Episode Details

Send us Fan Mail

When City Hall redraws the map, who gets remembered—and who gets erased?

In this powerful episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast, host José Francisco Ávila dives into the major controversy surrounding Mayor Mamdani’s official NYC Immigrant Enclaves Map (dubbed “Mapgate”). When historic immigrant communities are omitted from official city narratives, it proves a fundamental truth: maps aren't just lines on a page—they are political power, resource allocation, and legacy.

Join us as we explore how the Garifuna community in the South Bronx is defining its own geographic destiny and turning cultural pride into recognized political leverage.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The Lessons of "Mapgate": Why the omission of historic enclaves across New York City serves as a wake-up call for marginalized communities to map their own footprint.
• The Gateway to Garifuna Town: How the Happy Land Memorial (honoring the 87 lives lost on March 25, 1990) and the Historic Districts Council's Six to Celebrate selection are preserving West Farms as the global epicenter of the Garifuna diaspora.
• The Garifuna Diaspora Brochure A look inside the newly launched walking tour brochure featuring critical heritage sites, including the former Santos Batiz Social Club, Trujillano Park, Jamalali Uagucha, Inc., and Casa Yurumein’s former headquarter.
• The 2031 Redistricting Strategy: Moving from cultural identity to demographic power! How defining our "Community of Interest" in the Bronx fights back against gerrymandering and positions the community for direct political representation ahead of the 1932–2032 Garifuna American Centennial.
• A New Beacon at 931 E. 174th St: Celebrating the grand opening of Casa Yurumein's new headquarters right in the heart of Garifuna Town and its vital community programs.

"If you do not map yourself, you will be left off the map." — José Francisco Ávila

Episode Links & Resources:

• Book the Happy Land Memorial Walking Tour: Explore Bronx Garifuna History with licensed guide José Francisco Ávila.
• Visit Casa Yurumein: 931 E. 174th Street, Bronx, NY 10460.
• Learn More: Visit Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc. to support our advocacy, historical preservation, and redistricting task force efforts.
• The Garifuna Complete Count Committee and Census 2030
• Subscribe to our newsletter 
• Register To Vote Online
• The Garifuna Experience in NYC
• Books by José Francisco Ávila
  ·       Pan-Garifuna Afro-Latino Power of Pride:: My Quest for Racial, Ancestral, Ethnic and Cultural Identit