Opening Reception: Community Archiving Lab for Culture and Justice
On Thursday, May 22, CCCADI launches the Community Archiving Lab for Culture and Justice. In this real-time archiving experience, the public can witness one of the largest unveilings of Afro-Caribbean history in New York. Many of these artifacts have remained in obscurity for over 50 years.
This interactive opening reception invites you into the heart of CCCADI’s 49-year legacy through a living archive rooted in the ancestral practice of Sankofa—”remembering to reimagine.” Attendees will engage with rarely seen materials, including a handwritten letter from Celia Cruz to CCCADI founder Dr. Marta Moreno Vega, unreleased performance footage of icons like Tito Puente and Gilberto Gil, and documentation from historic moments across the African Diaspora.
As CCCADI approaches its 50th anniversary, this experience centers community voices in the preservation and storytelling of Black and Caribbean culture. The Lab is not just a place to observe—it’s a space to contribute, reflect, and connect.
Public Lab Hours:
The Community Archiving Lab will remain open to the public with weekly visiting hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and on the second Saturday of every month through September.
