Madlyn Stokely, who has been the president of the Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association for three years, knows a lot about the history of Harlem's Mount Morris Park neighborhood.

"This part of Harlem was always so magical to me — the park and the beautiful buildings, the wide boulevard. And so when I moved over here about 45 years ago and found that this organization had started, I was very happy to put some time into it," Stokely said.

What You Need To Know

  • Harlem Holiday Lights is celebrating its 30th anniversary
  • The holiday celebration is presented by the 125th Street Business Improvement District
  • The 125th Street Business Improvement District teamed up with the Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association
  • A parade of lights featured 15 floats which traveled through the neighborhood

The lifelong Harlem resident has lived in the area near Marcus Garvey Park for more than four decades, and has seen Harlem change and bounce back from hard times in the 1970s and 1980s. 

"It's really like the best of times, worst of times kind of place. The most magnificent homes, but at the same time, we still have residue of challenges on the quality of life," Stokely said.

One aspect of life in the neighborhood Stokely applauds is the addition of small businesses, not only on nearby 125th Street, but off of the major artery.

One of those businesses is Settepani on Malcolm X Boulevard and 120th Street. Leah Abraham and her husband opened the bakery and restaurant almost 25 years ago. She remembers the reaction of her first customers.

"Long line outside, we weren't quite ready, so I went outside to tell this lady there's a line and we will be opening in half an hour, and this woman said, 'Honey, we have been waiting for you for 30 years.' And I just had tears in my eyes and said, 'Come on in,'" Abraham said.

Abraham is on the board of the 125th Street Business Improvement District. For 30 years, the 125th Street Business Improvement District has been brightening up the thoroughfare with Harlem Holiday Lights. This year features singing trees and a big parade of lights.

There's even a "Shine On, Harlem Challenge" on the Vibemap app, where folks who visit Harlem businesses get points and can win prizes.

It's all about attracting folks to Harlem and to businesses big and small.

"125th Street has the culture, those brands that we all know, that we support that we are connected to, but then there is beyond 125th Street, and that makes a neighborhood," Abraham said.

The 125th Street Business Improvement District was established in 1993 to stimulate economic life in the area on and around 125th Street.

The Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association was created in 1981. For nearly 45 years, it has beautified the neighborhood, run programs for youth and seniors and upgraded the Mount Morris Park Historic District.