Dr. “Baba” N. Saleem Hylton will be recognized for more than 50 years of service to the Washington area in entertainment, youth development and restorative justice at an event hosted by the African American Music Association next month.
The “Salute to Saleem” will be held Aug. 7 from 5-9 p.m. at the Country Club at Woodmore in Mitchellville, Maryland. The all-white attire event will feature tributes from community members, religious leaders and friends, along with live music, dinner and dancing.
Tickets cost $80 per person, with partial proceeds benefiting the African American Music Association, a nonprofit organization. Tickets are available through Eventbrite by searching “Salute to Saleem” or by contacting Beverly Lindsay-Johnson.
Hylton’s career in youth development began at the Adams Morgan People’s Center before he served as a trainer at Mayor Barry’s Youth Leadership Institute. His expertise led to a position as director of Camp Arawak in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
After returning to Washington, Hylton ran a degree completion program for adults at American University, his alma mater. He later became chief of Alternative Detention for the D.C. Youth Services Administration, where he created and directed the city’s first Community Transition Re-entry Youth Project.
Hylton became a leader in criminal and juvenile justice reform and restorative justice, introducing the restorative justice philosophy to the District. The approach is now practiced in schools and agencies across the city.
Following his tenure at YSA, he started Youth and Families in Crisis LLC with his wife, Dr. Ivy Hylton. Together they created the MAAT Training Institute for Restorative Justice, working with government, nonprofit and for-profit organizations.
Throughout his community work, Hylton maintained a parallel career in performing arts and media. He opened and operated the Jazz Lounge at the IBEX Nightclub and served as president of the D.C. Chapter of the Black Music Association. When that organization dissolved, he helped form the AAMA.
Hylton hosted the decade-long “Living for the City” radio program on WPFW 89.3 FM, combining music and community justice themes. He also coordinated entertainment for Union Temple Baptist Church’s UNIFEST street festival, featuring local and national acts before large D.C. area audiences.
As a performer, Hylton was a founding member of vocal group Commitment, known for their inspirational single “Everything’s Alright.”
The African American Music Association works to preserve, protect, promote and foster African American music and its creators. Since 1992, the organization has provided programs including the Marvin Gaye Day Celebration in Washington, a “Business of Music” youth entrepreneurship program, scholarships, workshops and networking events.
More information about AAMA is available at aamadc.org.