aRIANA MEDINA.

Jackson Heights sits at the intersection of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, nationality and several MTA routes. It is known as one of the most diverse neighborhoods on Earth, in what is colloquially known as the world’s borough, Queens.  It is a neighborhood where immigrants and members of the LGBTQ+ community proudly live, work and play. It is a place where over 167 languages are spoken and is home to New York’s second largest pride parade.  Jackson Heights ranks 2nd to last out of all of New York City’s neighborhoods in access to green space. This makes the street a crucial and sacred area to gather. Respect for this space is common throughout all of the communities that make up the neighborhood.  The street offers a diverse intersection of food, fashion, and celebration.

This project aimed to understand the complexities and successes of Jackson Heights as a diverse, welcoming, and non-heteronormative community through interviews with street vendors, business owners, residents and local politicians. We met with individuals of all backgrounds, ages, identities and conducted the interviews across multiple languages. After meeting with community members, we translated what we learned into a series of maps identifying key characteristics of Jackson Heights.