News

We will be closed on Monday, January 19th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will reopen on Tuesday, January 20th at 10:00 AM. More than just a day off we hope that you will use this time to volunteer,  donate time and resources to those in need, and connect with members of the community. For inquiries regarding programs or immediate assistance please contact us at cfac@syr.edu 

Over the holiday break a nonprofit center was selected for our 2025 Warm Hearts Full Plates Drive (November 17th – December 17th, 2025). Thank you to the students, instructors, parents, and community members who supported our winter drive. Your generosity helped provide hundreds of essential food items and warm clothing for all ages. Last week, members of the CFAC team were happy to deliver the donations to We Rise Above The Streets Recovery Outreach Inc. and meet with founder, Al-Amin Muhammad. Additional volunteer opportunities with We Rise Above The Streets include : Sandwich Saturday, We Rise Above The Streets, Youth Ambassador Program, and their annual Thanksgiving Dinner for the Homeless. To learn more on how to make an impact visit www.streetsrecoveryoutreach.org/

 

 

Happy New Year from the Community Folk Art Center. 2026 is the perfect time to try something new and rediscover your inner artist! Whether you’re new to music and dance- or a returning student- our ballet, piano, and African Drumming classes welcome all skill levels. Step out of your comfort zone, move to the rhythm, and find your signature sound. Unleash your creativity today by registering online at Community Folk Art Center’s Eventbrite

Adult Music & Movement Classes (January 12th -June 4th 2026)

To register for a class students may purchase a monthly class pass for $75.00 and take an unlimited amount of classes in a 30 day period or purchase an individual class for $10.00 via cash or online payment.

Piano : Mondays 6:30 – 7:30 PM. Instructed by Berny Williford. In this course you will learn music theory, and discover how to play a variety of popular songs and music styles 

Ballet : Mondays & Wednesdays 6:30 – 7:30 PM. Instructed by Charles Haislah. This course focuses on techniques, and steps of classical ballet with an emphasis of terminology and correct body alignment. For attire please wear a leotard, tights, and ballet shoes with optional overgarments of your choice (leggings, shorts, or flexible leg wear).   

West African Drum : Thursdays 6:30 – 7:30 PM. Instructed by David ‘Etse’ Nyadedzor. Step into the rhythmic world of drum with this exhilarating percussion course. 

Join us for a joyful evening filled with laughter, delicious food, and inspiring performances by the talented students of the Creative Arts Academy, Randum Poet, and more! Hosted by George Kilpatrick Inspiration For The Nation. 

Thursday, December 4th, at 6:00 PM|  Doors will open at 5:45 PM.

Kwanzaa-2025 E-Program

The 2025 Central NY Scholastic Chess Championship took place on Saturday, November 15th at North Syracuse Junior High School. More than 140 students from grades K-12 across Central New York spent the day playing chess, problem solving, and enjoying friendly competition. Two students from the  Creative Arts Academy, Ellis Durce and Robert Jones, joined the tournament alongside MasterMinds Chess Club. The pair both won multiple matches as they competed in their first ever tournament. Instructors, Walter Eiland and John Elliott share that the MasterMinds Chess Club aims to build thinking skills, creativity, and sportsmanship, while promoting a fun learning environment. Ellis expressed that “It was really exciting to play against other students and he looks forward to participating in more tournaments in the future.” Robert added, “The Chess Championship was an enjoyable first time experience!”

 

 

Community Folk Art Center hosts “Warm Hearts, Full Plates Drive” From now through December 17th, we invite you to join us in supporting our neighbors by donating new or gently used coats, scarves, gloves, hats and blankets and non-perishable food. These items will be distributed to local families and community partners who need them most. Donations can be dropped off at CFAC (805 E. Genesee St.)  Monday through Friday during the hours of 10am to 7pm.

A new theatrical production with music is coming to the Black Box Theatre this October. “Spell”, written and directed by Joseph L. Edwards, alumnus of Syracuse University’s Crouse College of Fine Arts will premiere at The Community Folk Art Center Friday and Saturday, October 24th and 25th at 7:30 p.m.. “Spell” set in ancient times, and also in the present  centers around the love story of a warrior and a princess, who are reincarnated into the modern world as lawyers on opposing sides of a heated court battle. With the guidance of the ancestor spirit Imhotep the pair must unite before it’s too late. This thought provoking and dynamic staged reading invites audiences to reflect on our shared history, divisiveness, and the power of knowledge.  You can purchase your ticket before the show by visiting Community Folk Art Center (Monday-Friday, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Saturday 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM). Get to know the actors behind this enchanting story

Joseph L. Edwards As Wharton Tense : Syracuse native, Joseph L. Edwards is a playwright, director, and actor. His stage adaptation of the classic autobiography of Claude Brown’s Manchild In The Promised Land, originally produced at the American Place Theatre, was nominated for an AUDELCO Award for excellence in Black theater and was performed for more than twenty thousand students in New York City and internationally. Joseph won three AUDELCO awards for his critically acclaimed Off-Broadway production of FLY, also presented at the National Black Theater Festival in North Carolina and at the HBO Performance Space in Los Angeles. He has worked with Viola Davis, the late Chadwick Boseman, Chris Rock, and renowned actor and director Stephen McKinley Henderson, and has guest-starred on Law and Order, Law and Order SVU, Rescue Me, and the Netflix series Daredevil. He has also performed in the St. Louis Repertory Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol as the Undertaker, Fezziwig, Solicitor, as well as understudy for Scrooge. He is a 2022 Research and Development Grant recipient from the Arizona Commission on the Arts for his work, The Reparations Project, and wrote, directed and performed the hit one-man play Fly at the Community Folk Art Center in the Spring of 2023. He is thrilled to share the magic of “Spell” with the Syracuse Community. 

Martikah Williams As  Rina Mency : Martikah Williams, a graduate of the Stella Adler Center for the Arts Professional Conservatory, is a multidisciplinary artist/entrepreneur, teaching artist and arts administrator. She often shares her creativity in educational settings with youth including programs with 100 Black Men of Syracuse, Community Folk Art Center, New York Theatre Workshop and ArtsConnection. As a co-founder of Black Artist Collective CNY and sole founder of Mount Sai Productions, Martikah is most proud of her efforts in developing new works/programs that create paid opportunities for Black, Indigenous and People of Color artists which are rooted in social justice. Within these organizations she works as an artist, advocate, organizer, grant writer and producer. She advocates artists to have access to more funding opportunities and work in arts organizations that are committed to safe and equitable practices. Martikah’s hope is that through her work she will inspire action, intentionally creating more opportunities for independent artists and disenfranchised communities.

Rose Hays As Judge Nyles : Rose Hays (She/Her) is a CNY based actor, dance & fight choreographer, and stage manager. She’s incredibly excited to join the cast of Spell and return to singing on stage! Having graduated college on the tail end of the pandemic, Rose has been busy doing as much live theatre across the world as possible. Some of her favorite productions include Hamlet with Syracuse Shakespeare in the Park’s where she played Horatio and fight directed, The Book of Will with CNY Playhouse where she played Alice Heminges and fight directed, and when she toured Italy with a children’s theatre, performing four shows for different ages and playing such roles as Snow White, Megara, and Lady Marian!
  Rose currently lives in Auburn with her mother, brother, two cats, and one leopard gecko. She and her friends Andie Sagatis and Jon Christiano recently founded Actors of the Round Table, a theatre company where they experiment with mixing live theatre and filmed productions. Keep an eye on their socials to hear about their film slated to release in 2026! Later this year, you’ll be able to see Rose in an Immersive Christmas Carol in Homer as Dilber, Belle, and Fred’s wife. When not doing theatre, you can probably find her procrastinating on whatever she should be doing by reading. Website: www.rosehays.com

Tony Brown As Imhotep : Tony Brown, a native of Boston, MA, has directed, choreographed, and performed with various theater companies throughout the region. He has an MFA in Acting/Directing from Syracuse University. Performance credit at Syracuse Stage includes “The Wizard of Oz” (Munchkin Mayor/General of the Winkies/Jitterbug). “A Raisin in the Sun” (BoBo), “Death and the King’s Horsemen” (Village Drummer). Syracuse Opera Co.. “Aida” (Lead Dancer), “Babes in Toyland” (Tom), the latter also with the Rochester Opera Co., Oswego Opera Theater, “Threepenny Opera” (Jake). He’s thrilled to be part of this project.

Mookey Van Orden As Narrator : Mookey is an artist, writer, educator, and activist in the Syracuse area. Most recently, her original piece was picked to be performed as a part of Red House’s Inaugural Babelfest. Locally, she has also directed Jesus Christ Superstar at Central New York Playhouse and Issues of Color at CFAC, along with assistant directing Lion King Jr at Thanasis, The Producers and Comb Your Hair (or You’ll Look Like a Slave). She has also worked on The Color Purple (BLAAC) and Fly (Joseph Edwards, CFAC) as stage manager. Mookey is passionate about storytelling, inclusion, justice and truth but -most importantly-about being a mother to her one year old.

Dr. Juhanna Rogers As Vera Brown : Dr. Juhanna Rogers is a native of Newark, New Jersey with family roots in Cross, South Carolina. Her upbringing in both places shapes her commitment to leadership in business, education and the arts. Dr. Rogers earned a bachelor’s degree in Integrative Arts from Penn State University – Altoona. In 2016, Dr. Rogers and seven of her peers made institutional history by completing their doctoral degrees at Indiana University simultaneously and are known nationally as the #Great8.
Today, Dr. Juhanna Rogers is a playwright, director, actress and business executive. Dr.Rogers uses her artwork and experience to address diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts inthe classroom, on campuses, and within organizations. Dr. Rogers’ playwriting and performance work expands the presence of BIPOC artists across mediums. Dr. Rogers also appeared in, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf” at Auburn Public Theatre. She was invited as an artist to speak about the intersections of race and gender in theater at Syracuse Stage and appeared in for the 2021 Poetry and Play series at Syracuse Stage. In 2020 her play, A Gatherin’ Place, opened at Syracuse Stage. The play, done virtually, reviewed by critics as, “… powerful… proves you don’t need to physically be inside the Archbold theater to have an engaging theatrical experience.”
Currently, she is a scholar-artist in residence at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. From 2021 to 2023, she served as visiting artist at the Stone Quarry Hill Art Park located in Cazenovia, NY where she created the Queendom trail, wrote two plays and completed her MFA in playwriting from Goddard College. In 2018, Dr. Rogers created and produced a web series, Behind the Woman. Additionally, in 2019, Juhanna became creator, executive producer and host of Behind the Woman – a YouTube series she developed – in partnership with WCNY/PBS. The show airs across 19 counties in Central New York and is in its sixth season. She is a mother to Nile whom she loves dearly. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.

Dwan Hameed As Malik Johnson : Dwan is a Syracuse-based performing artist. He honed his craft at SUNY Oswego, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in theatre. He has showcased his talent in a variety of shows such as “Pippin”, “The Wizard of Oz”, “It’s A Wonderful Life”, “The Color Purple”, “Issues of Color”, and “No Exit”.Additionally, while studying at Lemoyne College, he acted in the Staged Reading“ Moving In Day”. Dwan is eager to continue expanding his creativity and making a lasting impact on the Syracuse performing arts scene.

Andrea Gregori As Charlotte Fairfax : Andréa Gregori recently made her Syracuse debut in Titanic, The Musical (Ida Straus) with CNY Playhouse. A professionally trained opera singer, she has performed regionally, nationally, and internationally, including performances at the Newport Music Festival and the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival. Most recently, she was seen in GYPSY (Rose) at the Ti-Ahwaga Performing Arts Center (TCP).
She holds an undergraduate degree in Voice Performance from Temple University and a master’s degree in Arts Administration from the University of Denver. By day, she works as a paralegal at Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP in Binghamton. She is also the Founder & Artistic Director of Theatre Street Productions.

James Magnarelli As Cornelius Bancroft : Jim has been very active in CNY Community Theater for the past 13 years. He has performed in many featured roles with the CNY Playhouse including Spamalot (Bedevere), Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Val; SALT Nominated), Lend Me a Tenor (Saunders), Little Shop of Horrors (Mushnik), The Odd Couple (Speed) as well as several others. Jim also appeared in the 2014 Salt City Center for the Performing Arts production of Fiddler on the Roof (Lazar Wolfe) and the Auburn Community Players production of How to Succeed in Business (JB Biggely; SALT nominated). Jim is very excited to be a part of this Project with the Community Folk Art Center.

Jasmine Wynter As Twanda Thompson : Jasmine is a multifaceted spoken word artist, actress, and singer. In her free time, she enjoys nature, performing, and playing soccer. She is also the founder of Wynter’s Tea.

Spell Program

Get to know our high school and collegiate student interns ; Daejhor, Jada, Layal, and Josiah! This dedicated group of student interns has been lending their talents to the Syracuse PALS Art Camp and STEM From Dance Camp this summer, while also assisting with programming and inventory management. A special thank you to Syracuse University, CNY Works, Say Yes To Education, and On Point For College for making this program possible. 

Daejhor Huddleston: I am a senior at Manhattanville University, and I major in Commercial Dance. I’ve been dancing for 8+ years, with training in Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, Ballroom, and Tap. “Being a part of the Community Folk Art Center has allowed me the opportunity to share my passion for the arts and inspire the people around me”.

Jada McMullen: Hi! My name is Jada, a rising senior at SUNY Albany set to graduate in May 2026. Working at CFAC has enabled me to engage with my community on a more meaningful level. Getting to know the children and staff has been a wonderful experience, as the people here expose me to different aspects of the creative arts.  Although I major in STEM, I also enjoy musical theater, gaming, and experimenting with various hair and clothing styles. The community at CAC is welcoming and warm, and I encourage everyone to experience it.

Layal Thabet: Hello, I’m Layal and I am a senior at Nottingham High School, class of 2026. For fun I enjoy reading books, cooking, going on hikes, and playing  pickleball, basketball , and volleyball with friends. The Community Folk Art Center is a beautiful place for an internship. Walking around and seeing all the art displayed on the walls brings meaning to your day. The staff is a pleasure to work with, and you learn something new every day.

Josiah Cosby: I’m a senior at the Institute of Technology Central (ITC), class of 2026. My hobbies include sports, fishing, being outdoors, and spending time with friends. I enjoy working at The Community Folk Art Center because I enjoy all of the art, it is a unique experience, and it’s a fun place to work.

 

 

 

 

STEM From Dance, a national program with the mission of  encouraging youth to pursue a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, returns to the Community Folk Art Center this year with an exciting new program titled “Lights, Camera, Dance.”

   During the  three-week camp students  learn video production, Artificial Intelligence frameworks, and a variety of dance styles, including ballet, contemporary, and hip hop. Using software platforms Luma and CapCut, students design their own music videos from start to finish and create customized backdrops using green screens.

Guest speaker sessions take place twice a week, where community leaders, including  Martikah Williams, co-founded of the Black Artist Collective CNY (BAC)  and Sofia Gutierrez, CNY Arts Leadership Fellow, share insight on topics including : Improvisation, screen writing, and Zine Making.

This year, we welcome four instructors to the  STEM from Dance  team: Zalika Adjei, Akilah Cage, Mia Funderburg, and Asa Rogers.

Zalika Adjei, Dance Facilitator: Zalika has trained with the Dance Theater of Syracuse, Syracuse City Ballet, and Community Folk Art Center- Dance Lab. She is trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, and African Dance.

Akilah Cage, Dance Facilitator: Akilah is a Teacher within the Syracuse City School District and Instructor at ASCUAD Arts 315 (Akilah’s School of Cultural Urban Arts and Dance). She is professionally trained in West African Dance, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Funk, Acrobatics, Street Dance, and more. She received her Master’s Certification in Popping and Locking funk dance styles at the IUDMA (International Urban Dance Masters Association).

Mia Funderburg, STEM Facilitator: Mia Funderburg is a dedicated K–12 science and technology educator with over 15 years of experience in the field. A proud native of Detroit, Michigan, Mia is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Motivational Communication and Spanish, followed by a master’s degree in K–12 Instructional Learning. Currently, Mia serves as a 5th-grade teacher at Citizenship Academy and co-advisor for the NSBE Jr. (National Society of Black Engineers) chapter, supporting youth in the Syracuse area. Passionate about empowering students through STEM education and mentorship, she actively fosters future leaders and innovators. Mia is also a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., through which she continues her commitment to community service and outreach in the area where she lives and works.

Asa Rogers, STEM Facilitator: Asa Rogers is a multimedia performance artist. utilizing art to create a healing experience by focusing on themes such as personal, familial, and communal history, and the transformation of self. She is also an educator, historian, and archivist.

Save the date for the end-of-camp community showcase on Friday, August 15th, at 6:00 PM.