Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 7 CITY VIEWS March 13, 2026 Diya Vij Appointed NYC Commissioner Of The Department Of Cultural Affairs N ewYork City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani recently ap- pointed Diya Vij as Commission- er of the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), the nation’s larg- est municipal funder of culture. A Feb. 25, 2026 press release from the Mayor’s office said, “Commissioner, Vij will deepen the City’s commitment to supporting art and culture and ensure NewYork City is not only a place where artists can afford to live, but where art is celebrated and sustained.” Vij returns to the DCLA, where she previously worked on special projects under former Mayor Bill de Blasio. Dur- ing her earlier tenure, she launched and co-directed the Public Artists in Resi- dence (PAIR) program, which embeds artists within City agencies and inte- grates art into civic life. Artists including Tania Bruguera, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Onyedika Chuke and Ebony Noelle Golden participated in the program. More recently, Vij served as a curator at Creative Time, where she curated large-scale public art projects in part- nership with State and City agencies, including the Metropolitan Transporta- tion Authority (MTA), the Parks Depart- ment and the Department of Transpor- tation. Her most recent curation, Chloë Bass’s “If you hear something, free something,” was created in partnership with the MTA and broadcast artwork over the subway public address system, transforming daily commutes into shared cultural experiences. Vij also held leadership roles across NewYork’s arts institutions, including as Vice President of Curatorial and Arts Programs at Powerhouse Arts, and in roles at the Queens Museum and the High Line. Across private nonprofits and city government, she has orga- nized dozens of performances and public programs and developed a deep understanding of the city’s cultural ecosystem. Mayor Mamtani welcomed her as a ‘visionary and deeply thoughtful leader who understands that art is not orna- mental to this city — it is essential.” “This administration has renewed my belief that city government can be a site of real change — and that art and culture are essential to that project,” said Com- missioner Vij. “Too many artists have been forced out of the city they love — crushed by the cost-of-living crisis. As Commis- sioner, I will extend the Mayor’s afford- ability agenda to arts and culture. It is an honor to help build a city where artists, cultural workers, and NewYorkers across all five boroughs can do more than get by — they can live full, vibrant and curious lives.” Commissioner Vij will report to Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. Vij is the Vice President of Curatorial and Arts Programs at Powerhouse Arts in Brooklyn. In that role, she is credited with expanding access to affordable art-making facilities, strengthening educational initia- tives and launching a contemporary arts program centered on artistic process and cultural labor, the press release said. Over the past decade, she has held programming, curatorial and commu- nications roles at major NewYork City Institutions. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:HUNTER.CUNY.EDU Diya Vij. Hasan Minhaj Encourages NYC Teens To Find Role Models Close To Home At Lunar New Year Workshop C omedian and former “Patriot Act” host Hasan Minhaj joined young members of the The Boys’ Club of NewYork on Feb. 26 for a Lunar NewYear workshop celebrating Afro-Asian and Latine masculinities at the Abbé Clubhouse in downtown Flushing. The event, held in honor of the Year of the Fire Horse, was organized by Dark Lab in partnership with the Boys’ Club and the Asian American Art Alli- ance. About 25 to 30 young men, ages 11 to 15, gathered for an afternoon of film, food, calligraphy and conversation centered on culture, identity and the role models who shape them. Minhaj, a two-time Peabody Award- winning comedian, spoke to partici- pants about rethinking who qualifies as a role model. “A lot of times the role models don’t have to be a professional athlete or a celebrity,” Minhaj said. “They’re the people that are sitting with you right now— your amazing coaches and men- tors right here — that can see the talent within you.” The workshop invited teens to write down the name of a male figure they look up to — from pop culture icons to family members or friends — and reflect on what they inherit from those figures. The re- sponses were later shared aloud, sparking discussion about tradition, masculinity and community. Caleb, a NewYork City teen and Boys’ Club member, said the conversation reso- nated deeply. “When Hasan mentioned he saw his friends as role models, it reminded me of how I look up to mine as well, whether in school or at The Boys’ Club,” Caleb said. “I’m fortunate to be constantly sur- rounded by friends whose ambition and integrity inspire me daily. It’s important that the people you surround yourself with uplift you, not put you down.” The afternoon also featured a screening of the short film “Ask a Chinese Question, Get a Black Answer,” followed by a round- table discussion about Black, Indigenous, Asian and Latine heritage and the tradi- tions passed down through generations. Participants then took part in a mul- tilingual calligraphy workshop, painting words in Chinese, Quechua, Kichwa, Spanish and English at tables organized by zodiac signs. Organizers said the activity was designed to demonstrate how language carries values and identity across cultures. Throughout the session, a curated playlist played in the background, and attendees shared a meal highlighting Afro- Asian-Caribbean culinary connections. The overall goal, organizers said, was to create a welcoming space for young men to reflect on masculinity as something shaped by history, culture and care — and to celebrate Lunar NewYear in a way that felt communal and creative. By the end of the evening, as raffle winners were announced and participants packed up their painted calligraphy, the central message lingered: inspiration often begins with the people sitting right beside you. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:ATTENTIONCOMMS Hasan Minhaj sits in a circle with teens from the The Boys’ Club of New York during a Lunar New Year workshop at the Abbé Clubhouse in Flushing, leading a discussion on role models, masculinity and cultural identity.