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The (CFAC), a unit of the , continued its  recently by honoring its community and supporters and highlighting the creative arts with a visually stunning and empowering performance by .

The Community Folk Art Center continued its 50th anniversary celebration recently by honoring its community and supporters and highlighting the creative arts with a mpowering performance by Ailey II.

At the Oct. 27 event, CFAC recognized the following community partners, supporters and area leaders for their support and dedication to the center and youth:

• Carol Charles ’84: Artist, educator administrator; the former executive director of the Dance Theater of Syracuse; and a �鶹Ƶ��University alumna
• Vanessa Johnson: Griot, one-woman performer, musician and visual arts educator
• The �鶹Ƶ��(NY) Chapter of the Links Incorporated: One of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of African American women and persons of African ancestry
• London Ladd ’06, G’22: Influential artist, author, the creator of a 2021 alumni mural titled “Coming Back Together” and a �鶹Ƶ��University alumnus
• Charles Haislah: Educator, internationally renowned ballet dancer and director, and creator of the DanceLab at CFAC
• Founders: Herbert T. Williams, Shirley Harrison, Jack White, George Campbell Jr., Mary Schmidt Campbell, David MacDonald and Basheer Alim

Awardees received a specially commissioned commemorative bowl or plate created by award-winning designer David McDonald and featuring CFAC’s logo.

The celebration and performance, featuring emerging dance talent and artistic director Francesca Harper and the company’s renowned piece “Revelations” took place at the historic Landmark Theatre in downtown Syracuse. Ailey II is nationally celebrated for bringing together early-career talent with emerging choreographers. Their signature work is “Revelations” which uses spirituals, gospel songs, and holy blues to explore the deepest emotions of the soul.

“Ailey II’s performance was certainly a proud part of our 50th anniversary, but it was also a way to continue CFAC’s mission to connect diverse communities—no matter age, gender, race or exposure to dance and the arts—to our collective, universal language of creativity and the exploration of the African diaspora,” says Tanisha M. Jackson, Ph.D., executive director of CFAC, creator of Black Arts Speak, professor of African American studies and one of the evening’s emcees. “Our anniversary celebration will continue through in-person and online events, so we hope many more can join our community during this special year for us.”

The theater was nearly at capacity with supporters from the University, City of �鶹Ƶ��and the arts community. Additionally, much to the appreciation of organizers and those in attendance, about 350 students from the �鶹Ƶ��City School District took in the event and performance. Their presence was not just an educational and entertainment experience—many of the students are interested in the visual and performing arts—but a fulfillment of CFAC’s community-focused mission and the creative exploration of the African diaspora.

Public programming offered year-round by CFAC includes exhibitions, film screenings, gallery talks, workshops and courses in studio and performing arts, and more. CFAC also offers a robust that provides a gateway to the arts to middle school and high school students in the community.

CFAC was founded in 1972 by the late Herbert T. Williams, professor of African American studies at �鶹Ƶ��University, in collaboration with other faculty, students, local artists and residents of the City of Syracuse. CFAC is an incubator for diverse community programming and the creative exploration of the African diaspora. It is dedicated to celebrating cultural and artistic pluralism by collecting, exhibiting, teaching and interpreting the visual and expressive arts. To learn more, .