UPROSE and viBe Theater bring women artists together in Sunset Park

Brooklyn’s UPROSE, a Sunset Park-based community organization, in partnership with viBe Theater Experience, brought together a lineup of women artists and activists for Matriarchs on the Mic at the start of spring. Held at the UPROSE Climate Justice Center, 462 36th St., third floor, the night featured spoken word and music that uplifted women’s voices and presence.

Celebrating 60 years, UPROSE is a Brooklyn Latino community organization focused on climate justice and neighborhood resilience through organizing, education, and advocacy.

The program highlighted art as a tool for expression, showing how women artists use creative work to share their stories and engage an audience. By centering women’s perspectives, Matriarchs on the Mic created space for reflection, dialogue, and appreciation.

Attendees experienced a diverse lineup of performers, each bringing a unique viewpoint to the stage through spoken word and music. Together, the evening celebrated the voices and stories of women shaping and strengthening their communities.

At the heart of the event was organizer Javier Bautista, whose work is rooted in building spaces where marginalized voices are not only heard, but celebrated and supported.

“This is our second year we’ve done Matriarchs on the Mic,” Bautista stated. “This event was another way to get people involved. Not everyone can respond to a flyer or a speech, but everyone can connect with art in a different way.”

That spirit carried through the performances, as each artist brought her own voice and story into the room. Applause and snaps erupted throughout the night, reflecting the audience’s appreciation and turning the space into one of shared support and encouragement.

Poet Myleah Solis took the stage with a performance that was both intimate and powerful, drawing the audience in with her vulnerability and honesty. Her work drew from personal experience, creating moments of quiet reflection throughout the room.

Spoken word performer Italy Ja’rae Lee followed with a commanding presence, delivering a piece that resonated deeply with the audience. Through rhythm and raw emotion, her performance explored themes of identity, resilience, and shared experience. Through performance, she shared, “This poem isn’t just about my grandmother; it’s her resilience, a sunflower growing through broken concrete.”

Reflecting on her performance, Lee explained, “At this event, I performed a set dedicated to my grandma, whom I lost three years ago. Honoring her continues to inspire my work and allowed me to share both her story and the woman she is still shaping me into.”

The themes of expression didn’t just stay on stage. They carried into the audience. Felicity Rodriguez, a Sunset Park resident, shared how meaningful the experience was: “For me, being in this space is very impactful. Seeing and hearing women speak their power, their hardships and their triumphs is something we need more of.”

Jodie Williams echoed the same sentiment, emphasizing the importance of the space at UPROSE. “I really love what UPROSE is doing here. Seeing this space used to advocate for marginalized groups is powerful. Being in community, being able to listen, connect, and truly feel is something that needs to be amplified more.”

Matriarchs on the Mic became a reflection on the importance of uplifting women’s voices in shared spaces. The event showed how storytelling and performance can bring people together, creating room for healing, expression, and collective strength.