The mission and/or main activities that contribute to being culturally significant:
Claudia is a an artist and true inspiration to others with her selfless attitude and service to her community. She volunteers with several local nonprofits, developing and running events such as the Justin Flippen Annual Manatee Contest, which she created with colleague Ron Falk in honor of the late Wilton Manors Mayor Justin Flippen. Last year’s event involved over 600 elementary-school students and raised over $10,000 for the children of Wilton Manors Elementary and Somerset Academy Village in Wilton Manors. The “Rainbow Manatee” sculpture that she created in Flippen’s honor has been recently installed at Justin Flippen Park.
Claudia is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce and always finds time to support other local LGBTQ+ businesses in South Florida. On June 17th, Claudia Castillo was selected by the Business Journal as one of the Journal’s 2022 Diverse Voices. The Diverse Voices Honors Program is part of the South Florida Business Journal’s ongoing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative honoring two dozen diverse executives for excellence in business and their respective fields. The City of Wilton Manors named Claudia Castillo ART Studio the “Skip Stadnik Community Spirit” Volunteer Organization of the Year for 2022 and proclaimed April 23, 2022, to be “Claudia Castillo ART Studio Day” in Wilton Manors. Claudia was also recognized last December by the Wilton Manors Business Association as the recipient of the 2021 Business Leadership Award. In 2019, Claudia received a City of Wilton Manors proclamation for Women’s History Month recognizing her service to the community. And, Claudia Castillo ART studio was the recipient of the Award for Best Multi-Line Showroom at the 2018 Design Excellence Awards of the American Society of Interior Designers Florida South Chapter.
