Marine Park Hosts Black History Month Textile Arts Workshop

Event celebrates African-American quilting traditions and community engagement

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Marine Park Alliance (MPA) hosted a Black History Month Textile Arts Workshop at the Carmine Carro Community Center, featuring a presentation by Dr. Myrah Brown Green, an adjunct professor of Art History at Medgar Evers College. The event, which drew a diverse crowd from across the boroughs, highlighted the discipline and legacy of African-American quilting traditions. Attendees, including high school students, seniors, and environmentalists, learned stitching techniques and witnessed the unveiling of Dr. Green's own intricate quilt. The workshop was part of MPA's efforts to welcome the Black community into Marine Park, Brooklyn's largest public green space.

Why it matters

The Textile Arts Workshop showcased the rich cultural heritage of African-American quilting, a tradition that has long been used to preserve history and community. By hosting this event, the Marine Park Alliance aimed to foster greater inclusivity and engagement with the local Black community, highlighting the importance of celebrating diverse customs and traditions within the broader Brooklyn community.

The details

During the workshop, Dr. Myrah Brown Green, an award-winning author with an upcoming book on Black art collectors, demonstrated stitching techniques and spoke about the discipline and legacy of quilting in African-American culture. Attendees, ranging from high school students to senior citizens, had the opportunity to learn hands-on skills and witness the unveiling of Dr. Green's own intricate quilt. The event also featured student volunteers, including a Brooklyn Technical High School senior planning to study nursing, who were able to practice fine motor skills applicable to their future careers.

  • The Textile Arts Workshop took place on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
  • Dr. Green's upcoming book, "Keepers of a Movement: Black Collectors Who Preserve Art, Stories, and Legacies That Define Black Life," is set to debut on May 28, 2026.

The players

Dr. Myrah Brown Green

An adjunct professor of Art History at Medgar Evers College, Dr. Green is an award-winning author with an upcoming book on Black art collectors. She demonstrated stitching techniques and presented her own intricate quilt at the Textile Arts Workshop.

Scott Middleton

The Executive Director of the Marine Park Alliance, Middleton stated that the organization was in its second year of hosting the Textile Arts Workshop as part of its efforts to welcome the Black community into Marine Park, Brooklyn's largest public green space.

Erin

A senior and neuroscience major at Brooklyn Technical High School, Erin completed a perfect stitch during the workshop and saw the event as an opportunity to practice fine motor skills applicable to her planned nursing studies.

Kwolanne and Cat Lawrence

A couple from Harlem, both 26 years old, who are interested in environmental preservation and saw the Textile Arts Workshop as an opportunity to add to their studies.

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What they’re saying

“Quilting is something that can help keep the legacy of a generation alive.”

— Dr. Myrah Brown Green, Adjunct Professor of Art History, Medgar Evers College (Canarsie Courier)

“We want to do more to welcome the Black community into Marine Park. It's Brooklyn's biggest park.”

— Scott Middleton, Executive Director, Marine Park Alliance (Canarsie Courier)

“Sewing, you get to learn some hand movement that you might need in nursing.”

— Erin, High School Senior, Brooklyn Technical High School (Canarsie Courier)

What’s next

The Marine Park Alliance is planning a Juneteenth affair to further engage the local Black community.

The takeaway

The Textile Arts Workshop showcased the rich cultural heritage of African-American quilting traditions, highlighting the importance of preserving and celebrating diverse customs within the broader Brooklyn community. The event's success underscores the Marine Park Alliance's commitment to fostering greater inclusivity and engagement with the local Black community.