Voices of Jackson Heights

Some neighborhoods feed you.
Others entertain you.
Jackson Heights does both, often on the same block.

In this episode, Johanna Ramírez shares what has kept her rooted in Jackson Heights since 2007. From Colombian groceries to Korean dinners, from summer DJ sets to music spilling out of local venues, this is a portrait of a neighborhood where variety is not a novelty, it is the baseline.

Johanna speaks about food, music, and the quiet comfort of knowing that whatever mood you are in, Jackson Heights probably has a place for it.

This episode is in Spanish.
An English translation is included below.
Hello, my name is Johanna Ramírez, and I’ve lived in Jackson Heights since 2007. I’ve always liked Jackson Heights, even before living here. I used to live in Long Island, and I would always come here to buy Colombian products and things you couldn’t find in other places.

What I really like is the diversity of food we have here. One day you want Korean food, another day you want Indian or Bangladeshi food, or Dominican food, and everything is very close by.

Another thing I really love is the music. One of my favorite DJs is DJ Rekha, who plays Desi and Bhangra music, and she performs here in Jackson Heights during the summer. We have all kinds of shows, and places like Terraza 7.

They have music seven days a week, and there are always so many places to discover, like bookstores and libraries. There is always something to do here in Jackson Heights.

What is Voices of Jackson Heights?

Jackson Heights is not one story - it’s hundreds.

Voices of Jackson Heights is a short-form podcast capturing the everyday moments, memories, and experiences that make this neighborhood in New York City feel like home. Told entirely in the voices of people who live in, move through, and keep returning to Jackson Heights, each episode reflects on a small but meaningful personal experience.

You’ll hear stories in many languages, across generations and cultures.
Transcripts and English translations are included in the show notes for non-English episodes.

Hola me llamo Johanna Ramírez y vivo en Jackson Heights desde 2007. Siempre me ha gustado Jackson Heights desde antes de vivir acá vivía a Long Island y siempre venía hasta acá a comprar las cosas colombianas y comprar lo que no conseguían otras partes. Me gusta que tenemos tanta diversidad de comida.

Un día queremos coreano un día queremos, hindú o de Bangladesh o Dominicano y todos lo tenemos aquí muy cerquita. Otra cosa que me gusta mucho es la música. Una de mis DJ favoritas es DJ Rekha. Ella es la de Basement Bangra y hace toques aquí en Jackson Heights. Durante el verano tenemos shows de todas clases. También en terraza 7 tienen música siete días a la semana y siempre hay un montón de lugares que uno encuentra como las librerías, las bibliotecas. Y siempre hay algo que hacer acá en Jackson Heights.