus is on finding funders—whether private donors, foundations, or businesses—who can help us sustain our programs and keep the doors open.”

The Road Ahead

As The Black Library moves into its second year, its founders are optimistic. They plan to continue to expand their offerings and explore new partnerships that align with their mission. Upcoming events include another agriculture weekend with cooking classes by local chefs, a live music show, and a backpack drive in partnership with the local NAACP chapter.

“Our partnership with Andre and Ralph is just the beginning,” says Davis. “There’s no telling how much we can grow. In just one year, we’ve already made a significant impact. We’re excited to see where this collaboration and those in the future can take us.”

For Shindler and Davis, The Black Library is more than just a space—it’s a movement. It’s about creating opportunities, changing lives, and fostering a deeper understanding of Black history, thus empowering the community by rediscovering its rich cultural heritage. As they look ahead, they are committed to continuing this important work and ensuring that The Black Library remains a vital resource for years to come.

For more information:  www.theblacklibraryny.com

In a world of conflict and division, poet and activist Pelumi Olatinpo taps into the power of poetry to cut through the noise and focus attention on oppression, violence, the plight of undocumented immigrants, racism, hatred, and the urgent need for change.

In his groundbreaking collection, POETA: Sonetas and Sonnets (September 17, 2024; TogetherInWitness, Olatinpo offers a searing exploration of what it means to be human in the 21st century, using an electrifying new poetic language: the soneta.

Poet and activist Pelumi Olatinpo’s story

Pelumi Olatinpo knows injustice and suffering intimately. As a boy, he lived under military dictatorships in his home country, Nigeria. At age 14, he moved to Italy with his family, yet struggled with the language barrier and lack of opportunities for people of color. After several challenging months, Pelumi and his siblings were treated to a vacation in Toronto, Canada. A few weeks later, his mother and youngest brother returned to Italy. Thanks to the resources of a family friend, Pelumi and his 12-year-old sister stayed—with a bold plan to start their new life in America. Together, under the cover of moonlight, they took a 15-minute speedboat trip on the Niagara River and crossed the wide open Canadian border into the United States. They arrived on the shores of Buffalo, New York, as undocumented immigrants.

As Pelumi would quickly learn, “illegals” faced financial strain, social stigma, and barriers to education, employment, healthcare, and many basic rights. When their brother died in drowning accident, Pelumi and his sister could not travel to Italy to see his body or mourn with their parents. Embracing the core American values of hard work and equality, Pelumi completed high school and gained admission into six colleges—but couldn’t attend any due to his status. In 2003, he enrolled in local nursing school. Two years later, he graduated and passed the board exam. Despite his credentials as a licensed practical nurse, he was often thwarted by his lack of papers and spent nearly ten years working inconsistently and wherever available as an independent contractor. Out of frustration, he considered returning to Nigeria.

Fortunately, President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program offered hope for a change. At last, Pelumi and his sister were able to obtain Employment Authorization Documents, Social Security numbers, and a path to citizenship. Inspired by the digital transformation sweeping the globe, he went on to study technology and cofounded a consulting services company. In 2022, he became a proud United States citizen.

About POETA

In POETA, Pelumi Olatinpo draws on his experiences to explore the struggles of immigrants, the brutal reality of racism, and other issues of outrage. His tool for raising awareness is the soneta. What makes this poetic form not only innovative but truly revolutionary:

• Brevity and Impact: In six lines, with a maximum of ten words per line, the sonata forces a distillation of raw emotion and complex ideas, demanding the reader’s full attention.
• Versatility: From war and oppression to love and resilience, the soneta confronts the full spectrum of human experience.
• A Weapon for Change: The soneta’s intensity makes it the perfect tool to expose injustice, spark dialogue, and inspire action.
• Bridging Divides: The sonata invites the blending of languages and cultures, promoting understanding and connection in a fractured world.

Urging readers to engage in a dialogue with poetry, POETA provides a compelling exploration of immigration, injustices, war, and other issues that cut to the core of our humanity.

You can follow Pelumi Olatinpo on Twitter.

Investigation Discovery has announced that it has partnered with Maxine Production on a docuseries exploring the rise and influence of Sean “Diddy” Combs and the allegations of violent behavior and illegal activity that have trailed the music mogul.

Combs, 54, was arrested at a Manhattan hotel on the night of Monday, Sept. 16. He’s charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Sean “Diddy” Combs Docuseries

As accounts of sexual assault, abusive behaviors, and other disturbing claims surface, the docuseries traces the story of this self-proclaimed Bad Boy, unraveling allegations of a pattern of depravity. The multipart docuseries is set to premiere in 2025 on ID and Max.

Unheard Voices

Furthering ID’s commitment to elevating survivors’ stories, the docuseries will feature the voices of many who have alleged acts of violence and brutality.

Through access to archival footage and in-depth reporting from Rolling Stone, along with harrowing testimony from survivors as well as friends and colleagues who knew and worked with Combs before his stardom, the multi-part docuseries will offer insight into unfolding allegations against the once untouchable superstar.

It will also highlight the toxic power dynamic that played out within the industry and kept many survivors silenced – until now.

The project is being produced for ID by Maxine Productions and IPC in association with Rolling Stone Films.

Combs has pled not guilty to the charges and is ordered to remain behind bars until trial. He faces up to life imprisonment if convicted on the top charge.