New York City is a vibrant mix of energy, culture, and constant motion—but for neurodivergent individuals, that same vibrancy can feel overwhelming. Crowds, noise, and unpredictability often turn a routine outing into a major challenge. That’s exactly why KultureCity launched Let’s Map Neu York—an initiative designed to make the city more inclusive, one sensory-friendly location at a time.

More than just a digital map, Let’s Map Neu York represents a shift in how we design and share public spaces. It’s a movement toward creating environments that acknowledge and embrace the diverse ways people experience the world. From Broadway theaters to cozy bookstores, these places are being reimagined to support calm and comfort for those who need it most.

Reimagining NYC for Everyone

At its heart, Let’s Map Neu York isn’t about changing New York—it’s about expanding access to it. As KultureCity Executive Director Uma Srivastava puts it, “Inclusion starts with understanding. It’s about creating spaces where people truly feel like they belong.”

The spelling—Neu York—isn’t just stylistic. It’s symbolic. It nods to neurodivergence and the effort to see NYC through a different lens. The initiative launched with 125 sensory-inclusive certified locations, complete with trained staff, sensory bags, and social stories to help set expectations. But it’s not just about formal certifications—local ambassadors have added personal touchpoints: quiet cafes, hidden parks, and serene spots that won’t show up on tourist guides but make all the difference.

A Personal Mission

For Broadway star and KultureCity board member Christopher Jackson, the mission is personal. After his son C.J. was diagnosed with autism, everyday outings took on new weight. “Every environment suddenly required planning—restaurants, airports, theaters—we didn’t know if it would be manageable or too much,” Jackson shares.

Best known for his roles in Hamilton and In the Heights, Jackson knows the power of public spaces, especially in the arts. “Inclusion isn’t just about entry. It’s about the experience,” he says. “For many neurodivergent people, accessibility is about lighting, crowds, sound—it’s the sensory load, not just physical barriers.”

Changing the Way People Navigate the City

For Sean Culkin, an autistic advocate and early adopter of the map, the impact was immediate. “I’ve always loved New York, but it was exhausting. I’d burn out quickly,” he explains. “But with Let’s Map Neu York, I can plan my day better. I finally have a sense of control—it’s a reminder that there are calm places, even in the chaos.”

What’s Next?

KultureCity isn’t stopping at NYC. The goal is to take Let’s Map nationwide—and the organization is calling on businesses to join the movement. Certification is straightforward: staff training, offering sensory bags, and creating a “social story” to help visitors prepare. Coffee shops, bookstores, boutiques—any space can take part.

Visibility is also a key part of the mission. When Let’s Map Neu York took over the big screens in Times Square, it wasn’t just a campaign—it was a public declaration: “We see you.” And that kind of visibility, says Jackson, creates belonging.

Srivastava echoes that sentiment: “We want people to feel confident exploring the city, knowing they’ll find places to pause, recharge, and continue their day. NYC doesn’t have to be overwhelming.”

FAQs

What is Let’s Map Neu York?
It’s a sensory-accessibility initiative by KultureCity to make NYC more inclusive for neurodivergent individuals through a curated map of sensory-friendly spaces.

How can businesses get involved?
By becoming KultureCity-certified. This includes staff training, sensory bags, and social stories to help neurodivergent guests feel more comfortable.

Is it just for New York City?
No. KultureCity plans to expand the initiative across the country and invites cities and businesses nationwide to join.

Where can I access the map?
The digital map is available via the KultureCity website.

The 2025 Met Gala theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” celebrates the essence of Black dandyism, taking inspiration from style trailblazers like André Leon Talley, Dapper Dan, Langston Hughes, and James Baldwin. In tandem with the Costume Institute’s exhibition, the theme pays homage to the art of fine tailoring and the enduring style of Black men—from the 18th century through the Harlem Renaissance of the Roaring Twenties to present day. While the Met Gala primarily highlights this tradition through a lens of masculinity, it’s essential to recognize the often-overlooked contributions of women, particularly masculine-presenting lesbians, who were also pioneers of this style.

The Emergence of Female Dandies in the 1920s

During the 1920s, as jazz and blues dominated mainstream entertainment and echoed through every speakeasy from 110th Street to 155th in New York, a small group of women began embracing masculine attire—not just on stage, but in their everyday lives. Black queer artists and intellectuals played a pivotal role in shaping this style of dandyism. Like many queer people in early 20th-century America, they often had to hide their sexualities and gender identities. However, for masculine-presenting lesbians, their performance of masculinity—viewed as a kind of spectacle, much like modern-day drag—allowed for a degree of visibility and acceptance. By defying traditional notions of “masculine” and “feminine” dress and behavior, they carved out space for themselves.

Gladys Bentley: A Pioneer of Masculine Lesbianism

At famed speakeasies the Clam House and the Ubangi Club, Gladys Bentley became a prominent figure behind the piano and in front of it. Clad in a white three-piece suit with a trailing coat, a towering top hat, and a cane, the openly lesbian performer captivated audiences with bawdy, jazz-infused sets that included suggestive lyrics about her female lovers. She openly flirted with women in the crowd, embodying a suave, masculine persona that both defied and redefined gender expectations of the era. Bentley’s performances were more than entertainment—they were radical acts of visibility of masculine lesbianism at a time when few had ever witnessed such.

Stormé DeLarverie: The Guardian Angel of the Village

Fifteen blocks north at the Apollo Theater—and three decades later—emerged Stormé DeLarverie: performer, activist, and self-proclaimed “guardian angel of the Village.” A towering figure in both presence and queer legacy, DeLarverie is widely believed to have thrown the first punch at the Stonewall uprising, a claim supported by those closest to her. Stormé DeLarverie, born to an African American mother and a white father, was the only “male impersonator” in the Jewel Box Revue, a queer touring company during the 1950s and ’60s. While the other performers dressed in glittering dresses, DeLarverie stood out—famously photographed in a shawl-collar tuxedo. In another photograph, she appears in a wide-cut zoot suit and fedora, a pipe in hand, fully embodying the Black masculine style standard of that time.

The Legacy of Female Dandies

While Black dandyism is often narrated through the lens of male fashion icons, female and queer dandies have been undeniably present—though historically rendered invisible. Despite this erasure, their influence resonates deeply, not only within the Black queer community but also in contemporary fashion and culture, as seen in figures like Janelle Monáe, Lena Waithe, and others who continue to carry their legacy.

Conclusion

The story of Black dandyism is complex and multifaceted, encompassing not just the styles of Black men but also the pioneering efforts of masculine-presenting lesbians like Gladys Bentley and Stormé DeLarverie. Their contributions to the tradition of Black dandyism are a testament to the power of self-expression and the enduring impact of queer culture on fashion and society.

FAQs

• Q: What is the 2025 Met Gala theme?
  A: The 2025 Met Gala theme is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” celebrating the essence of Black dandyism.
• Q: Who are some notable figures in the history of Black dandyism?
  A: Notable figures include André Leon Talley, Dapper Dan, Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, Gladys Bentley, and Stormé DeLarverie.
• Q: What role did masculine-presenting lesbians play in the development of Black dandyism?
  A: Masculine-presenting lesbians, such as Gladys Bentley and Stormé DeLarverie, were pioneers in embracing masculine attire and performance, contributing to the visibility and acceptance of queer identities.
• Q: How has the legacy of female dandies influenced contemporary fashion and culture?
  A: The influence of female dandies can be seen in contemporary figures like Janelle Monáe and Lena Waithe, who continue to embody and evolve the traditions of Black dandyism and queer style.

Facing a decline in customer goodwill and the measurable effects of a DEI-inspired boycott, Target CEO Brian Cornell broke his silence in an all-employee memo, which may have done more harm than good in quelling anxiety among Target staff, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Key Facts

Acknowledging that Target has suffered a “tough few months” and that he and his leadership team have been noticeably absent in their silence, Cornell committed to share more with employees to reinforce the company’s values going forward.

He reiterated the company’s commitment to “inclusivity, connection, drive” as core values, even as Black faith leaders called for a customer boycott after Target rolled back its DEI initiatives earlier this year.

Since the end of January, immediately after Target announced its revised DEI policies, Target experienced 11 consecutive weeks of decreased foot traffic, with a slight uptick during April Holy Week, though April foot traffic ended off 3.3%, according to Placer.ai.

Also missing from Cornell’s message were any concrete steps that he and the leadership team will take to reverse course.

Key Background

Target created confusion among employees and customers after announcing in January that the company had concluded its diversity, equity and inclusion goals, ended reporting to outside diversity-focused surveys, such as HRC’s Corporate Equality Index and “evolved” its supplier diversity program that had supported minority-owned businesses. This followed a controversy surrounding Target’s Pride Month 2024 activities. Last June, the company rolled back its Pride Month selections and displays after experiencing a backlash the year before from some customers who felt the company’s merchandise choices were inappropriate. Yet the roll back in Pride Month 2024 left other customers feeling Target was abandoning support of the LGBTQ community.

No Longer Considered A Champion Of Diversity

Target previously has been considered a retail champion for diverse communities, but over the past year, it has lost much of that goodwill. Katya Skogen, the director of cultural insights at research firm Collage, reports that consumer trust in Target has dropped by four percentage points in the last six months to 78% with the steepest declines among Black and Hispanic consumers. In addition, there has been a nine-point drop in perceived relevance of the Target brand among Black Americans. “This marks a serious fracture in the emotional connection that has long been one of the brand’s greatest strengths,” Skogen shared. “At a time when trust in brands is already fragile, and consumers cautiously navigate economic uncertainty, Target is under mounting pressure to restore the credibility that once set it apart.”

Criticism Mounting

Retail consultant Carol Spieckerman said Cornell’s memo drew attention to the “communication vacuum without explaining it.” She added that in the email, Cornell acknowledged but didn’t take responsibility for the concerns and controversies surrounding the company. “The tone implies that things are happening around and to Target that are out of its control,” she continued. GlobalData’s Neil Saunders got much the same impression. He shared the memo, which appeared jumbled, lacked substance and was poorly crafted, “highlights the disconnect that has opened up between management and the shop floor.” He added, “No where does it spell out how problems will be remedied.”

Crucial Quote

“Many of Target’s issues are self-inflicted. The business seems to be in a weird state of inertia and denial. What’s strange is that Target isn’t a terrible business, it has many advantages and a lot of talent in its ranks, it just doesn’t seem to be able to marshal them properly. Leadership really needs to start connecting better with staff at all levels. At the moment it’s not so much leading as drifting,” GlobalData’s Saunders shared.

Tangent

Target is facing mounting troubles at checkout with self-checkout being limited in some stores and a previously established limit of ten items for self-checkout being enforced. Despite Target statements that self-checkout is offered in most stores and will remain, TheStreet’s Cody Kline reports that Target customers increasingly feel frustrated by “blocked machines, roped-off lanes, long lines and stressed-out cashiers.” Kline observed that the Target customer experience at checkout is getting worse, not better. “When perception doesn’t match the brand promise, trust erodes — quietly, but quickly,” she warned.

Conclusion

The crisis at Target is multifaceted, involving a decline in customer goodwill, decreased foot traffic, and a loss of trust among diverse communities. The company’s decision to roll back its DEI initiatives and the subsequent boycott have had significant consequences. To restore its credibility and reputation, Target must take concrete steps to address the concerns of its employees, customers, and stakeholders. This includes providing a clear plan to reverse the damage, taking responsibility for the company’s actions, and demonstrating a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

FAQs

Q: What is the current state of Target’s customer goodwill?
A: Target is facing a decline in customer goodwill due to its decision to roll back its DEI initiatives and the subsequent boycott.
Q: What are the consequences of Target’s decision to roll back its DEI initiatives?
A: The consequences include a decline in foot traffic, a loss of trust among diverse communities, and a decrease in consumer trust.
Q: What can Target do to restore its credibility and reputation?
A: Target must take concrete steps to address the concerns of its employees, customers, and stakeholders, including providing a clear plan to reverse the damage, taking responsibility for the company’s actions, and demonstrating a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Q: How has the boycott affected Target’s sales?
A: The boycott has resulted in 11 consecutive weeks of decreased foot traffic, with a slight uptick during April Holy Week, though April foot traffic ended off 3.3%.
Q: What is the current state of Target’s self-checkout system?
A: Target is facing mounting troubles at checkout with self-checkout being limited in some stores and a previously established limit of ten items for self-checkout being enforced.