Curator, community leader and surgeon
Freddy Castiblanco
Founder and curator of Terraza 7 in Queens. More than 7,000 concerts in over 25 years, and a stage for immigrant voices.
About
Surgeon, curator and community leader
Freddy Castiblanco is a Colombian-born surgeon, community leader and cultural advocate and curator based in New York. For over two decades, Terraza 7 has been a space for artistic expression, political education and immigrant empowerment.
Beyond his artistic and political work, he has generated local employment and opportunities for representation, particularly for working-class immigrant communities.
- EducationMedical Doctor, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 1996
- LanguagesSpanish and English
- Based inQueens, New York
Founder and curator, 2001 to present
Terraza 7
A café, concert hall and community gathering place in the heart of Queens, home to one of the most diverse communities in the United States. It promotes dialogue across cultures through music and open conversation about the root causes of migration. Dozens of social and political leaders have joined conversations on its stage.
The curation
Interconnected cultural routes
- 1
North Africa and Andalusia
The convergence of Persian and Arab sounds: Gnawa and flamenco.
- 2
Across the Atlantic with the African diaspora
Cuban rumba and son jarocho in the Caribbean, then New Orleans jazz.
- 3
South through Colombia, Peru and Brazil
Colombian cumbia, bullerengue and currulao, Peruvian festejo and Brazilian samba.
- 4
The Río de la Plata
Candombe, murga and tango.
Political leadership
A public voice for small business owners and immigrants
At the New York City Council, the U.S. Congress and the White House. He worked with Make the Road New York and the Main Street Alliance, and contributed to the passage of the Affordable Care Act and New York State’s Paid Sick Leave Act.
- 2009
Testimony at the U.S. Congress
As spokesperson for the Main Street Alliance, he defended the right to health care for the 50 million people without coverage.
- 2010
Testimony at the White House
Before the Department of Homeland Security on immigration and policing, and the Treasury Department on taxes and credit for small businesses.
- 2013
Roosevelt Avenue Community Alliance
Co-founder. Led the opposition to the Business Improvement District model and became the first community to overturn one since the 1980s.
- 2016
Stopping the fast-track approval of the TPP
Part of the coalition that prevented its approval. Organized talks on its impact, one attended by Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz.
- 2018
Candidate to the House of Representatives for Colombians abroad
Designed the Comprehensive Charter of Immigrant and Emigrant Rights.
- 2019
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez campaign
Organized a community support event with musicians, activists, trade unionists and Colombian political leaders. Co-curated the music for her first victory celebration in Queens.
Medicine
Where it started
Freddy trained as a doctor and practised in rural Colombia and in emergency care before moving to New York.
- 1999–2000
Emergency room physician
Hospital de Chía, Cundinamarca
- 1998–1999
Rural service physician
Catatumbo, Norte de Santander
- 1996–1997
Rural service physician
Puerto Inírida, Guainía
- 1996
Internship year
Molecular Virology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Gallery
Moments with leaders and communities
Photos from hearings, rallies, party congresses and the stage at Terraza 7. Select a photo to enlarge it.
With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at Terraza 7 
Testifying for the Main Street Alliance 
In a hearing room 
Rally for paid sick days with Small Business United 
Speaking at an event of Make the Road New York 
With the coalition against fast-track approval of the TPP 
Street table in support of the national strike in Colombia, March 17 
At the IV Congress of the Polo Democrático Alternativo 
At a Polo Democrático event in a park 
Polo Democrático street action in New YorkPhoto: POLO_NY 
A concert at Terraza 7 
Terraza 7 on a snowy evening 
At the WNYC studios 
At The Americas Film Festival of New York, 2016Photo: TAFFNY 2016 / CA 
On Calle Colombia Way, 82nd Street
Political education
Conversations on Colombia
Events on political education for Colombians in New York, organized by Freddy Castiblanco since 2011 at Terraza 7 and The CUNY Graduate Center: talks, screenings and dialogues on Colombia, trade and human rights. Three of fourteen events.
- 2014
The True Cost of Coal: Labor, Environment and Big Mining in Colombia
Talk by Aviva Chomsky. Terraza 7 and The CUNY Graduate Center.
- 2012
Interdisciplinary dialogue on enforced disappearance in the Colombian conflict
With Iván Cepeda and Alfredo Molano, moderated by Michael Taussig. Terraza 7 and The Graduate Center.
- 2012
A night of solidarity and music
With Francia Márquez and Clemencia Carabalí. Terraza 7.
Honors and distinctions
Recognized for his service to the community
Freddy Castiblanco has been honored by the Mayor of New York City, a New York State Senator, a City Council member and City Lore for his community leadership and his work at Terraza 7. In 2026 he was selected for a NALAC Fund for the Arts grant.
- 2026
NALAC Fund for the Arts grantee
Selected as a 2026 NALAC Fund for the Arts grantee through the Individuals and Ensembles: Meet the Moment program of the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures.
- 2025
New York State Senate Proclamation
Granted by Senator Jessica Ramos during the annual Calle Colombia Festival. The proclamation honors his community leadership, political activism and his role as founder and curator of Terraza 7, a cultural beacon and artistic hub that for over two decades has fostered immigrant empowerment, intercultural dialogue and social impact in Queens.
- 2024
Certificate of Recognition, City of New York
Granted by Mayor Eric Adams on the 214th anniversary of Colombia’s Independence. The certificate acknowledges his contribution to enriching the performing arts sector in Queens through Terraza 7, a live music venue and community hub that has become a welcoming space for local immigrant artists to collaborate and share their talents with an enthusiastic audience.
- 2016
City Lore People’s Hall of Fame
Community Anchor Award, for his contribution to the community as owner of the Terraza 7 Latin jazz club in Queens.
- 2012
City of New York Proclamation
Granted by Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras for his outstanding contribution to the city of New York.
Timeline
Twenty-five years in New York
- 1971
Born in Bogotá, Colombia
- 1996
Graduates as a Medical Doctor from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia
- 2000
Emigrates to the United States
- 2001
Opens Terraza 7 in Queens
- 2009
Testifies before the U.S. Congress
- 2010
Testifies at the White House
- 2013
Helps overturn a Business Improvement District on Roosevelt Avenue
- 2016
Helps stop the fast-track approval of the TPP
- 2018
Runs for the House of Representatives for Colombians abroad
- 2019
Co-curates the music for AOC’s first victory celebration in Queens
- 2026
Named a NALAC Fund for the Arts grantee
Press
What others have written
His transnational activism has been the subject of articles in The New York Times, the New York Daily News, The Washington Post and the Huffington Post, among many others.
-
For nearly 15 years, Mr. Castiblanco has built this club into a centerpiece of his community in northwestern Queens.
The New York Times, Jan 27, 2017 Read the article -
Freddy Castiblanco: for community contributions as owner of La Terraza 7 Latin jazz club in Queens.
WNYC, People’s Hall of Fame: Community Anchors -
Terraza 7 es un oasis cultural y social que busca un nuevo espacio para unificar a los latinos de Nueva York.
Queenslatino.com, Original quote in Spanish -
…The bar is a classic New York archetype, a remix that aims to bring together diverse musical traditions and blend them into something new.
The New York Times, Apr 14, 2019 Read the article
Let’s talk
For press, talks, programming at Terraza 7 or community work.