Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute
Legal Name (if Different): Visual Arts Research and Resource Center Relating to the Caribbean, Inc.
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 120 East 125 Street
City: NY
State: NY
Postal Code: 10035
Main Phone: 9176798773
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.cccadi.org
Employer ID Number: 13-3054001
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 12-15-23
Requested Amount: 10,000

Project Title: Sankofa Young Women’s Leadership Project
Project Description:

As an arts and culture organization, CCCADI produces, on a monthly basis, significant performances, collaborations, convenings, symposia, curated exhibits and other programs that speak to the resiliency, courage and strength of African descendent people who, despite slavery, colonialism and racial oppression, have been able to preserve and strengthen our heritage that not only bonds all African descendants together but binds them as well to ancestral origins in Africa.

As an organization dedicated to racial and social justice and cultural equity, CCCADI continues to serve as the leading spokesperson regarding the steps that must be taken by the arts and culture community (funders and grantees alike) in order to honestly and forthrightly address systemic racism within arts and culture, and within the community as a whole. When the COVID pandemic struck, many arts and culture organizations throughout New York City closed down. CCCADI did not. When George Floyd was murdered, arts and culture organizations issued written platitudes of support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

CCCADI created the Sankofa Young Women’s Leadership Development Project in 2022 for young women of color (ages 14-18) who by virtue of desire, capacity or both wish to learn how arts and culture serves as healing balm on social justice issues troubling our society and wish to learn the leadership role that they can play in preserving African culture.

In the African Diaspora (to some extent, in other cultures as well), women have always served as the "culture bearers" responsible for preserving the customs, beliefs, language, music, dances, rituals, food, recipes and the list goes on. Yet, through centuries of cultural oppression and suppression, young women of color have not been "trained" in the old ways and the absence of that knowledge and training shows up in "rudder-less" behavior during critical formative years of adolescent development.

Total Project Budget: $333,544

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Pinkerton Foundation, Hearst Foundation, Warner Music Group / Blavatnik Family Foundation

Project Duration: Calendar 2024
Geographical Area Served: NYC
Age Group To Be Served: 14-18

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Melody
Contact Last Name: Capote
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: 917-670-8773
Contact Email: mcapote@cccadi.org