HWM Advisory Board (HWMAB)

Building a financially sustainable, culturally rooted, and influential voice

Help Shape Harlem’s Next Chapter

Harlem World is continuing the Advisory Board to support the next 23-year phase of its growth as an independent, trusted platform for Harlem news, culture, history, people, and ideas with 1.5 million local and global readers.

We are seeking leaders, connectors, cultural stewards, and business builders who believe Harlem deserves strong, independent media—and who can help ensure that its stories, voices, and history continue to reach future generations.

The Advisory Board helps Harlem World grow its revenue, secure meaningful sponsorships, deepen its cultural roots, our legacy (from our founder, Danny Tisdale—working with Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine and his uncle, Charles Wesley Tisdale, at the Jackson Advocate), and build strategic partnerships across Harlem, New York City, and beyond.

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to help build a financially sustainable, culturally rooted, and influential Harlem media institution. Advisory Board members provide strategic counsel, professional expertise, relationships, advocacy, and practical support that strengthen the campnay’s revenue, sponsorships, partnerships, audience, and long-term community impact.

What Advisory Board Members Do

Grow Revenue

Members help identify and strengthen sustainable revenue opportunities, including advertising, memberships, sponsored content, events, grants, philanthropy, partnerships, and other mission-aligned business opportunities.

Build Sponsorships

Members help open doors to brands, agencies, corporations, foundations, and decision-makers who may become sponsors or long-term supporters of Harlem World.

Strengthen Harlem Cultural Roots

Members help ensure that the magazine remains connected to Harlem’s people, history, institutions, artists, educators, entrepreneurs, elders, and emerging leaders. They support a publication that documents Harlem with care, integrity, and respect.

Create Strategic Partnerships

Members help build relationships with cultural organizations, schools, universities, nonprofit organizations, businesses, civic institutions, media outlets, and community leaders. These partnerships may lead to co-produced programs, editorial projects, events, new audiences, funding, and shared resources.

Now Recruiting Members

Harlem World is currently seeking active Advisory Board members who can help advance the company’s next stage of growth.

We are especially interested in leaders with experience, influence, or strong networks in one or more of these areas:

Corporate sponsorships, advertising, media sales, marketing, or brand partnerships
Fundraising, philanthropy, membership programs, events, or revenue development
Harlem arts, history, education, archives, community engagement, or cultural institutions
Business development, strategic partnerships, real estate, hospitality, tourism, technology, civic leadership, nonprofit management, or media

We welcome candidates who bring both professional experience and a genuine commitment to Harlem’s community, culture, and legacy.

Member Expectations

Advisory Board service is an active, collaborative role. Members are expected to:

Attend monthly Advisory Board meetings each year.
Serve a three-year term, renewable by mutual agreement.
Provide strategic advice and candid feedback to Harlem World leadership.
Make introductions to prospective sponsors, funders, partners, contributors, and collaborators when appropriate.
Participate in at least one Board initiative, working group, event, or signature project annually.
Advocate for Harlem World through their professional and personal networks.
Uphold the company’s values of cultural respect, community accountability, editorial integrity, and long-term stewardship of Harlem stories.

The Advisory Board is a strategic and non-governing body. It does not direct daily operations or carry the legal fiduciary responsibilities of a Board of Directors; it provides guidance, relationships, perspective, and advocacy to help leadership make stronger decisions.

Priorities

During its next term, the Advisory Board will help Harlem World:

Develop a three-year revenue, sponsorship, and partnership roadmap.
Build a qualified pipeline of sponsors, funders, advertisers, and institutional partners.
Establish new partnerships with Harlem cultural, educational, business, and community institutions.
Support the signature H.Y.P.E., the Summit, etc., initiatives that grow revenue, audience, and cultural impact.
Strengthen the magazine’s role as a living record of Harlem’s past, present, and future.