At the Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center in the Bronx, New York, interns study the art, rituals, and traditions that permeate our everyday lives. There, the Dr. Beverly J. Robinson Community Folk Culture Program trains high school and college students to identify, research, document, and present folk arts within their own communities. Whether it’s through style, food, music, dance, hobbies, or beliefs, interns learn from the past and present to understand our similarities and appreciate our differences.

During the research phase of the 2025 Smithsonian Folklife Festival program Youth and the Future of Culture, lead curator Michelle Banks collaborated with Mind-Builders’ Community Folk Culture Program to find a way for them to showcase their work. Michelle led two workshops with interns about the 2025 Festival program themes and the work the Folk Culture interns were currently doing in their communities to document their experiences. The result was an exchange of ideas and possibilities, enriching the students’ documentation processes and research.

In teams of three, students chose artists and cultural practitioners in the Bronx to interview, produced short documentary videos, and wrote mini essays about their subjects. In the spring, they presented their videos to Folklife staff for feedback, and now they present them to you.

Amurá, Game Designer

Bronx, New York

Amurá has always loved deconstructing and reconstructing found objects. This led him to work in the field of architecture. But during recovery from a health scare, he realized he had more to offer through game design. “It became a beautiful realization that all the talents I’d been honing throughout my life came together,” he said. “They helped make ideas and imagination come together in the physical world.”

Amurá facilitated a board game workshop for Mind-Builders’ Kwanzaa celebration last December, and our interns interviewed him in January.

Amurá is a board game designer known for his creative games for children and adults, such as Kitunda and Gin-Go. He was raised in an African American and Puerto Rican household in Harlem. His mother, noticing his introverted nature, introduced him to card and board games. Amurá learned an important lesson from his father, who taught him that “scraps can’t be thrown out—it’s not garbage.” He not only creates wooden board games but uses the leftovers for beautiful sculptures.

Kitunda and Gin-Go promote creativity while bringing intergenerational connection to the forefront. His designs encourage players to think about strategy and what can be gained from play beyond winning or losing. As he continues creating new games, he inspires future generations and designers to consider the importance of play in cultural exchange and passing down values. We learned through Amurá that personal experiences can lead to impactful moments that help us see the potential in everything.

Hadja D., 18
Sky V., 18
Alexis T., 16

Manny Vega, Visual Artist

Bronx, New York, and Bahia, Brazil

Manny Vega is a painter, illustrator, printmaker, muralist, mosaicist, and set and costume designer born in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents and raised in East Harlem, New York. His work portrays the history and traditions of the African Diaspora in the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. He has been initiated into the Afro-Brazilian temple known as  Ilê Axé Iyá Omin Iyamassê in Bahia, Brazil, and his art practice is intertwined with this spiritual connection.

In January, our interns traveled to East Harlem to view his exhibition, Byzantine Bembe, at the Museum of the City of New York and took a walking tour to view his public work, then were able to interview Vega about his practice.

Manny Vega is a visual artist from the Bronx, New York. People from around the world can appreciate and interpret Vega’s public murals and mosaics which can be found on the streets and subway stations of East Harlem. Since childhood, Vega has demonstrated his ability to create representations of cultural and spiritual elements through his artwork.

During our interview with him, we asked him how he plans to pass down his legacy. He responded that the best way is “doing [his] artwork in front of people.” His response allowed us to understand that he is someone who creates art not for himself but for a community he deeply cherishes. Vega was surrounded by diverse cultures including Italian, Jewish, African American, and Caribbean people in his neighborhood.

Although Vega believes that mosaic art is the most challenging for him, he still invests time and energy in creating it because of its connection with ancient history. His devotion to art, community, and spirituality allowed us to understand that we can express ourselves in many different ways; we are always evolving.

Estrella J., 21
Clarice D., 17
Bryan A., 16

Rokafella and Kwikstep, Breakers

Bronx, New York

Before it became an international phenomenon, breakdancing had its humble beginnings in the Bronx. Pioneers of this form, Rokafella (Ana García) and Kwikstep (Gabriel Dionisio) continue to keep the Bronx on the map by focusing on the communities that created it and less on the competitive aspect. As a prominent B-girl for decades, Rokafella has played an important role in uplifting women’s voices and creativity in this expression.

In November 2024, interns participated in a master class, then interviewed Rokafella and Kwikstep.

The Bronx is a mosaic of cultures and traditions that are often misunderstood. Its vibrant culture is more valuable than it gets credit for. Highlighting the work of Puerto Rican breaking legends Rokafella and Kwikstep was an incredibly rewarding experience. Their dedication to not only the art and practice of breaking but also preserving its authenticity is awe-inspiring.

Rokafella and Kwikstep strive to teach younger generations about the importance of keeping breaking alive. Through workshops, performances, and mentorship, their efforts demonstrate their passion and commitment. Despite the difference in age and experience, we felt a connection to their journey. It’s the beauty of culture that connects different generations and backgrounds to a shared understanding.

Celebrating leaders like Rokafella and Kwikstep means honoring the richness of the Bronx itself. By honoring our roots, we strengthen our connection to our community, whose culture continues to thrive through the people who care to preserve and share it.

Emily C., 18
Amalia M., 16
Jannat M., 16

Green Garden Health Food Store and Juice Bar

Bronx, New York

Green Garden Juice Bar and Health Food Store has been a mainstay in the Gun Hill neighborhood of the Bronx for more than forty years. It serves as a vital part of the social fabric of the community, especially for Caribbean immigrants preserving traditions and practices around wellness. The special ways we relate to food and the meanings that are ascribed to it help shape our cultural identity. They serve as anchors in a journey that involves uprootment, immigration, and then a reestablishing of community in a new and very different environment.

Interns interviewed Vaughn Mitchell, general manager of Green Garden, to learn more about the mission of his family store and their cultural traditions.

Green Garden Health Food Store and Juice Bar has been serving the Gun Hill neighborhood of the Bronx since 1983. Locals know it as Brother Roy’s, in honor of its founder, Roy Mitchell. It is a family-owned and -operated business that shares a passion for Caribbean juices and smoothies.

Vaughn Mitchell and his parents’ commitment to their customers and expert knowledge of traditional remedies and natural wellness products have allowed Green Garden to grow while still operating with the same family values. They promote the use of fresh fruits and vegetables, vitality, and positivity found in Jamaica, to the Bronx. Behind the counter, generations of family members are ready to pour a glass of sorrel (traditional hibiscus drink) or add a spoonful of sea moss (algae gel) on a variety of offerings.

Green Garden has created a cultural hub for new and returning customers. Community members rely on Green Garden’s fresh juices to help boost their immune system or to recover from illness. Even when people move away from the neighborhood, they often return for a refreshing natural drink and to reconnect to their culture and community.

Green Garden is a source of inspiration for senior intern Niara Grant. It keeps her family connected to their community and Caribbean roots, proving that passing down tradition is not just for special occasions.

Niara G., 17
Jaelyn V., 18
Justin B., 18

Located in the Northeast Bronx, Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center inspires the growth of youth, families and the community through quality arts and education programs. The Community Folk Culture Program offers classes for youth between ages sixteen and twenty-one during a five-week summer intensive program and a thirty-week fall and spring session. The program is staffed by Melinda Gonzalez (program manager), pea mah (program instructor), and Waldo Cabrera (program consultant).