STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A street on Staten Island’s North Shore now bears the name of a community leader and cultural icon.
On Sunday, the corner of Jersey Street and Scribner Avenue in New Brighton was co-named in honor of Sajda Musawwir Ladner, the longtime executive director of the pioneering non-profit Universal Temple of the Arts, who died in 2021.
“This ceremony, in honor of Sajda Musawwir Ladner, is the catalyst in the transformation of Jersey Street,” said Lorna Harris, emcee for the event.
Located steps from 425 Jersey St., where the Universal Temple of the Arts center opened in 1990, the intersection now bears the name of the singular figure who spent decades of her life committed to the surrounding community.
“My mother was here at a time when people encouraged her to go other places, and she stuck, she stayed the course and she affected so many young people,” said Rashida Ladner-Seward, Musawwir Ladner’s daughter and the current executive director of the arts group.
Dozens of friends, relatives, and members of Universal Temple of the Arts lined the sidewalks near Jersey Street and Scribner Avenue to honor the legacy of “Miss Sajda,” as many of those in attendance lovingly referred to her.
“Her work transformed lives and strengthened this community,” said Councilmember Kamillah Hanks, a Democrat representing the North Shore who spearheaded the street co-naming effort. “She believed that the arts would unite us.”
“She made sure that UTA reached young people who needed it most, using creativity to build confidence and opportunity and community,” Hanks continued.
In addition to the co-naming, the family of Musawwir Ladner received official citations to honor her work and legacy from other public officials in attendance, including the offices of District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, and Edwina Martin, Richmond County public administrator.
The speakers on Sunday praised Musawwir Ladner for her contributions to Staten Island’s performing arts scene, particularly for the borough’s Black residents.
“[Sajda Musawwir Ladner] changed the course of Staten Island and really set and create a place for all people, but in particular Black Staten Islanders to have a place where they could go to, that their history and culture could be celebrated, uplifted, and put on the map with so many of the other great cultural institutions throughout New York City,” said Laurie Cumbo, commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs.
During her speech, Ladner-Seward also announced her intention to expand Universal Temple of the Arts, and to maintain the current structure on Jersey Street as an arts center named after her mother.
“That building is going to stay there. It’s going to be the Sajda Musawwir Ladner Cultural Arts Center,” Ladner-Seward said. “It’s going to serve as many people from this community and beyond as possible and with your support, with your love, we will continue to grow.”
Musawwir Ladner was one of the founders of Universal Temple of the Arts which was established in 1967 to support and feature artists of color. She later served as the organization’s artistic and executive director.
She led both artistic activities at UTA — musical performances, Staten Island Jazz Festival, poetry — and the community work that is also at the non-profit’s core, particularly outreach to youth.
Musawwir Ladner was also a professional dancer and designer of clothing and costumes, and was a teacher of fine arts.
Commendations over the years for her work include recognitions from Community Board 1, numerous elected officials, honors from the NAACP and the Coalition of Staten Island Women’s Organizations Athena Award.