About Narrative Network: We amplify the art and voices of diverse women and communities through publishing and events. We produce and publish multimedia content. We connect you to multicultural, creative communities.
“I am a journalist, artist-activist, and chief cook and bottle washer here. As a serial culture entrepreneur I love creating where the arts, food, and history intersect,” said Sylvia Wong Lewis, Narrative Network, founder and director.
We produce high-quality storytelling and media content to educate, entertain, and inspire through film, visual, audio, art, theater, multimedia, and public & private community events.
Current Work: AuntyLand Film Festival (ALFF), launched in 2021; 1619Brooklyn.com, a Brooklyn-focused site about slavery, racism, and unceded Indigenous land (1619-2019); Auntyland.com, a media art platform about aunts; Madame Tempy, a radio drama with BBC Radio, aired May & June 2019.
Business Awards: Woman of the Year, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce; Caribbean Chamber of Commerce as founder, publisher, and editor of Caribbean American News, New York’s largest free community newspaper (pre-internet), with half a million readers. New York State Governor’s Public Service Award for Leadership and Excellence at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
Certification: NY and NJ state-certified Woman-Owned businesses in Media and Communications.
Artmaking My film, From Shanghai to Harlem, was recognized with two Telly Awards and an AVA Gold Digital Award for documentary producing, directing, and writing. My two other films Healing Game: Brooklyn-Japan Baseball Part 1 and 2, won two Documentary and Videographers Awards for documenting a Brooklyn – Japan cultural exchange program on the healing power of baseball. Two children’s baseball teams recovered from two different natural disasters – NYC’s Hurricane Sandy and Japan’s Tsunami. Hear my award-winning storytelling on BBC radio about the lynching of my uncle in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Strange Fruit. Created by Maggie Ayre, an amazing BBC Radio producer, Strange Fruit won UK’s two highest journalism awards: BBC-Radio’s Academy Award and the Prix Europa.
Special Events Gallery
Ida B. Wells event honoring Paula Giddings, Smith College professor and author of Ida: A Sword Among Lions, among other books. Co-sponsored by Black Alumnae of Smith College (BASC) and Smith College Club of NYC, January 2019 at the Brooklyn Historical Society.
Smith College Alumnae Relations
Politics – See our ‘Meet and Greet with Cynthia Nixon,’ candidate for New York State Governor. Click here for photo highlights.
Sisterhood – Programs n honor of Otelia Cromwell, the first black woman to graduate from Smith College (1900), click here.
Tea Lover – Check out our famous ‘Soul Sista Tea Parties,’ click here for highlights. To view another happy tea event, click here.
Activism – We lead dialogues on racism, slavery, reconciliation, and healing through Coming to the Table, the local NYC chapter.
Flavor drama – My rosewater-mace-caraway seeds cookies had an aromatic role in an Off-Broadway production about Harriet Tubman. “Sylvia’s historically authentic ‘get-away snacks’ provided aroma, flavor, and drama,” said Karen Jones Meadows, Playwright, Actor, ‘Harriet’s Return.’
Community Outreach – My contract for a mental health project for Black and Latina/o children in Harlem and Upper Manhattan was funded by Billy Esposito Foundation and MetLife Insurance grants. Click here for the press conference we produced, as featured on NY1 Noticias.
Food Activist, Environmentalist, and Urban Gardener – I am an urban gardener and home-trained chef specializing in Afro-Asian-Creole cuisine. Our team helped to set up social media and a fundraising campaign for an award-winning urban garden and former food desert in Columbus, Ohio. Click here for the garden’s Facebook page.
Theater Producer – We co-produced the ’60s musical “On Kentucky Avenue” with CUNY’s City College Center for the Arts at Aaron Davis Center.
Environment – Our community garden press conference, press releases, and archival research resulted in transforming a dirt patch and an ordinary traffic triangle, into a lovely Tribeca community garden and popular pedestrian center, aka Bogardus Garden.
University Lecturer – “You were a terrific guest lecturer on the ‘Power of Storytelling.’ My Public Relations-Marketing course students benefited greatly from your corporate communications knowledge and passionate film!” Donald Singletary, Professor, CUNY/Baruch College.
Book Launch – “Awesome results from your publicity and promotion campaign about our Coming to the Table National Conference. Your efforts led to increased registrations and book sales.” Susan Hutchinson, Eastern Mennonite University.
“Sylvia worked tirelessly to make our New York City book launch a success. She generated a quality audience and media placements–especially an NPR interview, that spread the word of our work exponentially.” Sharon Leslie Morgan and Tom DeWolf, co-authors of Gather at the Table.
Fundraising – “For more than a decade Sylvia has been a trusted partner, helping us to fundraise, expand our profile and support our anti-apartheid South Africa reinvestment program. We appreciate her development strategy to help our micro-loan program for South African women entrepreneurs.” Donna Katzin, founder, Shared Interest.
Media Placements – “Your press contacts for our Harlem Sakura Cherry Blossom Festival were awesome. The media placement in the New York Times raised the bar. The response was impressive.” Voza Rivers, CEO, New Heritage Theater Group.
Film Launch – “You delivered a film launch for ‘Red Tails’ film screenings in NYC and coordinated the Tuskegee Airmen, a local chapter fundraiser. Your hard work led to great media and audience turnout, including CBS-TV, NY1, and NY Daily News. We achieved impressive fundraising results too.” Patt Terrelongue, CEO, Tuskegee Airmen, NY.
Audience Development – “Ambassadors are influencers who generate high-level buzz. What a terrific ambassador you were for our Broadway theater productions Stick Fly and The Trip to Bountiful. Thank you for Audience Development that generated major group premium ticket sales.” Nelle Nugent, President, The Foxboro Company, Inc.
Events Management – “Your team’s expertise in managing major public events including Memorial Day, 9/11 Memorials, Veteran’s Day parades, and receptions are a true blessing. Because of you, we are NY’s go-to veteran’s group.” Dwight Webster, CEO, MTA-Transit Veterans Association.
Media placements: BBC Radio, New York Times, NPR Radio, AP, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, TV-NY1, MSN.com, and more.
Twitter: @sylviawonglewis
Contact: Hello@narrativenetwork.net