Nocd-NY

Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts New York (NOCD-NY) is a citywide alliance that is revitalizing NYC from the neighborhood up.

Naturally Occurring Cultural District New York (NOCD-NY) is comprised of artists, cultural groups, creative manufacturers, community organizations, and contributing allies. Existing and prospective participants:

- demonstrate a connection with artists and/or cultural workers
- build neighborhood-up alliances and forge cross-sector networks
- represent districts that are diverse in geography (five boroughs), ethnicity and/or mode of practice (such as arts, culture, creative manufacturing)
- value diversity as a key component of building cultural assets
- seek equity for the under-represented
- fulfill their commitment to the working group

09/14/2026

This Thursday, September 17! Join us for Mouth of the Sun readings and a concert with Alsarah and the Nubatones. Free but please RSVP (see link in comments)

09/01/2026

Join us on Thursday Sept 17 @ 6:30pm for The Mouth of the Sun: An Evening Celebrating Muslim Women Artists and Writers. Featuring Alsarah & The Nubatones! Presented by Arts & Democracy and co-hosted with Nocd-NY and The Urbane Arts Club, who invite us to their beautiful Brooklyn space. FREE and open to all! RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/MouthoftheSunSept17

Celebrate talented Muslim women creating change through their art! Featuring readings and performances by the 2026 cohort of The Mouth of the Sun, a creative writing incubator program. Readings and performances by Roohi Choudhry, Intisar Adly, Lara Arafeh, Aisha bint Gladys, walae hayek, Maryum Saifee, Kazi Sultana, and Marium Vahed.

Followed by powerhouse singer and songwriter Alsarah who blends traditional Sudanese rhythms and retro-pop into revolutionary energy with her band, the Nubatones!

“I COMMIT
TO FRICTION AND THE UNDERTAKING OF THE PEARL…
I AM TASTING MYSELF
IN THE MOUTH OF THE SUN”
– June Jordan

08/27/2026

Thurs, Sept 17 @ 6:30pm! The Mouth of the Sun: An Evening Celebrating Muslim Women Artists and Writers. Featuring Alsarah and the Nubatones! Presented by Arts & Democracy and co-hosted with Nocd-NY and The Urbane Arts Club. FREE and open to all. RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/MouthoftheSunSept17

Celebrate talented Muslim women creating change through their art! Featuring readings and performances by the 2026 cohort of The Mouth of the Sun, a creative writing incubator program. Followed by powerhouse singer and songwriter Alsarah who blends traditional Sudanese rhythms and retro-pop into revolutionary energy with her band, the Nubatones.

Readings and performances by Roohi Choudhry, Intisar Adly, Lara Arafeh, Aisha bint Gladys, walae hayek, Maryum Saifee, Kazi Sultana, and Marium Vahed. And a concert by Brooklyn-based Alsarah and the Nubatones!

“I COMMIT / TO FRICTION AND THE UNDERTAKING OF THE PEARL…
I AM TASTING MYSELF / IN THE MOUTH OF THE SUN”
– June Jordan

07/24/2026

Join us tomorrow, July 25 to Celebrate Kensington! Programs take place on the Ave C Plaza from 1-5:30 and Kensington Plaza from 2-7pm.

We will start the day with a sharing music across traditions in the form of an open jam session. Local musicians Yoshie Fruchter (guitar, bass) and Nilofar Jahan (harmonium, vocals) will lead a houseband that will play loose arrangements of Bengali, klezmer, jazz and more. House Band will include: Yoshie Fruchter - guitar, bass; Nilofar Jahan - harmonium, vocals; Mir Naqibul Islam - tabla; Roy Nathanson - saxophone; Brian Drye - trombone/keys; Shai Wetzer - drums/percussion.

All musicians are welcome to join in, so feel free to bring your instrument!

The day continues with a neighborhood story showcase, embroidery workshop, exhibits, community tables, and a performance by Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts - BIPA

You can find a link to the full schedule in the comments.

07/22/2026

THIS SATURDAY, CELEBRATE KENSINGTON - 1:00 - 7:00pm! Join Arts & Democracy, Nocd-NY, Kensington Cultural Council, and community partners for a celebration of Kensington’s rich culture and the close-knit network of people who cultivate it! Event info: tinyurl.com/CelebrateKensington2026

Avenue C Plaza will feature:

• 1pm: Music Jam with local musicians including Yoshie Fruchter, Nilofar Jahan, Naqibul Islam, Roy Nathanson, Shai Wetzer, and Brian Drye

• 2:30pm: Embroidery and Storytelling with author Roohi Choudhry, Farida Ruhul and Casa Cultural, including readings from Candace Hall, Asia Begum, Nurun Nahar and Roy Nathanson

• 4pm: Performance with Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts (BIPA)

Ongoing:

• Exhibitions including How to Create Kensington Culture and Bangladeshi Ladies Club’s Nakshi Kantha display

• Kantha and Mexican embroidery, with Farida Ruhul and Casa Cultural

• Youth-led Mural Making

• Engagement with community groups and initiatives including DRUM, Sakhi, Kensington-Windsor Terrace Mutual Aid, Windsor Terrace Food Coop, Department of City Planning South of Prospect Park Neighborhood Plan, Fifth Avenue Committee, and Mixteca

Kensington Plaza with The Singing Winds presents:

• 2:00 - 7:00pm: Crafts Market, featuring hand-made toys and jewelry

• 5:30 - 7:00pm: Music on the Plaza with Kalimba Unity,
Led by Kevin Nathaniel, the ensemble features kalimbas, flute and percussion.

07/20/2026

We hope you can join us, Arts & Democracy, Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts - BIPA, The Singing Winds and many more of our partners at Celebrate Kensington this Sat, July 25, starting at 1pm

07/14/2026

Join NOCD-NY, Arts & Democracy, Kensington Cultural Council and community partners for Celebrate Kensington on Saturday, July 25 from 1-5:30pm at the Ave C Plaza!

Featuring:

• Jam session with local musicians including Yoshie Fruchter, Nilofar Jahan, Naqibul Islam, Roy Nathanson and others

• Engagement with community groups

• Exhibition including How to Create Kensington Culture and

• Bangladeshi Ladies Club’s Nakshi Kantha display

• Youth-led activities

• Embroidery and storytelling with author Roohi Choudhry and local artists

• Performance with Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts (BIPA)

• and more!

06/23/2026

Please join us at The Mouth of the Sun: Performance and Discussion by Muslim women and gender-expansive folk

Tuesday, July 7, 7pm, The Urbane Arts Club, Brooklyn, NY.

FREE and open to all. Please RSVP; link in comments.

Listen to new creative writing by Muslim women and gender-expansive folk and join a powerful discussion on harnessing personal stories to create change. This event celebrates the 2026 cohort of participants in The Mouth of the Sun, a creative incubator program presented by Arts & Democracy and author Roohi Choudhry. Performances by Diya Abbass, Zanib Ahmed, Banen Al-Sheemary, mikayla dablan-azony, Ethar El-Katatney, Saadia Khalid, and Somer Saleh.

“I COMMIT / TO FRICTION AND THE UNDERTAKING OF THE PEARL…
I AM TASTING MYSELF / IN THE MOUTH OF THE SUN”
– June Jordan

06/16/2026

THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 21st, 1-5PM! Join local youth leaders for a special Kensington Youth Mela at Avenue C Plaza! Sessions are designed by teens and young adults and will include zine making/collage, Origami for Good, fabric mural making, theater exercises, henna instruction, discussion and more! All are welcome! This event is co-presented with Nocd-NY and Arts & Democracy and is part of Kensington Culture at Avenue C Plaza with ArtBuilt Mobile Studios and the Kensington Cultural Council partners, bringing activities to the plaza every day in June. More info: kensingtonculture.org

06/05/2026

Starting tomorrow! Kensington Culture at Avenue C Plaza’s weekend programming launches with ArtBuilt Mobile Studios and the Kensington Cultural Council! Free activities are happening daily in June! Tomw @ 1pm, Tepa-Patul clay doll making workshop. Sunday @ 2pm, The Family Concert with ! Featuring music and dance from Brooklyn Porch Music’s The Multigenerational Playing for the Light Big Band; Students from the Tomas Rodriguez Guitar Studio; Youth Tecuanes Dance with Casa Cultural; Singing Winds Dance with Ballet Folklórico Mariposa, Shapla, and Salsa on the Plaza; and Cynthia King Dance Co.

Address

McDonald Avenue And Avenue C
Brooklyn, NY
11218

Website

http://nocdny.org/

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