On Saturday, June 22, the Uni went to Jackson Heights, Queens, to make a place for books and learning at Diversity Plaza and be part of the Jackson Heights Arts Festival organized by the arts collective Hibridos Collective in collaboration with Sukhi, a group of business owners serving as stewards of the pedestrian plaza. Diversity Plaza has faced challenges since opening in Sep 2011, but recently made history as the first known plaza to host an open-air community board meeting.
At our invitation, Queens Borough Poet Laureate, Paolo Javier, joined us and read some of his poems on the festival stage! (Thanks to Susan Straub for making the connection.) Thanks to Carlos Martinez and Beatriz Gil for inviting us to the plaza. Thanks also to Uni volunteers Emily Jacobson, Kelleen Maluski, and Natalia Lopez, and Uni installer Nelson DeJesus. The Uni can’t get enough of Queens!
Uni Installer Nelson DeJesus aligns the Uni center on the street.
Uni Volunteer Librarian Emily Jacobson helps spread the wings on our pop up book collection.
Leslie sounded a little like Radar from M*A*S*H through the military-style megaphone.
This boy examined the book “Leo Geo and his Miraculous Journey Through the Center of the Earth” by Jon Chad for about 45 minutes. Leo Geo was selected for the Uni by 11-yr old Malcolm Davol.
Uni Volunteer Kelleen Maluski went in for the face paint on her break.
Queens Borough Poet Laureate, Paolo Javier spent some quality time in the Uni. Thanks for reading with us!
Leslie with Uni volunteers Natalia Lopez and Emily Jacobson.
The Uni was the last to leave the plaza. Jackson Heights loves reading and learning. We’ll be back.
Here’s a time lapse video of the Uni leaving the plaza.