It was a historic moment for East Harlem as the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) opened the doors to its second location, CCCADI Ilé Oyin—Yoruba for “House of Honey,” a vibrant cultural sanctuary designed to uplift Harlem’s creative community. Less than 24 hours later, Mayor Eric Adams officially signed into law the establishment of the East Harlem 125th Street Business Improvement District (BID), making executive director Capote credited the long-term efforts of grassroots organizations like the New Harlem East Merchants Association (NHEMA), Uptown Grand Central, and dozens of local leaders who helped build the case for community-led development rooted in culture and care.
The timing was more than symbolic—it was ancestral alignment.
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“This is more than a building—it’s a commitment,” said Melody Capote, CCCADI’s Executive Director and Co-Chair of the East Harlem 125th Street BID Formation Committee. “CCCADI Ilé Oyin is a space created by and for our people. It’s where cultural memory meets future-making. And now, with the BID finally established after years of community-led advocacy, East Harlem is positioned to receive the sustained investment it deserves.”
The East Harlem 125th Street BID, officially signed into law on Sunday, June 22, has been in formation for over three years. Its mission is to bring essential resources—like sanitation, public safety, and small business support—to a corridor that has long been overlooked, despite being home to a vibrant network of Black- and Brown-owned businesses and cultural institutions.
At the grand opening, elected officials, including New York State Senator Cordell Cleare and Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo shared remarks recognizing CCCADI’s profound legacy and the significance of this expansion.
“Today is a revolutionary moment. What you’re witnessing is a new generation of leadership—young people taking the baton to carry forward the legacy of the African diaspora,” said Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “The most powerful thing we can do is invest in them. That’s why we’ve committed the largest increase to New York City’s cultural budget in history—$45 million to ensure our arts institutions not only survive, but thrive.”
“As the Commissioner said, these are uncertain times—and people often ask, ‘What are we going to do?’ We’re going to do this. We’re going to organize. We’re going to educate. We’re going to build institutions and preserve culture at every level—through the arts, through education, and through collective action,” said Senator Cordell Cleare.
“This year, for the first time in history, $30 million has been allocated for Black-led nonprofits. That’s big,” Cleare states. “But many of our grassroots groups don’t have access to lobbyists, endowments, or inherited wealth. What they have is the people. And it’s our responsibility to make sure they have the infrastructure to survive, and to thrive.”
