Art & Community Take Root in Harlem

This past weekend, Naming the Wound & Breaking the Spell (Nombrando la Herida, Rompiendo el Embrujo) at the Children's Art Carnival became more than an exhibition and symposium, it became a lived expression of community in action.

Presented in partnership with the Centro Cívico Cultural Dominicano, a longtime institution dedicated to uplifting Dominican and American culture through arts, education, and civic engagement and the weekend reflected exactly what happens when mission meets moment.

From the performances to a full day of dialogue, artists, organizers, and attendees didn’t just show up, they leaned in. Conversations around memory, identity, and healing unfolded in real time, with the audience as active participants, not observers.

As Lisandra Ramos, Executive Director, shared:

“Art, culture, and civic discourse are at the heart of our work… and the legacy continues.” That legacy—built over decades of community-centered programming—was felt in every exchange."

At PLR Group Inc., we’re proud to support CCCD at this pivotal moment, helping bridge its rich heritage with year-round audience engagement and expanded visibility. This work is about more than promotion, it’s about ensuring institutions like this continue to evolve as cultural anchors for their communities.

A guiding truth echoed throughout the weekend, in the words of Bell Hooks: “Healing is an act of communion.” This gathering embodied exactly that.

Because of the response—and the depth of connection created—the exhibition has been extended through May 24, 2026. The exhibition and symposium were made possible through collaboration between Children’s Art Carnival, WHEW-Women Healing and Empowering Women, BEAH Ripple, West Harlem Development Corporation, New York State Council on the Arts, El Enjambre Folklorico, La Morada and Kevin Taylor & the Armand-Paul Family.

There’s still time to experience it.