PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Melody Capote, Executive Director of Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI)
2:43:36
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Melody Capote, Executive Director of CCCADI, testified about innovative pathways for underrepresented communities to enter the arts and cultural workforce. She highlighted CCCADI's entrepreneurial assistance center for artists of color, which provides professional development, coaching, and financial support.
- CCCADI launched its first cohort of community workers and artists in East Harlem's El Barrio
- The program aims to provide artists from communities of color with opportunities to compete on an even playing field
- Capote emphasized the need for multi-year funding to support long-term growth and development of artists and their businesses
Melody Capote
2:43:36
Madam chair, members of the committee, and members of the city council, my name is Melody Capote.
2:43:41
I'm the executive director of the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute known to many as CARI, and we are marking our 50th anniversary in 2026.
2:43:51
I wanna I I am very pleased to be here to testify about what I hope will be new and innovative pathways into the arts and cultural workforce, and I congratulate chairwoman Rivera for identifying and highlighting this very important topic.
2:44:05
What we are talking about here are the various new ways or innovations on old ways to create pathways for community members to be part of the arts and culture ecosystem with a particular emphasis on communities that have been disenfranchised by reasons of racial or social backgrounds.
2:44:23
I wanna share with you what we have been doing at CCC ADI in what I consider with both pride and humility to be a truly innovative pathway for artists and members of our communities interested in the arts and culture field.
2:44:36
Starting with a grant from the state, we were able to visualize a center where artists and community workers could upgrade or obtain entrepreneurial skills, further their professional development skills, and sharpen their artistic point of view through continued technical assistance support, coaching, and financial stipends.
2:44:55
We were able to make this dream a reality right up the street from our offices in East Harlem's El Barrio.
2:45:02
We launched the 1st cohort of community workers and artists as part of our entrepreneurial assistance center for artists of color that was completed in early December and is presently undergoing evaluation.
2:45:14
What we know thus far is that our artists, particularly those in communities of color, are starving for the opportunities to compete on an even playing field and to advance opportunities and their skills as far as their talents will take them.
2:45:28
What is most important to note here is the need to secure multiyear funding support that will allow the scaffolding and scaffolding and growing of the artists and their businesses with our promise that we will be there for them for the long term.