City Life Org – Immigrant Portraits Transform NYC Public Spaces as Federal Attacks on Immigrants Surges Nationwide

Image Courtesy of NYIC

Second Annual ‘New York Proud’ Campaign Launches with Powerful Visual Stories Across All Five Boroughs

As federal anti-immigration policies intensify, New Yorkers are pushing back by amplifying the contributions of immigrant New Yorkers. The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) today unveiled a new series of compelling portraits celebrating immigrant stories at the iconic Flatiron Building, kicking off the second year of its New York Proud campaign—a bold public art initiative that transforms subway stations, bus stops and plazas to showcase the real people at the center of America’s immigration debate.

“New York Proud is not just about defending the rights of immigrants – it’s about reminding New Yorkers the indispensable role immigrants play in keeping our city alive,” said Murad Awawdeh, President & CEO, New York Immigration Coalition. “Immigrants have been critical in shaping the past, present, and future of New York City. In light of unprecedented hostility to our immigrant communities at the federal level, it is of the utmost importance to show people just how important they are to our city and our shared prosperity. Immigrants are our neighbors and friends, and are crucial to New York City’s identity.” 

This campaign brings to life the personal journeys of immigrant New Yorkers through a striking series of portraits by Venezuelan documentary photographer Oscar B. Castillo, which are now displayed in subway stations, bus stops, and public art exhibits across New York City through the fall months. The exhibits, created in partnership with Photoville, feature these portraits in high-visibility public spaces across all five boroughs, including:  

Manhattan: Flatiron South Plaza (Broadway between 22nd and 23rd Streets) – Aug. 26 – Oct. 1

Brooklyn: The Plaza at 300 Ashland – Oct. 2 – Nov. 6

Bronx: Van Cortlandt Park Track (5970 Broadway) – Oct. 16 – Nov. 17

Staten Island: St. George Ferry Terminal – Ongoing

Queens: Location TBD 

Image Courtesy of NYIC

Featured campaign participants include a doormen, a deliverista, doctors, a mechanic, a theater director, small business owners, chefs, a nonprofit director and more.

“This second series looks to keep building on the importance of better knowing our communities and our city. This project is a celebration of the mosaic of cultures, colors, talents, origins, and the myriad of stories that compose New York,” said Oscar B. Castillo, photographer. “Through the faces of the migrant people that inhabit this city and proudly make it the most vibrant and diverse place in the world, I would like to share stories of hard work and dedication for personal and collective improvement, growth, and success. In the middle of these certainly troubled times, this project aims to be a call for more understanding and inclusion, and to value the humble but important contribution that millions of people give at all levels to the daily life of this unique place. This 2025 NY Proud campaign represents the commitment to the construction of bridges and understanding.”

“Photoville is proud to be collaborating with NYIC to bring the second series of ‘New York Proud’ to communities across New York City,” said Sam Barzilay, Creative Director & Co-Founder, Photoville. “We strongly believe that by sharing visual narratives of under-represented voices from the immigrant community, this exhibition helps to build powerful, connective bonds amongst all New Yorkers.”

“I’m grateful to join NYIC for the launch of the NY Proud campaign. Together, we are highlighting a truth about our city that is all too often ignored: our immigrant communities are at the heart of what makes NYC so vibrant and culturally impactful,” said New York City Council Member Alexa Aviles, Chair of the Committee on Immigration. “While our president and mayor attempt to blame all of our affordability issues on the working-class immigrants who drive our local economy, they are refusing to embrace any real solutions to the economic strain in our city. NYIC is showing the true strength of our immigrant communities and all the ways that immigrant New Yorkers contribute to our collective good on a daily basis. I hope this campaign will inspire people to stand up and fight against the senseless violence of Trump’s mass deportation agenda.”

“The ‘New York Proud’ installation that will stand at the corner of Lafayette and Ashland in Fort Greene is a testament to the strength and diversity of immigrant New Yorkers,” said Assemblymember Phara Souffrant-Forrest. “As chair of the Assembly Task Force on New Americans, I applaud NYIC’s creative and critical work to uplift the contributions immigrants have made and continue making to our city.”

“New York always has been and always will be a city of immigrants. Our city is rich with immigrant stories of sacrifice, bravery, creativity, beauty, industry, love, and resilience. The NYCLU is honored to be a fiscal sponsor of the NYIC’s New York Proud campaign, a campaign that invites us to look, reflect, and connect personally with just some of these immigrant stories and with the people who make New York great,” said Donna Lieberman, Executive Director, New York Civil Liberties Union. “This is an urgent moment to champion these stories, as the Trump regime marshals vast resources and personnel to demonize and attack our immigrant communities and concoct destructive, poisonous, and racist narratives. We won’t let them. The NYCLU, NYIC, City leaders, and our immigrant communities will tell the real story, and we will be New York Proud.”

Image Courtesy of NYIC

“Immigrants are New York, and despite the fear that this federal administration intends to spread across our communities, we will not hide. Every immigrant has a face and a story, and are critical contributors in our workforce, local economy, and communities,” said New York City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa. “During Labor Day weekend, we are proud that organizations like NYIC and Photoville have worked to reaffirm our existence citywide, humanizing the many that have helped build this country.”

“New York would not be the city it is today without the contributions of immigrants, who power our economy, enrich our culture, and strengthen every neighborhood,” said Assemblymember Tony Simone. “From building our homes to caring for our loved ones to starting small businesses, immigrant New Yorkers are the backbone of our city. I’m proud to stand with the New York Immigration Coalition to celebrate these contributions and ensure immigrant communities always have a home in New York.”

“Immigrants shape the culture, prosperity, and vibrance of our city,” said Assemblymember Harvey Epstein. “The New York Proud Campaign celebrates these contributions, and this project is an excellent way to afford immigrant New Yorkers the recognition and appreciation they deserve. Thank you to NYIC for continually advocating for our immigrant neighbors. In a time when so much hate is dominating the narrative, we must celebrate and uplift immigrant voices.”

“Our immigrant communities are an integral part of New York. They contribute to our economy, workforce, culture, and diversity. With the Trump administration’s full-on attack against our neighbors, we must come together as New Yorkers to celebrate them and defend them loudly and proudly,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “The ‘New York Proud’ Public Art Campaign by NYIC is an opportunity to recognize the essential value that immigrants had, have, and will continue to have in making our City one of the most vibrant places in the world.”

“As a staunch advocate for immigrants and a representative of one of the most vibrant and diverse communities in the state, I am honored to support the New York Immigration Coalition’s NY Proud 2025 campaign,” said State Senator Luis Sepulveda. “This initiative shines a light on the extraordinary contributions immigrants make every day to the very fabric of New York life. NY Proud 2025, more than a celebration, is a reaffirmation of our values. It reminds us that New York must always stand as a beacon of hope, dignity, and opportunity for everyone. I remain deeply committed to ensuring that every person, regardless of where they come from, feels seen, respected, and embraced in our city. That is the promise of New York—and together, we must keep it alive.”

“These immigrant stories are quintessential New York stories, and they come from every corner of our city. But far too often, they’re rendered invisible in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. “In a moment when immigration is being treated as a scapegoat for nearly every societal ill, this powerful campaign is a reminder that immigrants are a fundamental part of what makes New York—and the United States—so special. Wherever you were born, this city has a place for you.”

Image Courtesy of NYIC

To learn more about New York Proud, visit www.immigrantsareny.org.

About the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC):
The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy & advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York. The NYIC serves one of the largest and most diverse newcomer populations in the United States. The multi-racial and multi-sector NYIC membership base includes grassroots and nonprofit community organizations, religious and academic institutions, labor unions, as well as legal and socioeconomic justice organizations. The NYIC not only establishes a forum for immigrant groups to voice their concerns but also provides a platform for collective action to drive positive social change. Since its founding in 1987, the NYIC has evolved into a powerful voice of advocacy by spearheading innovative policies, promoting and protecting the rights of immigrant communities, improving newcomer access to services, developing leadership and capacity, expanding civic participation, and mobilizing member groups to respond to the fluctuating needs of immigrant communities.

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