The original Tree of Hope stood on Seventh Avenue outside the Lafayette Theatre and Connie’s Inn near 132nd Street, which became a symbol of good luck as many entertainers secured jobs through talent scouts by hanging around this elm tree. After the tree was cut down in 1934 in order to widen Seventh Avenue, the tree stump and a new tree were planted and a commemorative plaque with Bill “Bojangles” Robinson’s signature was laid on the street’s traffic island. The plaque was removed without authorization some years ago and has been missing ever since. Presently, Algernon Miller’s symbolic sculpture piece stands in place. The Copasetics Connections requested City of New York Department of Parks and Recreation to have a tree planted to commemorate the original Tree of Hope. The request met the approval of Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. The new Tree of Hope is located in front of Williams Institutional Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 2225 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (on the east side of the avenue near 132nd St). The new tree is a Zelkova, a relative of the original type of tree, American Elm, but it is less susceptible to disease and pests.

The tree planting ceremony on June 23 was kicked off by a rendition of “Things Ain’t What They Used To Be” by National Jazz Museum of Harlem All Stars directed by Loren Schoenberg (Jerome Jennings - drums, Yasushi Nakamura - bass, Alan Palmer - piano, John Eckert - trumpet, Roland Barber - trombone, Jason Marshall - baritone sax, and Schoenberg - also sax). The band performance was followed by remarks by Adrian Benepe, the pastor of the adjacent church, elected officials, and other community members. The first part of the ceremony was concluded with unveiling of a replica of the historic plaque with Bill “Bojangles” Robinson’s signature as well as a new plaque for Algernon Miller’s sculpture (courtesy of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce) and a ceremonial dirt throwing for the new tree.

The second half of the ceremony was handed over to the Copasetics Connection. The program consisted of a demonstration of Honi Cole’s Bill Robinson routine performed by the Copasetics Connection (Megan Haungs, Michela Marino-Lerman, Jun Maruta, Toes Tiranoff, and Hank Smith), duo tap dance by Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards and Jason Samuels Smith, a tribute to Bill Robinson by Harold “Stumpy” Cromer, and a tap jam which was concluded with the Shim Sham led by Marion Cole and Fay Ray of the Silver Bells. Frank Owens provided accompaniment on piano for the dancers. National Jazz Museum of Harlem All Stars were once again on stage and wrapped up the ceremony.

Present at the ceremony included among others Geraldine Kennedy (Silver Bells), Andrew Nemr (Tap Legacy Foundation), Mickey Davidson, Loreta Abbott, David Gilmore, and Algernon Miller. Special thanks go to Michael Shannon, Jonathan Kuhn, Sheena Brown, Steve Simon, Claudia Pepe, Gordon Polatnick (Big Apple Jazz) and Mona Lopez (Showmans).