Sharing Turf

Sharing Turf is the uplifting true-life story of a community torn by racial strife, coming together to make things better. The summer of 1991 race riots threatened to further divide Blacks and Hassidic Jews in the Crown Heights, Brooklyn neighborhood. Youth leaders from both ethnic groups came together with a plan to help bridge the gap and what resulted was nothing short of remarkable. Bringing the youth together for dialogues-for-understanding, things took off and, despite the nay-sayers, their efforts grew into making art murals, playing ball and even making music together. Only months after the race riots they had a name, calling themselves Project C.U.R.E. - which stands for Communication, Understanding, Respect, & Education. Working together with other NYC groups, the CURE basketball team got the NY Knicks to dedicate one professional NBA game a season to racial harmony. The CURE team played during halftime during these games right at Madison Square Garden. Their music group, known as Dr. Laz & The CURE, opened for Al Green for Gospel Night in Brooklyn. Since then they've also opened for The Manhattans and played for the US Congress. Like many worthwhile endeavors, theirs was a difficult start and involved all sorts of trials and tribulations, from both within and outside the community. The story of Sharing Turf is an inspiring one, filled with tears, struggles, and the joy of overcoming some powerful odds. It's a story that ultimately shows we have far in common that what often seems to divide us. Sharing Turf was made into a major film by Showtime, called simply "Crown Heights." It stars Howie Mandel as Dr. Laz, and Mario Van Peebles as Laz's African-American partners, Richard Green and Rev. Paul Chandler. Sharing Turf shows us in very dramatic ways that unity through diversity can work for the betterment of all.