Join us for a community conversation at Snug Harbor, part of Speaking of Revolution—a statewide series developed by Humanities New York. This gathering is one of several across New York where neighbors explore how ideas of rupture and renewal continue to shape civic and cultural life. Each event begins with a short reading or image, chosen locally, to spark open, reflective dialogue. There’s no panel, no lecture, and no pressure to have the right answer—just a chance to listen, share, and think together.
On June 17, Staten Island-based musician and cultural organizer Darrell Smith will open the evening with a brief musical gesture to ground us in place and tone. From there, we’ll move into a community-led conversation grounded in a shared reading—chosen with Darrell and Snug Harbor in the coming weeks. As one of New York’s most historically layered boroughs, Staten Island offers a powerful setting to reflect on themes of migration, memory, labor, and imagination in the context of revolution, past and future.
By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia in collaboration with local partners. Together, these programs explore 250 years of the nation’s cultural life and imagine its shared future. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage as a complement to the 2026 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
This event is presented as part of the Jazz Is Staten Island series in partnership with Universal Temple of the Arts. Jazz Is Staten Island is a new music series commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. From concerts and exhibitions to scholarly talks and film screenings, Jazz Is Staten Island explores jazz’s vibrant influence on Staten Island, highlighting local artists, historical figures, and significant cultural movements.
Support for Jazz Is Staten Island is provided by the Howard Gilman Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, the Art Relief Fund, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs with the support of the Mayor and the City Council.