EXHIBITION: Santerians: The Art of Joe Quesada
" Santerians: The Art of Joe Quesada”, bridges the gap between super heroes and spirituality. In the series "Daredevil: Father" written and illustrated by Joe Quesada the popular Marvel character Daredevil meets a new team of heroes, “the Santerians”. These characters created by Joe, based on Orishas, deities from the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria, come to life for the first time on comic book pages. Controversial? Perhaps, but in collaboration with Marvel Comics, this collection of original art will be exclusively on display and kick off the 2007 season at the Franklin H. Williams Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI).
Given the recent rapidly increasing Latino emigrant population to the U.S., the number of Afro Latinos also is increasing. "African American" currently could be a recent emigrant from Honduras, Colombia, or Mexico requiring social services, employment opportunities, or political representation that in the past had gone to African Americans born in the United States. How do these `new `African Americans fit into the traditional "American Dream"? International scholars will analyze this new national reality and its implications for civil rights, human rights, and ethnic studies programs within the U.S.
CONFERENCE: Women of Power 2007
The focus of the panel discussion series in 2007 will be to highlight the lives of Afro Latina activists. As we do the work to empower our communities there is little information available on the personal stories of women who become activists. As the issues that confront our communities are addressed it is also important to understand the commitment and networking of individuals, community groups and organizations that assume the responsibility of assuring a civil society that practices social justice, racial and cultural equity and equal opportunities for all.
FILM SCREENING: Immigration Week Film Screening
April 18th, 2007: An interactive evening of short film screenings and panel discussions about the social, economic and cultural issues immigrants experience when the migrate to another country. Guest SpeakerModerator: Gabriela Garcia Medina
CONFERENCE: 2nd Annual Education Conference
April 21st, 2007. In collaboration with the Association of Hispanic Arts (AHA), the goal of this Education Conference is to provide support and education for our teaching artists that are committed to education and working in our schools to improve the system. Receiving a good education is hard to find for our students of color and there are many elements missing and our teaching artists are a step towards filling in some of those gaps. Educators in the classroom rely on our artists to engage students, usually in after school programs, but there is often a gap between what occurs during classes and what occurs in the after school activities.
This conference will be a place for educators, (schools, teachers, and artists) to network, educate and be educated about their individual and collective potential.
Dance to the beat of island music every Saturday and Sunday in May. Explore the rich cultural legacy of the Caribbean with performances ranging from salsa to steel pan. Hear traditional sounds from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and more.
Performances take place at 12, 1, and 3 p.m.
In collaboration with the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute
WORKSHOPS: Introduction to African Based Yoruba/Congo Spiritual Traditions
This four part series is a general introduction into the Yoruba/Congo based sacred traditions in the Americas. This four part series is open to the general public interested in understanding the sacred practices that travel from West and Central Africa into the Americas.
PANEL DISCUSSION: Color of Money:Exploring the History,Trends and Culture of Giving
May 14th, 2007.The Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) hosts a dynamic panel discussion exploring the topic of how communities of color support cultural institutions.
June 8th and 9th. The Caribbean Cultural Center/African Diaspora Institute (CCC) has been at the forefront of the community-grounded cultural movement that was pioneered in the 1970s. As we celebrate 30 years of history, we are bringing together other groundbreaking culturally grounded organizations, which have reached similar milestones, as well as young leaders of the community grounded cultural movement who are assuming the mantle now and in years to come. Our goal is to examine the impact these organizations have had in the cultural life of this country and how they have survived through often turbulent times. Further, we will look to the future to explore what mechanisms are needed to ensure their survival in the long term.
WORKSHOPS: Children’s Caribbean Village - (Part of the CTO Caribbean Fair)
Come and join us for Free music, dance and arts & crafts workshops!
The Caribbean Fair will also include booths manned by Caribbean Tourist Boards, Caribbean food-tastings by Celebrity Chefs. Dancers, models, singers and bands, who perform on stage throughout the day.
BOOK FESTIVAL: Caribbean International Literary Festival
June 14th, 2007. In celebration of Caribbean Heritage Month we honor the legacy of our creative past, present and future. Join us during Caribbean Week in New York as we - the Caribbean International Literary Festival, the Franklin H. Williams Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute and the Trinidad & Tobago Working Women’s Association celebrates the vivid, fruitful and diverse literary history of writers of Caribbean descent. We’ll span the bountiful literary Diaspora with a lively panel discussion with authors from Antigua, Barbados, Guyana and
Trinidad.
CONCERTS: Groundwork, Inc and CCCADI host First Saturday Summer Cultural Days
June to September: Groundwork, Inc and the Caribbean Cultural Center have entered into an exciting new partnership to sponsor “First Saturdays” -- a series of cultural events and workshops to take place at the Groundwork Community Playground at PS 328 during summer 2007. The playground is located at 330 Alabama Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11207 These events will be free and open to the general public. They will take place the first Saturday of each month from June through September and will include workshops and performances by CCC artists and others from the New York City area.
CONFERENCE: Puerto Rico African Spirituality Symposium
jULY 11TH - 14TH. The 2nd Symposium of African Spirituality in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Latin America consists of open dialogues, presentations and interactive exchanges between scholars and traditional leaders, experts in African and African Diaspora sacred belief systems present in the Americas. The objective and focus of the 2nd Symposium is to expand on existing scholarly research as well as inform current investigations. The topics of this Symposium will bring forth the varied ancient African traditions that continue to inform, influence and are a vibrant part of contemporary Afro-descendant communities and the broader society. The Symposium will address how these African based belief systems continued to flourish through formal and informal organizations and are actualized in popular and contemporary cultural practices in the Americas.
BOOK READING: Mervyn Taylor - 'Gone Away'.
July 17th, 2007. Hosted by Natalia Kanem in collaboration with the Caribbean Cultural Center, Mr. Taylor will read from his new book of caribbean poetry.
CONCERTS: Tropical Summer Concerts
Starting August 1st, 2007. Each week during the summer the Center will be presenting free music, dance and cultural events in out courtyard/gallery. So take a break from work and come and join us for a lunchtime of great music, dance, raffles and entertainment.
August 29th. In support of a Day of Presence supported by Essence , the Louisiana Justice Institute, and many other community organizations and the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita International Tribunal supported by the Coalition Mobilizing Nationwide for Massive Demonstration, both held in New Orleans on 8/29/07, the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute will host a panel discussion and fundraiser in solidarity of the efforts being made to correct the social and political atrocities that plague hurricane survivors.
WORKSHOPS: Yoruba Divination Series - Obi y Merindillogun
Instructor: Frank Bell Afro Cuban Oriate/Diviner
Starting September 19th, 2007.An important part of the West African based traditions in the Americas is the system of divination. Africans and their descendants were able to successfully maintain the divining systems and related stories and healing practices. To assure that these traditions are preserved for future generations.
Club LQ - 511 Lexington Avenue (between 47th & 48th Streets)
Featuring DJ Chino Nuñez & DJ Broadway
WORKSHOPS: African Dance Series
Join Jean Assamoa who has been teaching and performing for over 16 years in African, Europe and the USA. His roots are in the Ivory Coast.
FESTIVAL: 4th Annual Latin Music Collectors Fair
November 3rd. Visit and enjoy the Collectors Flea Market, Latin/Tropical Musical Legends in Mexican Films and Main Stage Events and DJs spinning Mambo/Salsa throughout the day.
BOOK READING: "Ponciá Vicencio by Conceiçáo Evaristo
November 16th, 2007. Ponciá Vicencio, the debut novel by Afro-Brazilian writer Conceiçáo Evaristo, is the story of a young Afro-Brazilian woman's journey from the home of her enslaved ancestors to the wasteland of contemporary urban life. Seeking an escape from rural poverty and generations of despair, Ponciá Vicencio moves to the city to start a new life. But in the loneliness of the inhospitable city, voices from the past crowd her mind. What is her grandfather's mysterious legacy? Can her family escape from servitude? And can we ever really outrun our past? This mystical story of family, dreams, and hope illuminates urban and rural Afro-Brazilian conditions with poetic eloquence and raw urgency.
Join us for a day of cultural celebration! Led by Nacala Jendayi (Education Director) and students from the Maafa Club at Millennium HS, get in the spirit of Kwanzaa by learning about this holiday, taking part of a Karamu (feast), and buying gifts of the African Diaspora in our Holiday Bazaar. We encourage everyone that attends to practice ujamaa, which means cooperative economics (Kwanzaa principle that falls on the 4th day, or 12/29) by donating to this dynamic group of high school students dedicated to the history, legacy, empowerment and preservation of African Diaspora communities.
