Hunter's CENTRO Receives Grant for Expansion in East Harlem

(New York, NY – February 7, 2023) The Center for Puerto Rican Studies (CENTRO) at Hunter College has received $792,000 in federal funding for the development of an accessible learning and creative hub in East Harlem, Hunter College announced.

The funds, secured by Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and East Harlem’s Congress member, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, as part of a $1.7 trillion omnibus bill signed into law by President Biden last December, will allow residents of the neighborhood even more access to CENTRO’s extensive library, archives, and art gallery, and provide for important public programming.

“New York’s leaders understand the incredible resource CENTRO provides to the neighborhood and its value to the city, state, nation, and indeed the world,” said Hunter College President Jennifer J. Raab. “Hunter extends a heartfelt thank-you to Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand and Rep. Espaillat for their enduring support of this national treasure.”

CENTRO has a long association with East Harlem, also known as El Barrio. In a move initiated by President Raab, CENTRO’s library and archives were transported from their outdated location on 68th Street and Lexington Avenue 15 years ago to new quarters in Hunter’s Silberman School of Social Work, at 2180 Third Ave., in the heart of the iconic neighborhood. There, CENTRO has built a strong relationship with the surrounding community, which is predominantly Hispanic and of Caribbean and African descent.

CENTRO’s leaders said that the institution was keen on expanding its footprint in the neighborhood.

“CENTRO has been very eager to provide its much-needed resources across and beyond El Barrio, particularly during this time of social transformation as residents battle rising gentrification and the lingering effects of COVID-19,” said Yarimar Bonilla, CENTRO’s Interim Director and a professor in Hunter’s Department of Africana and Puerto Rican/Latino Studies. “Thanks to the vision of President Raab, and the dedication, support, and drive of Rep. Espaillat and Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand, we can further that mission.”

The dedicated funds will help provide community access to CENTRO’s library, archives, historical and scholarly resources, and educational programs. The hub will include educational workshops for local school districts and public libraries. CENTRO also will expand public programs around arts and culture, such as author interviews, poetry readings, art exhibits, and live performances.

Celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2023, CENTRO has established itself as a beacon for Puerto Ricans of the diaspora in New York and across the country and as an institution creating actionable and accessible scholarship to strengthen, broaden, and reimagine the field of Puerto Rican studies.

With the largest digital archive in the CUNY system, the institute has carved a pathway for educators, scholars, and researchers looking to deepen and expand their learning through free digital programs. With these incomparable resources, CENTRO has served as the main site of consultation for scholars, journalists, filmmakers, and artists seeking to understand Puerto Rican history.

To learn more about CENTRO’s upcoming events and available learning resources, please visit centropr.hunter.cuny.edu.

About the Center for Puerto Rican Studies (CENTRO)

Founded in 1973 by a coalition of students, faculty, and activists, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College is the largest and oldest university-based research institute, library, and archive dedicated to the Puerto Rican experience in the United States. It provides support to students, scholars, artists, and members of the community at large across and beyond New York. It also produces original research, films, books, and educational tools and is the home of The Centro Journal — the premier academic journal of Puerto Rican Studies. CENTRO’s East Harlem Library, Archives, and Art Gallery are open and available for use by the public.

About HUNTER College

Located in the heart of Manhattan, Hunter is the largest college in the City University of New York (CUNY) system. Founded in 1870, it is also one of the oldest public colleges in the country and famous for a student body that is as diverse as the city itself. Most Hunter students are the first in their families to attend college and many go on to top professional and graduate programs, winning Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships, Mellon fellowships, National Institutes of Health grants, and other competitive honors. More than 23,000 students currently attend Hunter, pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in more than 170 areas of study. The 1,700 full- and part-time members of Hunter’s faculty are unparalleled. They receive prestigious national grants, contribute to the world's leading academic journals, and play major roles in cutting-edge research. They are fighting cancer, formulating public policy, expanding our culture, enhancing technology, and more.

About CUNY

The City University of New York is the nation’s largest urban public university, a transformative engine of social mobility that is a critical component of the lifeblood of New York City. Founded in 1847 as the nation’s first free public institution of higher education, CUNY today has 25 colleges spread across New York City’s five boroughs, serving 243,000 degree-seeking students of all ages and awarding 55,000 degrees each year.