Selected Talks
The Art of Community-Based Mapping Practices and Storytelling
On December 15, 2021, Cynthia was invited to participate in this public program led by artist Betty Yu and sponsored by FiveMyles Gallery and KODA. Cynthia presented on Cities for People, Not for Profit and joined fellow panelists Tomie Arai and Walis Johnson to share strategies and approaches in storytelling rooted in principles of community resilience, collective agency and self-determination.
Women Manifesting Systems of Care
Women Manifesting Systems of Care was a virtual event broadcast on Sept 25, 2020. We gathered women-identified artists and thinkers to explore how we nurture and strengthen our communities during these uncertain times, through our storytelling, performance, and community engagement work. The event included Elements, a new interactive performance directed by artist Alona Weiss, and featured performers Kris Lee, Rachel Mellis, Mor Mendel, and Saretta Morgan. This vibrant performance was followed by our Systems of Care panel where Cynthia moderated a conversation with panelists Maria Aponte, Author/Performance Artist; Bridget Bartolini, Oral Historian and founder of Five Boro Story Project; Spirit Tawfiq, Antiracism Educator & Storyteller; and Alona Weiss, Visual Artist and the director of Elements. The day's program wrapped up with a performance by poet/songwriter Raquel Denis, who performed songs from her latest EP.
The dance performance that kicked off our virtual event was made possible thanks to support from the New York Archival Society and our GoFund Me contributions. We are also grateful to our community partnerships with Bronx Community Board 5, the New York Public Library Francis Martin Branch, and the Davidson Neighborhood Center in the Bronx.
Bushwick Love Letter
Cynthia moderated the "Bushwick Love Letter" Roundtable on Gentrification & Housing Activism," which brought together activists and community members to discuss gentrification in Bushwick and the struggle to remain in our neighborhoods, and share resources for how to plug into local actions.
This roundtable was produced in partnership with the Five Boro Story Project as part of its “Bushwick Love Letter” series. Recorded live at Mayday Space in Bushwick, Brooklyn, July 8, 2018.
Narratives + Perspectives: Reclaiming [^OUR] Public Art!
Cynthia Tobar moderated the panel and roundtable discussion, Narratives + Perspectives: Reclaiming [^OUR] Public Art! held at Teachers College, Columbia University on March 26, 2019. This panel brought together artists, scholars, and community members to discuss how we could engage with public art to shift the frameworks of representation. Panelists examined the potential role of new monuments which engage with histories of oppression and prejudice. This event was co-hosted by Columbia University’s Student Advocates for the Arts.
Cynthia talks about her oral history work for the 100 Puerto Ricans Project at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies-Centro, Hunter College, October 2014.
Cynthia discusses The WRI Oral History Project at the 2013 Groundswell Gathering at Bailey Farms, August 2013.