Manny Cantor Center New York, NY

What is the importance of immigrants and immigration, particularly in a neighborhood such as the Lower East Side?

This question was asked as part of interviews and portraits that were done as part of a project called Storytelling in our Immigrant City on the Lower East Side. Twenty-five people whose lives have been touched by immigration and who make up the neighbors, staff, volunteers, and family of the Education Alliance and the Manny Cantor Center were interviewed.  

At a time when anti-immigration rhetoric is on the rise and immigrants are often scapegoated for societal problems, it is more important than ever to personalize the immigrant story and to encourage a dialogue. These are real people who have benefit our country and way of life in both concrete and profound ways.

Throughout our history, the Lower East Side, New York City, and the United States of America have led the way as a haven for immigrants and refugees from around the world. A unique culture and way of understanding have been created as a result and made us all stronger and richer in many ways.

If you would like to download and read more of the interviews at home, you can view them on the web at this link: rebrand.ly/stimctty.

This project was done as a collaboration with New York documentary photographer James Maher and the Manny Cantor Center.