A Legacy Worth Honoring:  Parade Procession and Block Party to Celebrate the Life and Legacy of Visionary Paul Kwame Johnson

Yonkers, NY –  With permission by the City of Yonkers, The Paul Kwame Johnson Estate invites the community to join a grand celebration honoring the life, artistry, and legacy of Paul Kwame Johnson, Co-Founder and Founding Artistic Director of Youth Theatre Interactions (YTI), on Saturday, July 19th. Devoted to his lifelong passion for inspiring others until his untimely death January 19, 2025, this commemorative event will highlight his contributions to the performing arts and his unwavering commitment to nurturing the young talent of the City of Yonkers.

An impassioned advocate for the youth, we are honoring a man whose contributions have profoundly transformed the lives of countless children in Yonkers and beyond: Paul Kwame Johnson. While Mr. Johnson may not have been a resident of Yonkers, his enduring legacy as Co-Founder and Founding Artistic Director of Youth Theatre Interactions (YTI) has made him an inseparable part of the City of Yonkers cultural and educational fabric.

For over 50 years, Paul Kwame Johnson championed the transformative power of the performing arts, cultivating young minds, fostering creativity, and empowering the youth of Yonkers to dream beyond their circumstances. His work at YTI and throughout Westchester County in Peekskill, Greenburg, and Newburg, has provided invaluable opportunities to thousands of children, instilling discipline, confidence, and a sense of purpose that has rippled through our community and generations of its families. Mr. Johnson’s accolades are numerous, and they speak to the profound impact of his life's work. He has been recognized by the City of Yonkers, the County of Westchester, and the State of New York through countless proclamations celebrating his extraordinary contributions to the arts and education. These honors underscore the undeniable truth: Paul Kwame Johnson is not just a man of influence but a beacon of hope and progress whose life epitomizes the spirit of service and dedication to community enrichment.

The celebration begins with a parade procession at 10:30 a.m., retracing the path of YTI’s storied history. Starting at the organization’s first ever location where on December 20th, 1973 James P. Hill, Turhan Von Brandon and Paul Kwame Johnson incorporated Youth Theatre Interactions and YTI was born opening it's doors at School 12 on 164 Ashburton Avenue in the city of Yonkers as a part of the Community Action Program.

The procession will then pass School 6, YTI's first permanent location at 33 Ashburton Avenue, continue onto YTI’s new permanent location at 68 Warburton Avenue, and on over to YTI's last and previous home of many years at 92 Main Street. The parade will culminate downtown at the Yonkers Waterfront, located at 71 Water Grant Street, where a vibrant block party will take place from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A Legacy of Masterful Artistry and Dedication

Paul Kwame Johnson was more than a visionary founder—a Seward Park High School alumni, he was a Sarah Lawrence College graduate ( BA ‘74, MFA ‘77) and Danforth Scholar, a master theater teacher, a revered mentor, and celebrated mime artist. His creative genius extended to the founding of Intimate Realities Teen Touring Drama Company with his former wife Patricia DeArcy, The Little Blue Room Theatre Company and The Mime Time Players, a groundbreaking ensemble known for their innovative performances, which highlighted the power of silent expression and creative storytelling, who in 1988 became the first African-American and Latino Mime Company to be inducted into the Mid Atlantic States Touring Consortium sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts.

In tribute to Johnson’s legacy, the block party will feature mime face painting, allowing attendees to embrace the art form he so passionately championed.  Music, a dance floor, and special guest presentors  will round out the event, creating a festive and family-friendly atmosphere.

Celebrating Over 50 Years of YTI

This celebration also marks the opening of YTI’s new location and upcoming fall registration for September, continuing in the founders mission of empowering youth through the performing arts. Now over 50 years old, YTI remains a cornerstone of the Yonkers community, inspiring new generations of young artists with the same energy and dedication that Paul Kwame Johnson instilled from the very beginning.

Honoring a Visionary Leader

For over five decades, Johnson’s work as a community leader, educator and artist throughout Westchester County, left an indelible mark on the cultural and personal lives of countless individuals. As a mentor, he cultivated confidence and creativity in his students, offering them not just skills but a world stage upon which to shine. As a storyteller, he reminded the world of the transformative power of art to connect, heal, inspire and change one's world view.

Join the Celebration

This event is more than a tribute; it’s a call for the Yonkers community to come together in celebration of a life lived with purpose and passion. Whether marching in the procession, enjoying the block party, or reminiscing on Johnson’s contributions, attendees will share in a day filled with joy, remembrance, and artistic spirit.

Saturday, July 19th is a day to honor, celebrate, and continue the legacy of Paul Kwame Johnson.

For more details, please contact Sister Moutique 323-795-8070

Let’s celebrate a life dedicated to the arts, mentorship, and the youth of the future. Together, we can continue to carry forward the legacy of Paul Kwame Johnson because as we all know, the show must go on!