Echoes of East Harlem: A Workshop on Memory & Older Adults (60+)

This event is open to Covello Older Adult Program members only. Non-members who wish to attend must register as members. Registration is free and can be done in-person right before the workshop. Call the Leonard Covello Older Adult Center for more details at 212-423-9665

How long have you lived in El Barrio/East Harlem? If you’ve been here long enough, you’ve likely witnessed the neighborhood’s transformation—corner bodegas closing, familiar faces leaving, and new buildings rising where old landmarks once stood.

Join the Center for Puerto Rican Studies (CENTRO) for Echoes of East Harlem, a multisensory journey into the heart of El Barrio’s past, brought to life through CENTRO’s archival materials. This special gathering invites elders from the El Barrio/East Harlem community to reflect on the neighborhood’s history and share their own lived experiences.

Participants will explore documents, photographs, and audiovisual materials that capture the spirit of El Barrio/East Harlem. Together, we’ll share stories, memories, and emotions sparked by these artifacts. Elders are encouraged to bring their own photographs or items that represent their time in El Barrio, helping to weave their voices into the larger narrative of life in East Harlem. 

Through the stories of our community, we aim to celebrate the rich cultural legacy of El Barrio/East Harlem and ensure its stories endure for future generations.

Activities include:

• Engaging with archival materials from CENTRO’s collections
• Sharing personal experiences and cherished items
• Reflecting on the memories evoked by historical artifacts

Help us tell the story of El Barrio—one memory at a time.

Photo: Roger Cabán Prints Digital Collection. “Playing cards at the barbershop in East Harlem.” Center for Puerto Rican Studies Library & Archives, Hunter College, CUNY.

This event has been made possible through the Mellon funded Rooted + Relational Research Initiative.