Views so far…speaking with Ebony Young.
The Helen Marshall Cultural Center is a towering atrium inside the Queens Borough Hall, on Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens. It is named after Helen Marshall, the first African-American President of the borough, who served between 2002 – 2013.
Ebony Young, currently Queens Deputy Borough President, says:
“I have learned so much from this space. Queens is the most diverse place to live on the planet. Our current borough president, Donovan Richards, was really intentional about making sure that this space was the people’s space – and that every culture, every person, every voice was represented. There have been all kinds of cultural events that are just rich in knowledge.”
With a high arched ceiling, a stage, and a lot of light, the atrium can hold up to 450 people. It hosts regular community events – from Black History Month, to Lunar New Year, to Veterans’ Day celebrations – and in April was the venue for a gathering of arts and cultural organizations from throughout the borough.
Ebony also shares three other buildings and places in the borough of Queens that mean a lot to her:
Queens Theater (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, District 21):
“I was raised by a theater junkie. You know, my mother is also an actor, and she trained us to do that as well. And so, the Queen’s Theater is something close to me. I love the Dickens play every Winter”.
Lewis Latimer House (in District 20)
“I love that place, especially with me leading technology for the borough, and the direct connection to an African American man who was an inventor right here in Queens.
Check out a conversation with Ran Yan, the Executive Director of Lewis Latimer House, here.
Forest Park (in District 32)
“Forest Park is just a refuge for me. I love hiking. I love getting away…it’s my solace, you know. That is a very peaceful place for me.”
And Ebony shares her thoughts on the future of spaces for culture in Queens:
“I think we can be better at figuring out how to intersect the cultural needs of the borough, with building spaces…We’ve got to find a way to speak to each other better so we can do that, right? And the Borough President’s Office can play a mediator role here. So that as we are building spaces in Queens, and expanding new housing, we are also thinking about artists. I would like to see synergy…Coming together and building differently.”
Share your meaningful buildings and places in Queens (or other boroughs!) here.