Hosted by Anjelica Florendo

Creating Space for the Filipinx Diaspora is a roundtable event in celebration of Filipino American History Month, bringing together architects, historians, writers, and community organizers to discuss how the Filipinx diaspora is reclaiming and shaping cultural and physical spaces in New York and beyond. This roundtable invites cross-disciplinary perspectives on heritage, community, and design, exploring how we can create sustainable and inclusive environments for future generations.

Featuring speakers such as preservationist Roz Li (Bakas Pilipinas), historian and writer Adrian De Leon (Bundok), urban planner Francis Yu (Catskills Agrarian Alliance), and architect-artist Kimberly Tate (Dancitecture) the conversation will blend personal stories with professional insights, offering a diverse exchange of ideas. Moderated by Camille Esquivel, this event aims to spark fresh approaches to community-building and cultural preservation.

PANELISTS:

• Adrian De Leon (he, him) – writer, historian
  Adrian De Leon is an award-winning writer and historian, specializing in Filipino American history. His works, including Bundok: A Hinterland History of Filipino America, explore the intersections of colonialism, race, and migration in the Pacific world. Adrian is currently an Assistant Professor of US History at New York University.

• Francis Yu (they/m) - urban planner, farmer
  Francis Yu is a Co-Executive Director of the Catskills Agrarian Alliance (CAA), where they lead strategic initiatives and land access opportunities aimed at creating sustainable food systems from a lens of food sovereignty. They have background in urban planning and policy and serve as an Adjunct Professor at NYU Wagner School of Public Service teaching about the history of segregation, racism, and public policy in our cities.

• Kimberly Tate - artist, dancer, architect
  Kimberly Tate is a multidisciplinary architect, artist, and founder of Dancitecture. Her work bridges architecture, performance, and community engagement, exploring how movement and design intersect to create meaningful public spaces. Based in Brooklyn, she is committed to honoring immigrant histories, particularly through projects like The Tandang Sora Project, which highlights the contributions of Filipino caregivers.

• Roz Li (she, her) — architect, preservationist
  Roz Li is the founder of Bakas Pilipinas, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving historic Filipino architecture. With over 30 years of experience in architecture and historic preservation, Roz has led numerous preservation projects in both the U.S. and the Philippines, including the restoration of San Sebastian Basilica​.

• Carlos Arnaiz (he, him) - architect
  Carlos Arnaiz is a New York-based architect at CAZA (Carlos Arnaiz Architects), an interdisciplinary architecture firm with projects spanning the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East. His work integrates architecture, urban planning, and design to create innovative and sustainable urban environments across diverse geographies, from Manila to Bogotá to New York.

• (MODERATOR) Camille Esquivel (she, siya)
  Camille Esquivel is an architectural strategist, designer and urban planner based in Queens, NY. She specializes in designing inclusive spaces for museums and universities through her work at JSA/MIXdesign, focusing on communities traditionally overlooked by architecture—across age, gender, race, and ability. In her personal practice, Camille explores themes of ancestral memory and is currently researching the role of Filipinos in world fairs.