Kristy L is a cultural organizer, artist, and emerging scholar in Washington DC. Her current projects focus on the history, politics, and world-making practices of DC’s Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ cultural communities, explored via personal archives and intergenerational events.

Her current project, “Cultural Waves,” is a zine series dedicated to chronicling the vibrant history of women and gender-expansive DJs in Washington, DC. Collaging together mini oral history interviews and materials from DJs’ personal archives, the project explores the journeys, influences, and cultural impact of DJs from the 1970s through the 1990s. With a focus on DC’s communities of color and their cultural and creative legacies, ”Cultural Waves” uses illustration and zine traditions to create a visually and historically captivating DIY publication that can educate and inspire. It amplifies the voices and celebrates the contributions of gender minority DJs in DC’s music scenes. Culminating in a public program featuring panel discussions and a zine release party, we come together to cultivate intergenerational dialogue and preserve this vital aspect of DC’s cultural heritage.