Urban Park Rangers Michalle Catania and Victoria Mezik showed NY1 around the east end of Van Cortlandt, where there are plenty of trails to explore including the John Muir Trail. Not too far from Woodlawn through the woods is Van Cortlandt Park, the city’s third largest park. She noted some of the most visited sites include the grave of Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick, and memorials to victims and survivors of the Titanic disaster. “Woodlawn is a place to visit, and it’s a place to remember, and that’s what’s so great about the subway is anybody can get here anytime,” Olsen said. Woodlawn attracts over 100,000 visitors from around the world each year for guided tours, concerts and book talks. There’s also Miles Davis, Lionel Hampton, Max Roach, who all wanted to be buried nearby Ellington - creating what is known as the Jazz Corner. The new subway stop attracted legends, such as composer and orchestra leader Duke Ellington, who wasn't the last jazz great to call Woodlawn their resting place. “Our board pushed heavily to get the IRT out here, that changed our demographics, all of a sudden theater people from Broadway, and we became the cemetery of the Harlem Renaissance,” Susan Olsen, director of historical services at Woodlawn, said. The 9-hole Mosholu Golf Course is walking distance of the station and features a Youth Development Program.The station is also near the eastern end of Van Cortlandt Park and its hiking trails.The historic Woodlawn Cemetery is located across the street on Jerome Avenue.

The Woodlawn station is the final stop in the Bronx on the 4 train.The national historic landmark was established in 1863 by prominent New Yorkers seeking a last resting place accessible to Manhattan. It’s across the street from the last stop for over 300,000 New Yorkers in Woodlawn Cemetery. “All you have to do is give them the opportunity and the talent just flows out.The last stop on the 4 train in the Bronx is Woodlawn station, which is in the Norwood section at Jerome and Bainbridge avenues. “It’s amazing to see what these kids can do,” he said during the live broadcast.

NY 1 Reporter Roger Clark was impressed with Thrive Collective and RHYME. We are creating platforms and onramps for local artists, local talent, to come in as resident teaching artists and empower students to find their voice and do beautiful things that will endure.” Thrive Collective is building that bridge back. “That can’t happen today because we don’t have the same level of arts education in the very same neighborhoods that birthed hip hop all those years ago.

“Fifty years ago, kids in low income areas invented an art form that changed the world,” Jeremy said. Unfortunately, the disparity of opportunities in the arts for students is even more evident in 2023 as New York celebrates the 50 th anniversary of the founding of hip-hop music and culture. The non-profit organization was founded in 2014 to eradicate artless education in the city’s most underserved communities. Jeremy Del Rio elaborated on Thrive’s mission. When kids are awakened and impacted in this way it impacts the culture and the vitality of the school.” It bleeds into the science labs and into the gymnasium and into the lunchroom. “The expression and connection between the creativity, teamwork, and the beauty that results from it transcends the art and music rooms. Speaking with Roger Clark, Jeremy Del Rio said that something magical happens when kids are empowered to find their voice and work as a team to say something meaningful. “There are a lot of transferable principles that kids can glean from the process of writing songs, like communication and collaboration, and literary components such as reading and writing.” “We connect the dots between mic skills and life skills,” said Randy Mason, founder and director of RHYME. RHYME stands for “Rhymes Helping Young Minds Excel.” Another mural project will also be started. The students will soon release “Limitless,” an album of original songs. For the last two years, Thrive teaching artists, brothers Lawrence Cole and Paul Cole, have directed RHYME at the school. Three years ago, Thrive Collective worked with PS 105 students to produce the “Wave of Kindness” mural on the front of the building. Reporter Roger Clark interviewed students, Principal Laurie Shapiro and RHYME staff on June 2, and returned three days later for a live segment with Jeremy Del Rio, founder and executive director of Thrive. Thrive Collective’s RHYME program at PS 105Q in Far Rockaway, Queens was recently featured on NY1 News.

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