Jazz education, cultural leadership, and community advocacy will take center stage in Manhattan this week as Jazz Power Initiative honors three influential figures during its annual Syncopated Celebration 2026 fundraiser.
The event, scheduled for May 14 at Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, will celebrate the transformative influence of jazz on culture and society while raising support for youth arts education programs across Northern Manhattan.
Among this year’s honorees is Steven A. Williams, president and CEO of WBGO, who will receive the Rothman Family Syncopated Partnership Award. Williams has led the globally recognized jazz station for nearly six years and has helped preserve its legacy as one of the nation’s most respected platforms for jazz music and culture.
“Being honored by Jazz Power Initiative as part of its Syncopated Celebration on May 14 is profoundly meaningful,” Williams said. “This celebration embodies the spirit of creativity, community, and collaboration that defines jazz.”
Also being recognized is six-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, who will receive the Changemaker Award. The Washington Heights native has become one of contemporary jazz’s most celebrated performers, blending traditional jazz with R&B, Latin music, funk, and hip-hop influences.
Benjamin has performed alongside artists including Alicia Keys, Missy Elliott, Gregory Porter, and Clark Terry. She said the honor is especially meaningful because of her longstanding connection to the community-focused organization.
“I love what Jazz Power Initiative stands for and its mission,” Benjamin said. “It resonates deeply with me, especially since JPI and I are repping Washington Heights.”
Meanwhile, Carmen De La Rosa will receive the Miranda Family Champion of Arts and Culture Award for her continued support of arts programming and cultural investment throughout Northern Manhattan.
De La Rosa, the first Dominican woman elected to represent New York City’s District 10, has championed initiatives focused on affordable housing, workers’ rights, climate justice, and equitable arts access for underserved communities.
The celebration will be hosted by 11-time Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride and will feature performances from McBride, Benjamin, co-founder Dr. E, and students participating in Jazz Power Initiative programs.
For more than 22 years, Jazz Power Initiative has provided free and low-cost arts education programs for children ages 6 to 18, offering instruction in music, dance, acting, and performance throughout Upper Manhattan.
More information about the event and organization is available through Jazz Power Initiative.