Elaine Parker

C. Elaine Parker, born Cora Elaine Smith, (June 11, 1926 – December 30, 2009) was a Harlem community activist who promoted and directed social, political, economic, or environmental change in Harlem.

Early life

Elaine or “Lady Day” as she was often called, was born in Washington, D.C. to Mr. Lawrence Smith and Mrs. Mary Agnes Smith. She was the mother of five children and wife of the late Leonard R. Parker, Jr. She completed her primary education in Stafford, Virginia at the Stafford Training School. She moved to New York at an early age where she began her modeling career and became the first black woman spokes model at The World’s Fair. This was after the many struggles and protests that C.O.R.E. waged for black employment and representation at the World's Fair.

Elaine began her career as a community activist where she was elected president of the Parent Teacher Association at P.S. 100, Matthew Henson School in Harlem. This motivated her to become "a part of the solution”. Her strong sense of community activism was recognized by the late Honorable Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. who selected her to be a part of his team, where she served as an aide and community liaison.

Community

Her enthusiasm for helping the black community led her to join the Congress of Racial Equality (C.O.R.E). As a result of her leadership skills, she subsequently became Director of the Harlem Office of C.O.R.E.^[1] Elaine went on to become a supervisor for the community-based organization, Citizens Action for a Safer Harlem (C.A.S.H.).

Elaine was appointed director of the Northern Manhattan Office of the Borough President, Honorable Andrew Stein. She remained there until Mr. Stein became the President of the New York City Council at which time she was then appointed Ombudsmen for the New York City Council President’s office. While there, she helped several prominent causes which saw her as a direct link to City Hall and she became well known as a person who was effective and could actually get things done for her community and her people in the City of New York.

While serving as an aide to the Honorable Andrew Stein, she continued her education at the New School for Social Research where she studied Psychology. She broadened her ability to solve community issues by furthering her studies at the New York Institute for Mediation and Conflict Resolution, where she received her certification as a mediator. She also considered her work in the community with the New York City Board of Education Title 1 program as an important factor in her development.

Elaine was a member of the Abyssinian Baptist Church and served as a member of the board of directors for a variety of organizations including: Harlem Urban Development Corporation; the New York Urban League; Harlem Hospital Community Board; Community Planning Boards 10 and 11; Renaissance Health Care Network of Harlem Hospital and the Central Harlem Senior Citizen Center, to name a few. She was also vice-president of the 25th Precinct/Community Council; a member of the New York Coalition of 100 Black Women and a former Chairperson of the Board of Riverbend Housing Corporation where she lived for many years.

Business

C. Elaine Parker has been recognized for her service by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women, Who’s Who in US Executives and is a recipient of a number of awards including the Mother Hale Community Service Award; the Harlem Hospital Community Service Award and the President’s Award from Malcolm-King Harlem College Extension. She has also been recognized by many for her great dedication to the people of Harlem, the community she loved.

Elaine is survived by a brother Leonard Tidley; four children; Michael, Edna, Reena, and Leonard III. She was mother to Alfred (deceased); Grandmother to; Khalilah, Amirah, Sharrief, Alfred Jr., Jasmine, Isaac, Joshua, William, Preston, and Mia. Great-Grandmother to Daniel, Sonye, Sharrief II, Yassin, and Heaven. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

References

• Obituary, Reena Walker January 2010