Belongó Receives Mellon Foundation Grant as Part of $35 Million Jazz Initiative

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Casa Belongó one of 80 citywide Capital Projects receiving funds from Commissioner Laurie Cumbo

The name Belongó - rooted in our Afro-Caribbean legacy - echoes our commitment to belonging, social justice, and celebrating cultures worldwide. It is a nod to our past, as we focus on the future. We remain dedicated to harnessing our artistic heritage to make an impact in the community through our performance, education, and preservation programs.

- Marietta Ulacia, Executive Director

What we do

Present & Produce

We work with artists, curators and presenters to create innovative, genre bending and culture - crossing live and recorded performances that reach the ears and hearts of thousands, expanding the musical possibilities of Afro Latin music.

870+

Performances since 2007

1M+

Viewers as of 2022

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Educate & Inspire

We inspire the next generation by creating free, tailored education programs for public schools, train hundreds of young aspiring musicians and offer music programs for seniors and other marginalized groups across New York City.

20,000+

K-12 Students since 2007

21

School districts in 2022

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Protect & Advance

We preserve and make available a music library and archives with hundreds of scores and memorabilia as well as commission new works and big band arrangements across genres.

750+

Scores

16+

Genres

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our journey

All About Education

In 2009, the Afro Latin Jazz Academy of Music (ALJAM) was founded to offer music instruction to schools and other sites with music programs. Shortly after, Arturo O’Farrill founded The Fat Afro Latin Jazz Cats Youth Orchestra Program, bringing musical training to the next generation of aspiring musicians.