Community Leader Celebrated

The following article was first published in the Inner-City News.

The setting was gorgeous and fit for the night to celebrate Howard K. Hill and his immeasurable contributions to this community for more than 20 years. 

Anthony’s Ocean View was the backdrop for this celebration, and the crowd that gathered on July 19 represented the myriad of ways that would reflect a Howard K. Hill funeral service and the man behind the vision. It transcended race, ethnicity, generational divides, professional classes, and every kind of politician was there with a proclamation. Guest speakers included Mayor Justin Elicker and State Sens. Gary Winfield, Doug MCrory, and Jorge Cabrera.

This was one of the rare times that New Haven came together in a healing vibration whether you were family or friends or adversaries, all the love and respect were given to Howard. Additional proclamations came from Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, Forest Heights, Maryland Mayor Troy Barrington Lilly, U.S. Sen. Christopher Murphy, State Sen. Martin M Looney, State House Speaker Matthew Ritter, and Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas. 

Howard K. Hill has stood as a community leader throughout Connecticut for over two decades. He has stewarded families through some of their most delicate and devastating moments and has done so with care and compassion that is unmatched. Not only that, but Howard has also established himself and his business as a community pillar of service and progress for decades.

Howard is committed to being part of a healing to the very diverse communities that he grew up in throughout the state. It is a very complex relationship for a small business that caters to a community that is disfranchised and at a time when family and community are struggling with the loss of life. Howard understands the fact that as a small business, it is important to have relationships that are based on respect, and that you cannot please everyone.

One thing that Howard does well is that he lifts up others who are around him, his work, his presence, his commitment in particularly to lift up Black folks, to higher standards spiritually, financially, and educationally.

Howard is a philanthropist. Thirteen years ago, this writer came to Howard with the idea for my film, Black Women in Medicine. Howard was the first person to invest in my dream. On this night, July 19, in the same room, JoAnn Price of Fairview Capital was also present, celebrating Howard’s achievements. JoAnn provided the finishing funds which enabled my film to meet academy requirements and become a contender for an Oscar nomination in the documentary category. The film went on to be viewed by over ten million people worldwide. It is a representation of the power of Black philanthropy.

When you looked around the room, there was so much love that you could feel the healing energies. Every aspect of the community was represented, churches and religious institutions, academia, politicians, entrepreneurs, blue collar workers, and other philanthropists. For this moment, everyone put aside their differences, titles, and egos to come together to support this phenomenal visionary, Howard K. Hill.

Howard is a man, a husband, a father, a brother, a community leader, and a fighter. He holds a standard of excellence that never leaves out any details. This is evident in the work that he does, but also the way that he carries himself. In the words of Rev. Orsella Hughes, the Executive Director of the Prosperity Foundation, ​“Howard does the bravest things, unapologetically Black.” I wholeheartedly agree!

In 2009, Howard founded the ​“The Urban Prosperity Fund,” which later became ​“The Prosperity Foundation.” This philanthropic organization educates Black communities about the power of endowment. He has held numerous state positions and has also sat on the boards of the New Haven Chamber of Commerce, Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Hannah Gray Home-New Haven, CT, Amistad Middle School, and The Community Action Agency of New Haven.

It is rare to meet a man like Howard, and he is a gem to this community, to this state, and to all the families that he continues to serve in all his capacities. I believe in giving people their flowers while they are with us and I salute my friend, Howard K. Hill.

The proceeds of the night consisted of $20,000 in scholarships that went to students and organizations serving students, as well as an investment of $15,000 into the Prosperity Foundation scholarship fund for next year’s grant cycle. The night ended in only Howard’s style. By giving scholarships out to young, gifted, and Black students.