Profile
Freddy Castiblanco
Surgeon, community leader and cultural curator, based in Queens, New York.
Freddy Castiblanco is a Colombian-born surgeon, community leader and cultural advocate and curator based in New York. He is the founder and curator of Terraza 7, a live music venue and community hub in Queens that, for over two decades, has been a vital space for artistic expression, political education and immigrant empowerment.
He has worked with grassroots progressive organizations such as Make the Road New York and the Main Street Alliance. As a public spokesperson, he has brought the voices of small business owners and immigrants to public hearings at the New York City Council, the U.S. Congress and the White House. He contributed to the passage of landmark legislation, including the Affordable Care Act and New York State’s Paid Sick Leave Act.
As a transnational activist, he has advocated for fairer trade agreements to replace the failed model of free trade agreements. He worked with Trade Justice New York Metro to stop the fast-track approval of the TPP during the Obama administration. He has also opposed the Business Improvement District (BID) model, which accelerates the displacement of local businesses in immigrant communities.
In the cultural realm, he has promoted intercultural dialogue by elevating immigrant voices through jazz and folk music, creating a space where traditional and contemporary expressions meet. His work has been featured in The New York Times, and Terraza 7 has become a beacon for artists who represent the city’s cultural diversity.
Beyond his artistic and political work, he has generated local employment and opportunities for representation, particularly for working-class immigrant communities. He continues to champion a vision of New York where immigrants are seen, heard and celebrated.
- EducationMedical Doctor, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 1996
- LanguagesSpanish and English
- Based inQueens, New York