Melody Capote was appointed Executive Director of CCCADI in 2018. She began her long tenure with the organization in 1984 and, over the years, has established herself as a leader in arts administration and cultural activism. Melody is a bold and vocal advocate for cultural equity and racial and social justice for African descendant communities.

Before assuming the role of Executive Director, she played a key role in the creation and successful implementation of a capital campaign that secured funding from both public and private sectors to renovate a landmarked firehouse into a state-of-the-art cultural facility in the heart of El Barrio (East Harlem), which officially opened its doors in 2016.