Ann Margaret O’Connor is locally grown in Queens. As a lifelong Queens resident, Ann has advocated for and advanced local art, talent, wellness initiatives, environmental conservation and adult and youth education/activations. Having held executive-level positions in ideation, marketing and corporate sponsorship at leading media and “edu-tainment” companies like Scholastic Inc., National Geographic and Meredith Corp, Ann brings a unique blend of strategic development and intuitive native intelligence to attract, entertain and engage all audiences. Recruited as a founding board member of the Hunters Point Parks Conservancy,  Ann utilizes her wide array of contacts and inventory to identify community needs to curate hundreds of vibrant family-friendly (and pet-friendly) events.  They include classes and workshops for painting, yoga, meditation, sound baths, dance parties and dance instruction, film, pop-up markets and nature-based activities, live performance, experimental dance and star gazing.

At the festival level,  Ann has worked on and executed events for the Queens World Film Festival, Greenpoint Film Festival, Asbury Short Film Concert, LIC Arts Open, Queens Art Express, (Queens Council on the Arts), as well as launched the Diego Salazar Art Gallery. Ann is also a lead events programmer at The Jackson Heights Beautification Group for the newly renovated Travers Park in Jackson Heights and was invited to join the Board of the 34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition. Ann is passionate about building community and engaging local businesses, leaders, New Yorkers and visitors with all that Queens has to offer. She is committed to raising the profile of  Queens as “The World’s Borough” by seeking the very best talent and work that represents the many cultures and flavors of her hometown and is grateful for this opportunity to serve the people of New York City. By activating alternative spaces like parks, streets, hotels, parking lots, restaurants, offices, Ann reveals the hidden opportunities to make the arts and wellness activities all-inclusive and accessible to all.  Ann holds a BA in English Literature from Barnard College, Columbia University in the City of New York .