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    The Harlem Art House Collective (HAHC) will be hosting its monthly cypher again this Friday, Aug. 28, at its headquarters, 74 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, from 7:30-10:30 p.m.  Launched in December 2025, the cypher’s mission is to provide emerging artists with access to a platform for their voice and their art, establish safe spaces for artists and creatives to connect with their audiences and each other, and to create pathways for artists’ compensation while raising funds for good.  The organization was founded by Tyler Colón, who leads HAHC with the help and support of his mother, his father, and his siblings. Colón states that for him and his family, Jesus Christ has had the greatest influence on the path they’ve found themselves on today. “In Mark 12:31, we are called to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. We use the CYPHER as an opportunity to open our home to Harlem’s creative community and show them the love of Christ,” he shared.  The main purpose of this monthly event is to build community. The secondary purpose is to see if community arts could be leveraged as a tool for artists’ financial empowerment and fundraising for good causes. So far, HAHC has found that community arts can be just that. Featured artists for this monthly event include poets, musicians, vocalists, playwrights, cinematographers, etc. Featured artists may meet each other for the first time at the event, even though they don’t necessarily work together in preparation for the show and that is by design. “We want our featured artists to focus on their artistry. We do the rest of the event logistics from ticketing, audio/visual, event setup/breakdown, etc.,” Colón added. Artists participating in this month’s cypher are Chrissy R. from Queens (who also represents Brooklyn); and Nala Baby, Omar McCray, and Ni-Emah Bugg, who are all from the Bronx. Chrissy R., Nala Baby, and Ni-emah Bugg are all singers, while Omar McCray is a poet.  The artists first discussed their most memorable experiences on their journeys. For Chrissy R., it was when she released her first song in a long time called "Situationship." “It was really special to me because I was once upon a time living those exact lyrics and being vulnerable enough to release that song on all platforms and get so much love in return really meant a lot to me,” she said.  For Nala Baby, it’s been the performances and people she’s met along the way. It’s made her feel like she can take her music journey seriously. For Omar McCray, this was freestyling for the first time and showing his visual poetry at the HAHC open mic. “It was pure non verbal, concentrated engagement. Well received and nerve wrecking at the same time,” he shared. For Ni-Emah Bugg, it was when she had one of her first solo performances with original music in a small bar in Brooklyn, around 19 years old. She was nervous because most of the people performing were rappers.  Next, they shared what it’s like for them working with other creatives to make monthly events at HAHC successful, and Chrissy R. feels like she definitely gets an adrenaline rush. To her, seeing all of the artists showing up and doing what they love, putting their creativity out there, is inspiring. “It takes a lot to wear your heart on your sleeve in front of a whole audience,” she added.  Nala Baby, Bugg, and McCray expressed similar sentiments, and said that it’s beautiful to have support from — and important to connect with — other artists like themselves.  Discussing impact on the Black communities in NYC, Chrissy R. wants this event to continue growing and creating opportunities for artists, while also being safe and giving everyone who participates a chance at financial stability. Nala Baby wants this event to say to the community that the HAHC holds space for all. Bugg also wants the event to bring hope and reinvigoration to the community.  “Black Art is necessary. There is something powerful about artists meeting other artists, poets meeting painters, musicians meeting filmmakers, photographers meeting storytellers and realizing that although our mediums may be different, our questions are often connected,” McCray added.  Chrissy R.’s advice to younger generations is that if something you want to do scares you, do it scared. Also, Nala Baby encourages them to “dream big." "Don't settle for what anyone wants you to be; be who you are," Chrissy R. said. "Shine bright and give attention to what you truly love to do.”  Additionally, McCray wants to inspire them to go after their passion because he believes life is about the chances you take, and it only takes one to ignite it.  Furthermore, Bugg wants to inspire them to release perfectionism and lean into authenticity. “If we let ourselves just be, I believe a lot of us can release the tension we’ve been holding and can allow ourselves to love and truly show up in our communities.”  Those interested in attending the event this month can purchase tickets here: https://luma.com/YZYDLU9V
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