Hillary ...Worth the Wait in Harlem

At least 300 people (by this bloggers observations) turned out uptown last week to hear Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton speak. Hosted by Harlem honchos Troy White, Clyde Williams and Jimmie Simmons, the event served it's purpose to rally Democratic supporters and celebrate the continued Harlem Re-Renaissance. During her very effective speech, Sen. Clinton made a number of references to issues outside of New York City including Hurricane Katrina response and Congressman Harold Ford's campaign in Tennesee for the U.S. Senate.

Most agreed the rescheduled, by invite only event was worth the trek uptown (at least those who were not locals said that) and while Sen. Clinton was unavoidably late, she did not dissapoint the unusually patient audience. Her noticably softened appearence and impassioned rhetoric earned her high marks, and her comment that America "now borrows money from Mexico" pretty much hit home with the predominantly professional crowd.

The newly opened venue Nubian Heritage (part Health Spa, part book store, part salon) at 126th St and 5th Ave., was appropriate for the occasion, providing enough space for socializing without folks bumping into each other, as with many of these politically themed events (future event planners take note). Local uptown staples like Eric Woods of Harlem Vintage, Stacie J of "The Apprentice 2" fame and author Harriette Cole could be seen in the crowd as well as actress Tamara Tunie and nightlife impressario Pam Pickens. Bottom line, a good event!
















L to R (Eisa Ulen Richardson, author of "Crystelle Mourning", her husband Ralph Richardson, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Blair Smith, Publisher of Uptown Social Register)

About the Publisher

You might say that Journalism is in Blair Smith's blood. As a small boy growing up in Maryland, the shy youngster was often told stories by his Father of his Great-Grandfather, the late Dr. Carl Murphy, Owner and Publisher of the Afro-American Newspapers in Baltimore. As a young man, Blair worked in the advertising sales department of the Baltimore Afro before leaving Maryland, to come to the Northeast. Blair felt before pursuing his passion for media and publishing, he had to first understand the business world.

While serving as a First Vice President of Target Market Initiatives at Smith Barney, Blair Smith managed all Multicultural Marketing within the Private Client Group. Beginning in 2002, he helped Financial Consultants generate additional assets under management among affluent African American, Latino and Asian investors. Blair’s responsibilities included the strategic development, marketing, metrics, advertising and public relations for his initiative. He created and developed profile client events annually, to penetrate key areas of opportunity in major urban markets. For his events, Blair called upon an extraordinary group of high profile speakers including: Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Dr. Johnnetta Cole, Byron Lewis, Ambassador Andrew Young and Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick of Detroit. In addition, Blair managed a Community Investment Program (CIP) for Smith Barney’s Western division, which allows Financial Consultants to provide charitable contributions to qualified organizations.

Currently, Blair is working as a Consultant with a top-tier financial services firm. He advises on a variety of projects including recruiting, key marketing programs and branding opportunities. Blair’s goals included determining the return on investment (ROI) with affinity group events and sponsorships.

Blair has also lectured to students at Baruch College and Columbia University on career opportunities in financial services, and serves as a mentor.

Blair holds a BA in Communications from Morgan State University and an MBA from Columbia University Graduate School of Business. While in business school, Blair served as a teaching assistant for the Executive MBA “Math Camp” and as Director of the Harlem Tutorial Program. During his tenure at Citigroup/Smith Barney, Blair served as a United Negro College Fund/Citigroup Foundation Fellow mentor. He lectured retail customers and trained internal personnel using Citigroup’s Financial Education curriculum. He enjoys golf and chess.

Blair lives with his wife Wendi in New Rochelle, NY.