The Burque Beat
Image: The Burque Beat publications: Issues 2 & 3, Quirky Camp Extra, The Dangers of Fentanyl Powder, Stayin’ Alive in the Heat, sticker designed by Heather.
The Burque Beat is Albuquerque’s Street Newspaper. Launched in April 2025, the publication is a community-generated media platform that centralizes the voices of people who are unhoused or housing insecure through creative expression, slow news, resources, and opportunities for economic and personal liberation. With three issues under their belt, four street zines, and more publications on the way, The Burque Beat is connecting community to vital resources, but also providing a much-needed creative outlet.
We interviewed The Burque Beat contributors and organizers about the project to learn what challenges and positives they’ve experienced while crafting an equitable street newspaper and while being housing-insecure (or formerly). Special thanks to Danae, Alex, Suhreen, Thomas, and Sarah for coming together to share your insights and stories.
How does an issue of The Burque Beat come together?
Danae, Suhreen, Alex, Sarah: There are four different “spokes” that are represented in our decision-making “Spokes Council” body. We welcome people to participate in any or all of the four spokes: Creative/ Editorial, Workshops & Professional Development, Finance, and Marketing & Distribution. Contributors and participants are gathered through word of mouth and are invited to attend workshops to further their craft and profession prior to submitting work. All artists, writers, and distributors receive a stipend for their accepted work/s. Once a publication is complete, distribution is focused at partner locations and along the Central Ave. corridor, and at community events.
What have been some of the challenges in crafting a street newspaper?
Sarah: When The Burque Beat first started, we had the structure wrong. Instead of a top-down approach, we needed to flip the power pyramid to be more inclusive and collaborative, with the voice of people who are unhoused or housing insecure driving the project. It was beneficial to take the time to build the foundation it needs, and now we’re seeing it grow.
Danae and Suhreen: Capacity can be a challenge. Day-to-day living on the streets means that people’s lives are much more precarious, and sometimes people disappear. There is a lot of strength in the community as well, because we’re watching out for each other, but resources are minimal and often far away.
Suhreen: Treatment of the unhoused and housing-insecure is also a challenge. Misinformed people simply perceive us as a nuisance. They act as though mainstream culture gives them a license to be careless, even reckless, towards us. A street newspaper provides a forum to speak for ourselves and to represent ALL our contributions to the cultural life of Burque.
What have been some of the positives of producing The Burque Beat?
Alex:The Burque Beat helps showcase our shared humanity. It shares real stories and brings people together around creativity and community.
Danae: We’ve seen the paper help some people come to a better understanding of what unhoused and housing-insecure people are going through. The police chief wanted one!
Sarah: The paper provides a place to belong and feel human, and brings positivity to the community. It is encouraging people who are housed to ask questions and build relationships with those in the unhoused community. It’s also giving us a means to be more critical of the media and the news in general, who often portray people who are unhoused in a negative light.
Suhreen: The Burque Beat challenges me to listen for my neighbors (we're not a monolith) to remember where I'm coming from, and who I truly am. Some of us have to lose most everything to realize and protect that which makes life worth living. . . ourselves.
How can readers support your work?
Sarah: There are so many ways to support The Burque Beat Community, and all are welcome. We are always open to new artists and writers. Local businesses can advertise in The Burque Beat or become a host site for distribution. We’re always looking for sponsorships for each issue - we’re grateful to OffCenter Arts for sponsoring two issues. Individual contributions can be supplies (like printing paper or ink) or financial support for stipends. We’re always looking for new partners, and we can even provide a presentation to further assist in spreading the word on The Burque Beat.
Where can readers pick up the latest issue?
Sarah: Current distribution locations are at OffCenter Arts and Quirky Books, with more locations in the works.
Learn more about The Burque Beat, ways to support, and upcoming events by heading to their website and following them on Instagram.