CYPRECO of America™ Mission Statement - Activities In Brief
Since 1977 Serving With Distinction The Rich Heritage, Culture & Folklore of Cyprus & Greece in the USA
CYPRECO of America, Inc. is a recognized and multi-awarded non-profit and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt Greek Cypriot cultural organization based in the Borough of Queens, New York City. The name CYPRECO stands for Cypriot Emigrants Cultural Organization.
The organization started its operations in 1977 as the first Greek Cypriot folk dancing group in New York City. In 1979, it was established as The Greek Cultural & Folk Dancing Group “The Vraka,” expanding its mission as envisioned by its founder, Elena Maroulleti. This expansion covered additional folk arts activities to further promote and preserve the rich cultures of Cyprus and Greece, targeting and benefiting Greek Cypriot Americans and Greek Americans across generations, while also introducing these traditions to the general public.
In 1982, the organization was fully incorporated with non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status. At that time, it further expanded its cultural mission by introducing new folk arts departments focusing on bilingual presentations of ancient Greek theater, storytelling, and film productions, among others. To better represent its broader multicultural activities, the organization was officially renamed CYPRECO of America, Inc. in 1990. Further solidifying its brand identity, as of 2025, the names CYPRECO of America™ and CYPRECO™ are official trademarks of the organization.
As part of its commitment to always seeking to expand its mission to better serve its audience, in 1993, CYPRECO launched a close collaboration with the non-profit 501(c)(3) media and arts cultural organization, AKTINA Productions, Inc., which owns and operates the commercial-free media outlets, AKTINA FM® and AKTINA TV™.
Since April 1993, CYPRECO sponsors and independently produces bilingual cultural radio programs presented for free on AKTINA FM, and since June 2020 cultural documentaries on AKTINA TV. Through the presentation of these public service media projects on these two highly rated commercial-free media platforms, each reaching over one million-combined two million-recipients, CYPRECO has successfully expanded both its cultural presence and target audience consisting of Greek Cypriot and Greek immigrants of all generations and multi-ethnic New Yorkers, providing unique content that is not available in mainstream media.
CYPRECO has been an active member since 1982 of the Federation of Cypriot American Organizations, Inc. (FCAO), formerly known as the Cyprus Federation of America.
Throughout its history and to this day, CYPRECO, a 100% volunteer-led institution, operates with the support of dedicated, non-salaried professional volunteers, including seasoned Board Members who contribute their professional services pro bono.
PUTTING FORTH OUR MISSION AND VALUES
Since its inception, CYPRECO has implemented its mission and serves Greek Cypriot and Greek immigrant communities of all generations and multi-ethnic New Yorkers through the annual production of unique and selective programs that highlight and examine various aspects of the rich history, folklore, and traditional music and dances of Cyprus and Greece.
Through its participation over the years in numerous multi-ethnic cultural events and festivals throughout the City and State of New York, including the delivery of its free cultural media projects on AKTINA FM and AKTINA TV, CYPRECO continues to promote the heritage of Cyprus and Greece to diverse audiences. All its programs are offered in a bilingual format (English/Greek) or entirely in English, while the vast majority of events are offered with free admission as a public service.
Radio Broadcasting: CYPRECO produces and delivers unique, live, commercial-free radio programs every weekend on AKTINA FM that celebrate, promote, and preserve the rich heritage and cultures of Cyprus and Greece, including the celebrated series OUR ROOTS every Saturday and CYPRUS HORIZONS every Sunday. All programming is offered for free in an innovative bilingual format (English/Greek) that supports inclusion and accessibility for all audiences.
As part of its longstanding collaboration with AKTINA Productions™, CYPRECO streams AKTINA FM on its owned and operated websites, namely cyprecoofamerica.com, cypreco.org and cypreco.net (the latter currently undergoing a redesign). AKTINA FM, also known as AKTINA FM Greek American Internet Radio, AKTINA RADIO, and RADIO AKTINA, is a 24/7 online radio station streaming for free from its own dedicated websites, which carry the AKTINA name brand and registered trademarks. Streaming is offered for free, and all websites feature screen reader technology, ensuring accessibility for those in need of this service.
Television Broadcasting: When the COVID-19 global pandemic struck in 2020, CYPRECO acted quickly to find an alternative and suitable platform for the presentation of essential pre-scheduled free live cultural programs that had to be canceled, such as the screenings of its documentaries. CYPRECO pivoted by expanding its collaboration with AKTINA Productions.
The documentaries were televised on AKTINA TV broadcasting on WNYE-Channel 25 as part of the celebrated series “Cyprus: Its History and Culture Through The Ages.” Since then, CYPRECO has established a vibrant media presence that has extended to include new documentaries for the equally celebrated series “Greek Horizons.” All documentaries include English subtitles when Greek is spoken, as well as closed captions.
CYPRECO’s significant presence on AKTINA FM and AKTINA TV contributes to the organization’s ongoing commitment to always expand its mission through the delivery of new, highly desired, and worthy cultural programming—offered for free and barrier-free—that is not available on mainstream media.
ACHIEVEMENTS - NOTABLE CULTURAL SERIES AND PROGRAMS
CYPRECO’s achievements over the years are crowned by multi-award-winning, well-established, and much-celebrated cultural programs, including acclaimed radio and television broadcasts that reach and serve a vast audience of Greek Cypriot and Greek Americans of all generations, as well as the diverse residents who make up New York City’s multicultural fabric.
Of high acclaim are CYPRECO’s programs from the folk arts series, “The Traditional Folklore of Greece and Cyprus and Its Survival Through Time” (Est. 1979). This series explores the customs, folklore, traditions, and the representative folk music of Cyprus and Greece. Other notable productions that further distinguish CYPRECO’s mission include oral presentations, lectures, poetry recitals, musical concerts, and televised original documentaries focusing on the historical Cypriot and Greek cultural inheritance. All of these activities feature distinguished artists whose notable contributions in the aforementioned disciplines further the cultural preservation of Cyprus and Greece.
CYPRECO prides itself for being the first Greek Cypriot cultural organization to introduce and establish in 1992 theatrical productions of ancient Greek plays translated in English by the late Lucy Maroulleti who was at the time the organization’s Theatre Director and Costume Designer. Many of these plays were also presented at various theater venues off Broadway. CYPRECO’s 2004 production of the Greek tragedy “Bacchae” was nominated in 2005 for four different awards by the organization “Spotlight on Theater,” while Lucy Maroulleti was awarded first prize for “outstanding costume design.”
Highlighting its artistic reach, CYPRECO's performances include musical productions that revive different representative aspects of the musical inheritance of Greece. Of exceptional importance was the musical production of the concert with the theme, CYPRUS-AEGEAN-SMYRNA, given on March 6, 2009, in conjunction with the organization's festivities marking its 30th anniversary. This sold-out performance at the Queens Theatre in the Park featured the renowned Traditional Folk Music Group from Greece, Estoudiantina Neas Ionias, in a program showcasing music and songs from Cyprus, the Aegean Islands, and a tribute to Rembetika (Greek blues) originating from Smyrna, Asia Minor.
The organization also presents a series of other concerts with notable singers and musicians from Greece in collaboration with AKTINA Productions, Inc., within the acclaimed series, GREEK MUSIC JOURNEY.
CYPRECO’s achievements as a radio and television broadcaster stand out for the delivery of exceptional cultural content that inspires and connects its wide and diverse audience with the rich cultural heritage of Cyprus and Greece.
AWARDS
CYPRECO of America, Inc. is the recipient of several citations, proclamations, and Congressional records issued and presented by U.S. officials from local, state, and federal governments. These awards recognize the organization's “outstanding” contributions through the production of “unique” cultural programs that promote and preserve various aspects of the folklore and cultures of Cyprus and Greece among Greek Cypriot and Greek Americans and members of the general public.
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