| National Action Network is moving |
| National Action Network is moving Rev. Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network, is moving the organization into an abandoned firehouse in a rapidly gentrifying Harlem neighborhood that includes a Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and a number of chic shops selling expensive goods. The organization purchased the Faison Firehouse Theater on Hancock Place, paying between $5 million and $7 million. Rev. Sharpton plans to transform it into the “House of Justice: Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Workshop,” honoring Sharpton’s longtime mentor and fellow civil rights leader. By choosing a historic firehouse that evolved into a performance space, Sharpton is leaning into Harlem’s rich artistic tradition. He envisions the new headquarters as a hub where activism and the arts intersect—a modern reflection of the Harlem Renaissance spirit. The space is expected to host community events, performances, and programming that amplify both social justice and cultural expression. The acquisition, completed in March 2026, comes at a pivotal moment as conversations around gentrification, displacement, and cultural erasure continue to intensify. Sharpton’s move can be seen as both a response and a statement: that institutions rooted in the community must evolve and claim space in order to remain relevant and impactful. The Black population in Central Harlem has declined, dropping to about 50 percent in 2023 from 77 percent in 2000, according to data from New York University’s Furman Center, which tracks neighborhood demographics. At the same time, the percentage of Hispanic and white people in the area has increased.A block away from the firehouse theater, West 125th Street has transformed in recent years into a busy retail strip with Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Target, Bath & Body Works, and a host of fast-food chain restaurants. |