In 1989, at just 11 year old, Jennifer left the Dominican Republic to move to New York City with her brother and his wife for a better education and more opportunities. She came in January, plain winter, she struggled to adjust to a place from the warm and lively environment she left back home. About a month after Jennifer moves to New York her mom passes away, and about a month after her mom passes away her dad also passes away. This was the first time she was away from her parents, and she lived with people who were basically stranges to her. She constantly longed to go back home, to her friends and family, to the people she knew and was familial with. That same year, 1989, was the first Dominican parade in the Bronx. She used to live right in front of the Grand Councourse, where the parade takes place. That day was probably the first time Jennifer felt familiar and felt that maybe, after all, living here was not a horrible idea. It became a space that made her feel connected to home and her culture, where people looked and spoke like her. Every year after that, she attended with her brother anf his wife, and later passed down the tradition down to her own children. This photo of one of the early  Dominican parade represents a new sense of belonging for Jennifer. 
 

– CM

Relationship:  Im/migrant who arrived as a child Im/migrant who arrived as a child