Hamilton Hill Arts Center (2025)
2025 Community Partner Award Winner
For over half a century, the Hamilton Hill Arts Center has been more than a community center—it has been a sanctuary of creativity, resilience, and cultural pride.
Born from a profound need, the Center was created to provide a safe space where children could be uplifted by the rich cultural traditions of their ancestors. It was built on the belief that art is not just expression—it is healing, empowerment, and a bridge to identity.
Today, the Hamilton Hill Arts Center remains Schenectady’s only African/African-American arts institution and one of the last remaining community hubs in Hamilton Hill. Serving more than 10,000 people annually, it stands as a beacon of hope for at-risk youth, offering exceptional cultural arts programming rooted in the vibrant traditions of the African Diaspora. Here, young minds are nurtured through visual arts, dance, drumming, and storytelling—art forms that have carried the spirit of resilience across generations.
The Center’s mission is to promote the knowledge, preservation, and continued development of African Diasporic arts and culture, enriching lives throughout the Capital Region.
Its purpose is to:
Restore the community’s sense of wholeness through cultural expression.
Address and heal historical trauma by reconnecting with ancestral traditions.
Establish an intergenerational support system rooted in shared cultural ideals.
A Legacy of Leadership
At the heart of this enduring legacy is Rachel Conn, the third generation of a remarkable family dedicated to uplifting the community through art and culture. Founded in 1968 by her grandmother, Margaret Cunningham, and later led by her mother, Miki Conn, the Center has always been a family-driven movement of passion and purpose. In December 2016, Rachel Conn stepped into the role of Executive Director, taking the helm at a time when arts funding for grassroots organizations was dwindling and community spaces were disappearing. But like the generations before her, she refused to let obstacles define the future of the Center.
Rachel’s journey is deeply intertwined with the soul of this institution. She grew up surrounded by the rhythms of the drum, the strokes of the paintbrush, and the wisdom of her elders. Yet, she also forged her own path—raising a daughter while earning a degree in Afrocentric Psychology from Empire State College, specializing in historical trauma and healing through African traditions. Now, as a Traditional Priest of Obatala and Ifa, she infuses her leadership with a profound understanding of cultural restoration and community wellness.
A gifted visual artist, Rachel’s work has been showcased at the Albany Center Gallery, the Schenectady train station, MiSci, and the Jerry Burrell Gallery. She has played a pivotal role in bringing public art installations to life, ensuring that Black stories and identities are celebrated within the fabric of the city. She also founded the Sankofa Sculpture Park—the only sculpture park in the United States dedicated to West African principles—and is leading the charge to establish a new cultural campus in Hamilton Hill.
Through every challenge, the Hamilton Hill Arts Center has endured because it was built on a foundation of love, community, and an unshakable belief in the power of art. It is a testament to the resilience of a people, the strength of a shared vision, and the commitment of leaders like Rachel Conn—leaders who refuse to let history be forgotten or futures be diminished.
Union College students were among the first volunteer mentors. They worked with high school students who in turn mentored middle school students who then worked with elementary students. Around thirty students participated in the program at the start and the program continues to grow. The volunteer mentors work with students in monthly support meetings and STEAM camps where students develop self-confidence and learn to focus and plan ahead. According to one of the students “MBK made me realize my true voice. You just got to put forth the effort to believe in yourself.”
Learn more at: www.hamiltonhillartscenter.org
