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Notable People

 

    1. The Frederick Douglass Houses, a NYCHA development on the Upper West Side of Manhattan (located between 100th and 104th Streets), has been home to several highly influential figures in entertainment, sports, and community advocacy.

      Here are the most notable people who came from the Douglass Houses, along with details on their careers:

      Entertainment & Arts

      • Kelis (Kelis Rogers): The “Milkshake” singer and songwriter was born and raised in the Douglass Houses. Beyond her massive music career, which includes hits like “Caught Out There” and “Bossy,” she is now a professionally trained chef and cookbook author.
      • Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs: An iconic actor best known for his role as Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington on the 1970s sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter. He also starred in the cult classic film Cooley High and portrayed Joseph Jackson in the miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream.
      • Mekhi Phifer: A prominent actor who rose to fame after starring in Spike Lee’s Clockers.He is widely recognized for his long-running role as Dr. Greg Pratt on the medical drama ER and for starring alongside Eminem in the film 8 Mile.
      • Mabel King: A celebrated actress and singer who was a resident of Douglass Houses during her rise to stardom. She is most famous for playing Evillene the Wicked Witch in the original Broadway production and the film version of The Wiz.
      • Just Sam (Samantha Diaz): The winner of Season 18 of American Idol (2020). She lived in the Douglass Houses when she won the competition and was famously supported by the entire development during her journey on the show.
      • Azealia Banks: A rapper and singer known for her breakout hit “212.” She is frequently cited in local records as having spent part of her childhood in the development before rising to fame in the hip-hop and house music scenes.

      Sports

      • Reggie Carter: A professional basketball player who played for the New York Knicks from 1980 to 1982. A local legend, he was a star at St. John’s University before being drafted into the NBA.

      Media & Comedy

      • Monteria Ivey: A comedian, radio personality, and author who hosted the PBS game show Think Twice. He was a well-known voice in New York media and a frequent collaborator with other comedians from the neighborhood.
      • Stephan Dweck: A humorist, author, and entertainment attorney who has written for various television shows and is often cited as a successful alumnus of the development.

      Community Leaders

      • Carmen Quiñones: The longtime President of the Douglass Houses Tenants Association.She has become a major figure in NYC politics and advocacy, known for her fierce defense of public housing residents’ rights and her efforts to provide food and resources to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
      • Odessa Steward: A beloved community leader and former president of the 24th Precinct Community Council. Her impact was so significant that the city co-named the corner of Amsterdam Avenue and West 103rd Street “Odessa Steward Street” in her honor.

      Note on Namesake

      The development is named after Frederick Douglass (1818–1895), the legendary abolitionist, orator, and statesman. While he did not live in these specific buildings (as they were completed in 1958), the complex serves as a monument to his legacy of civil rights activism in New York and beyond.

      1. 🎤Samantha “Just Sam” Diaz — Singer / American Idol Winner

      Douglass Houses resident Samantha “Just Sam” Diaz won season 18 of American Idol. Diaz started following her dream of singing as a subway singer in Manhattan to support her and her grandmother, who adopted Diaz and her sister after their mother was incarcerated. Diaz goes by “Just Sam” and she got her start singing on the subways. She was a subway singer from Manhattan Valley who was named the winner of American Idol’s 18th season, which continued its live shows with at-home broadcasts during the coronavirus pandemic. Her story of rising from public housing to national fame made her an inspiration to many.

      1. 🎬David Freeman Wooley — Director, Producer, Author & Entrepreneur

      Wooley was born and raised in Harlem, New York, and the family lived in the Frederick Douglass housing projects. Wooley launched his career in the entertainment industry as a teenage drummer, recording with professionals including gospel singer Cissy Houston and R&B/Jazz artist Norman Connors. In 1981, Wooley founded his production company, Dave Wooley Productions. As a producer, Wooley has worked with Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Run-DMC, Loretta Lynn, and Tony Bennett. Wooley’s most extensive collaborations are with Dionne Warwick, his business partner whom he has worked with for over 25 years. He also wrote, produced, and co-directed the documentary Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over. In 1988, he rose to prominence as the only Black man in the country to be awarded exclusive paid-per-view and closed-circuit television broadcasting rights for several entire states to the Mike Tyson versus Michael Spinks “Once And For All” match.

      1. 🏀Reggie Carter — NBA Player (New York Knicks)

      Reggie Carter (1957–1999) was an NBA Player for the New York Knicks and is listed as a notable person from the Douglass Houses. Born in New York City, Carter played collegiately for St. John’s University and the University of Hawaii. He was selected by the New York Knicks in the second round (27th pick overall) of the 1979 NBA draft and played with the Knicks from 1980 to 1982 in a total of 135 games. After his basketball career, Carter became an assistant principal at Mineola High School before dying of a rare disease likened to tuberculosis.

      1. 🎵Agnes “Sis” Cunningham — Folk Singer, Songwriter & Co-Founder of Broadside Magazine

      Agnes “Sis” Cunningham (1909–2004) was a folk singer, songwriter, banjo player, labor organizer, and co-founder of the influential folk magazine Broadside, and she resided in an apartment on the 11th floor of the Frederick Douglass Houses during the mid-20th century alongside her husband, writer Gordon Friesen. There, the couple launched Broadside in 1962, mimeographing topical songs by emerging artists including Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, and Len Chandler, which played a pivotal role in the 1960s folk music revival and protest song movement. Cunningham was a former member of the Almanac Singers with Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, and she continued performing and advocating for workers’ rights into her later years.

      It’s worth noting that while NYCHA developments have produced numerous accomplished individuals citywide, verifiable prominent residents specifically from Frederick Douglass Houses remain limited in documented records from reputable sources. The individuals above are the most well-documented notable residents of the Douglass Houses