INVOKE THE VOTE: OUR POWER, OUR VOICE, OUR FUTURE - STATEMENT FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MELODY CAPOTE

Oct 3

“Slavery is not abolished until the Black Man has the ballot.” - Fredrick Douglass, 1865

Dear Community,

At this critical moment, the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) urges its community to rise up and Invoke the Vote on November 5. Voting is not just an act; it is an expression of our collective power, it is one of the key ways we challenge systems of oppression and demand justice for our communities. Invoke the Vote is a call to action—one that reminds us that we have the power to shape our future. Our ancestors fought and sacrificed their lives for our liberation and our right to vote. It is our responsibility to honor that legacy by making our voices heard.

As we prepare to head to the polls, we do so with the injustices facing our global community at the forefront of our minds. Nearly one year ago, we witnessed the escalation of violence in and toward Palestine, which is a stark reminder of the ongoing oppression and human rights violations being carried out around the world on behalf of systems of power, from Congo to Sudan, the Caribbean and beyond. We are connected to these plights.

Throughout the U.S., we have witnessed a rise in hateful narratives targeting migrants and our Haitian community. As of late, Haitians have been dehumanized and scapegoated by politicians who exploit racial fears for their own gain. As descendants of freedom fighters who forged the first Black independent nation and served as leaders in the global liberation movement, the Haitian community continues to inspire us with their resilience and resistance, one that we have celebrated all year long through Lakay se Lakay, because we know that our history and our culture are tools of empowerment and narrative change.

In light of these current events, voting becomes even more critical. We have the power to hold those in office accountable and to ensure that our voices are reflected in the decisions that shape our lives, here and abroad.

This November, Invoke the Vote. By doing so, we assert our right to be heard, to be seen, and to chart a future grounded in the values of justice and liberation for our people.

In Solidarity & Power,

The NYC deadline to register to vote is October 26, 2024. Make sure you’re ready to take to the polls.

Learn more at: https://vote.gov/register/new-york

Important Links:

Melody Capote

Melody Capote was appointed executive director of CCCADI in 2018. She began her long tenure at the organization in 1984 and throughout the years has established herself as a leader in arts administration and cultural activism. She is a vocal and bold voice in advocating for cultural equity, racial and social justice for African descendant communities.

Prior to assuming the role of executive director, Melody was instrumental in the creation and successful implementation of the capital campaign that secured funding from public and private sectors to renovate a landmarked firehouse into a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of El Barrio (East Harlem) which opened its doors in 2016.

Looking to expand audiences for CCCADI, Melody established creative and enduring collaborations with cultural partners like Los Hermanos Fraternos de Loiza/Loiza Festival of El Barrio, Hostos Center for Arts & Culture, Taino Towers, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (La Casita Project, MidSummer Night Swing and Lincoln Center Out of Doors); The Dwyer Cultural Center, and the Apollo Theater, among others.

Experienced in development, government relations, external affairs, and special event programming, she has also supervised and mentored countless individuals who have gone on to pursue careers in the nonprofit arts field and other community-based organizations.

Melody's leadership in challenging the dual pandemics of Covid-19 and continued systemic racism and police violence, has resulted in the development of important CCCADI initiatives such as; the organization’s successful pivot to digital programs designed for all ages, the creation of CCCADI’s Anti-Racism Webinar Series for leaders of mainstream arts and culture organizations to examine personal, programmatic and organizational biases, an all-digital professional development fellowship for artists economically impacted by Covid-19, and the creation of #ArtsGoBlack, a campaign demanding actionable change be instituted by arts and culture institutions and the philanthropic community that funds these entities.

Melody is a Bronx native and graduate of The City College of New York, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies with a major in Dance and a minor in Black and Latino Studies. She is a New School Tennenbaum Leadership Institute Fellow, and received her Not-for-Profit Executive Management Certification from Columbia University. Melody is currently one of the first 12 arts leaders selected to participate in The Pinkerton Advanced Leadership Network launched after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of the police.

https://www.cccadi.org/staff

INVOKE THE VOTE: OUR POWER, OUR VOICE, OUR FUTURE - STATEMENT FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MELODY CAPOTE

“Slavery is not abolished until the Black Man has the ballot.” - Fredrick Douglass, 1865

Important Links:

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