Elizabeth Figueroa is Associate Vice President for Community Relations at The New York Botanical Garden. Angel Hernandez is Director of Government Relations at The New York Botanical Garden.

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Through the Community Partner Day initiative, The New York Botanical Garden and local elected officials work together to engage constituents from underserved communities to visit outdoor cultural spaces, especially during the pandemic.

Thanks to this collaboration, thousands of Bronx neighbors throughout our diverse borough have been receiving free access to NYBG’s current exhibition, KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature.

On Sunday, April 18, NYBG hosted a KUSAMA Community Partner Day in collaboration with Congress Member Ritchie Torres, who sponsored the distribution of all-access vouchers to more than 30 organizations, including NYCHA facilities, Bronx public schools, and community-based organizations such as The Point, Casita Maria, Mexican Coalition, Mercy Center, and Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice.

It was wonderful to see families enjoying the astonishing work of contemporary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, whose profound connection to the natural world is on view in spectacular displays across our grounds and gardens.

NYBG was honored to welcome special guests, including Angel Vasquez, Chief of Staff to Congress Member Ritchie Torres; Jason Laidley, Chief of Staff to Senator Jamaal Bailey, and his wife Ebony Meeks-Laidley; Deputy Chief of Staff to New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson; and former NYS Assembly Member Marcos Crespo, who now works with Montefiore Hospital as Senior Vice President for Community Affairs.

We want to thank Congress Member Ritchie Torres and his staff for this collaboration, and for making this Community Partner Day so special for so many of our Bronx neighbors.