Mapping Queens: Cultural Leaders in Conversation
Mar 25, 2026 - 6:30 PM
Date: Wednesday, March 25th
Time: 6:30 PM Doors Open, 7:00 PM Panel
Location: Flushing Town Hall 137-35 Northern Blvd. Flushing, NY 11354
Join us for an inside look at The 2025 Queens Cultural Mapping Report, a deep dive into the arts and culture ecosystem of the World’s Borough. Attendees will learn how this year-long initiative, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts, serves as a first step toward advancing arts and culture in Queens and hear what’s next for the Cultural Mapping Initiative.
Our panel discussion will be moderated by Natalie Bedon, Project Manager, Queens Cultural Mapping Initiative and will include four cultural leaders from across Queens who are reimagining how arts and culture are created and sustained: Aydon Gabourel (Laru Beya Collective), Rejin Leys (Southeast Queens Artists Alliance), Paula Ortiz (Centro Cultural Barco de Papel), and Amy Simon (Allure Art Academy).
Panelists will share what inspires their work, the realities they navigate, and their visions for the future of the borough’s creative landscape. Audience members will have a chance to ask questions and end the evening with a mixer.
Drinks and light refreshments will be provided.
This program is generously supported by the New York State Council on the Arts.
Pictured, left to right: Aydon Gabourel (Laru Beya Collective), Rejin Leys (Southeast Queens Artist Alliance), Paula Ortiz (Barco de Papel Cultural Center), Amy Simon (Allure Art Academy)
About the Panelists
Aydon Gabourel is the Founder and Executive Director of Laru Beya Collective, a nonprofit empowering historically excluded youth in the Far Rockaways through surfing. Born in Belize and raised in the Rockaways, his deep connection to the ocean and community inspired him to launch the organization in 2018 after years of mentoring youth while working in financial services.
Laru Beya Collective offers free surf instruction, water safety education, environmental stewardship, and a mentorship pipeline that helps participants grow into leaders and instructors. In 2022, Gabourel stepped back from his corporate career to focus full-time on Laru Beya, continuing his commitment to equity in outdoor spaces and community-driven change.
Rejin Leys is a New York–based mixed media artist, papermaker, and a member of the Southeast Queens Artist Alliance (SEQAA). Her work has been exhibited internationally and is held in public collections including the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Yale University, Rutgers University Caribbean Studies Department, and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. A New York Foundation for the Arts fellow, she holds a BFA from Parsons School of Design and an MFA from Brooklyn College.
The Southeast Queens Artist Alliance (SEQAA) is a collective of visual artists, writers, and curators founded in 2017 to build a supportive network for artists and arts workers in Southeast Queens. Through public programming, SEQAA activates sidewalks, plazas, shopping districts, and parks as vibrant creative hubs for the community.
Paula Ortiz is a cultural organizer, teacher, and community leader dedicated to advancing Spanish-language literature and Latin American cultural identity in Queens. In 2015, she founded the Barco de Papel Cultural Center, expanding access to culturally relevant programming including the beloved La Hora del Cuento en Queens (Storytime in Queens) later becoming the sole owner of Barco de Papel.
Barco de Papel is the only independent Spanish-language bookstore in New York City and has served as a cultural anchor in central Queens for over 20 years. Rooted in Jackson Heights and serving neighboring communities including Elmhurst and Corona, Barco de Papel preserves and celebrates Spanish-language literature and Latin American heritage through books, free bilingual programming, and mobile literary and visual arts events. Through its work, Barco de Papel strengthens cultural connection, supports immigrant voices, and creates accessible spaces for storytelling, education, and community gathering across Queens.
Amy Simon is a Queens-based visual artist, art educator, and cultural leader. She is the founder of Allure Art Academy, a creative space rooted in healing, community, and self-expression. Through her work, Simon creates accessible art experiences that center joy, cultural identity, and social-emotional growth for youth, families, and creatives across Queens.
Allure Art Academy is a Black woman–owned creative arts space in Jamaica, Queens, dedicated to fostering creativity, confidence, and community through art. The academy offers workshops, classes, and cultural programming for children, families, and adults, using art as a tool for healing, storytelling, and connection.
Parking Information: Flushing Town Hall has a small parking lot at the rear of the building, which fills up quickly during events. Additional paid parking is available nearby at:
PEC Parking – 35-15 Farrington St, Flushing, NY 11354
The Farrington Parking – 33-66 Farrington St, Flushing, NY 11354
Train: 7 train to Main St–Flushing (5–7 min walk)
Bus: Q12, Q13, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q19, Q20, Q25–28, Q34, Q44 SBS, Q65
SPONSORS
Date: Wednesday, March 25th
Time: 6:30 PM Doors Open, 7:00 PM Panel
Location: Flushing Town Hall 137-35 Northern Blvd. Flushing, NY 11354
Join us for an inside look at The 2025 Queens Cultural Mapping Report, a deep dive into the arts and culture ecosystem of the World’s Borough. Attendees will learn how this year-long initiative, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts, serves as a first step toward advancing arts and culture in Queens and hear what’s next for the Cultural Mapping Initiative.
Our panel discussion will be moderated by Natalie Bedon, Project Manager, Queens Cultural Mapping Initiative and will include four cultural leaders from across Queens who are reimagining how arts and culture are created and sustained: Aydon Gabourel (Laru Beya Collective), Rejin Leys (Southeast Queens Artists Alliance), Paula Ortiz (Centro Cultural Barco de Papel), and Amy Simon (Allure Art Academy).
Panelists will share what inspires their work, the realities they navigate, and their visions for the future of the borough’s creative landscape. Audience members will have a chance to ask questions and end the evening with a mixer.
Drinks and light refreshments will be provided.
This program is generously supported by the New York State Council on the Arts.
Pictured, left to right: Aydon Gabourel (Laru Beya Collective), Rejin Leys (Southeast Queens Artist Alliance), Paula Ortiz (Barco de Papel Cultural Center), Amy Simon (Allure Art Academy)
About the Panelists
Aydon Gabourel is the Founder and Executive Director of Laru Beya Collective, a nonprofit empowering historically excluded youth in the Far Rockaways through surfing. Born in Belize and raised in the Rockaways, his deep connection to the ocean and community inspired him to launch the organization in 2018 after years of mentoring youth while working in financial services.
Laru Beya Collective offers free surf instruction, water safety education, environmental stewardship, and a mentorship pipeline that helps participants grow into leaders and instructors. In 2022, Gabourel stepped back from his corporate career to focus full-time on Laru Beya, continuing his commitment to equity in outdoor spaces and community-driven change.
Rejin Leys is a New York–based mixed media artist, papermaker, and a member of the Southeast Queens Artist Alliance (SEQAA). Her work has been exhibited internationally and is held in public collections including the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Yale University, Rutgers University Caribbean Studies Department, and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. A New York Foundation for the Arts fellow, she holds a BFA from Parsons School of Design and an MFA from Brooklyn College.
The Southeast Queens Artist Alliance (SEQAA) is a collective of visual artists, writers, and curators founded in 2017 to build a supportive network for artists and arts workers in Southeast Queens. Through public programming, SEQAA activates sidewalks, plazas, shopping districts, and parks as vibrant creative hubs for the community.
Paula Ortiz is a cultural organizer, teacher, and community leader dedicated to advancing Spanish-language literature and Latin American cultural identity in Queens. In 2015, she founded the Barco de Papel Cultural Center, expanding access to culturally relevant programming including the beloved La Hora del Cuento en Queens (Storytime in Queens) later becoming the sole owner of Barco de Papel.
Barco de Papel is the only independent Spanish-language bookstore in New York City and has served as a cultural anchor in central Queens for over 20 years. Rooted in Jackson Heights and serving neighboring communities including Elmhurst and Corona, Barco de Papel preserves and celebrates Spanish-language literature and Latin American heritage through books, free bilingual programming, and mobile literary and visual arts events. Through its work, Barco de Papel strengthens cultural connection, supports immigrant voices, and creates accessible spaces for storytelling, education, and community gathering across Queens.
Amy Simon is a Queens-based visual artist, art educator, and cultural leader. She is the founder of Allure Art Academy, a creative space rooted in healing, community, and self-expression. Through her work, Simon creates accessible art experiences that center joy, cultural identity, and social-emotional growth for youth, families, and creatives across Queens.
Allure Art Academy is a Black woman–owned creative arts space in Jamaica, Queens, dedicated to fostering creativity, confidence, and community through art. The academy offers workshops, classes, and cultural programming for children, families, and adults, using art as a tool for healing, storytelling, and connection.
Parking Information: Flushing Town Hall has a small parking lot at the rear of the building, which fills up quickly during events. Additional paid parking is available nearby at:
PEC Parking – 35-15 Farrington St, Flushing, NY 11354
The Farrington Parking – 33-66 Farrington St, Flushing, NY 11354
Train: 7 train to Main St–Flushing (5–7 min walk)
Bus: Q12, Q13, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q19, Q20, Q25–28, Q34, Q44 SBS, Q65
SPONSORS
