NYIC Launches ‘New York Proud’ Public Art Campaign Celebrating Immigrant Stories Across NYC

Today, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) celebrated the launch of the “New York Proud” campaign, just 30 minutes from Harlem, New York.

A public art project celebrating the vibrant and diverse stories of immigrants across New York City.  

This campaign brings to life the personal journeys of immigrant New Yorkers through a striking photo series of 25 portraits, now displayed in subway stations and public spaces throughout New York City during the month of September and into October.

With each portrait featuring people in or at their workplaces, the campaign emphasizes the integral roles and contributions of immigrants to the city’s cultural and economic landscape. 

In partnership with Photoville, “New York Proud” will also be featured in three pop-up photo exhibitions.

These larger-than-life installations will allow the public to take a deeper look into the lives of the featured individuals, with locations at:

• Manhattan’s Times Square from Aug. 30 through Sept. 14
• Brooklyn at The Plaza at 300 Ashland (300 Ashland Place) as a co-presentation with the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership from Aug. 29 through Sept. 16
• Queens at location TBD from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 

“The ‘New York Proud’ campaign is more than just a celebration of immigrants—it’s a reminder of what makes New York, New York,” said Murad Awawdeh, President & CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition. “Our city is a global beacon of hope, a booming metropolis built by and powered by immigrants. For centuries, immigrants have played an indispensable role in driving innovation, creativity, and progress in our communities. We are proud to stand with our neighbors to amplify their stories and reset the conversation on immigration in New York City.” 

Featured campaign participants include Jesus, a Peruvian drag queen; Marie Rose, a fruit vendor from Côte D’Ivoire; Mayowa, a Nigerian visual artist; and Antonio, a bus driver from Honduras, among many others. This campaign was developed in partnership with F.Y. Eye, The Opportunity Agenda, with portraits taken by Venezuelan documentary photographer Oscar B. Castillo.  

“Capturing these human beings has been a profoundly moving experience,” said photographer Oscar B. Castillo. “I connected personally with each of the participants’ stories, and it’s an honor to present these images in spaces where millions of New Yorkers will encounter them daily. My hope is that these photographs will inspire empathy and understanding across our city.” 

“New York Proud” is a citywide campaign to uplift and honor the resilience, contributions, and experiences of immigrants who shape the economic, cultural and social fabric of New York City. The portraits offer a curated visual narrative that reveals how immigrants are seamlessly integrated into the fabric of life across the city. We hope this campaign will ignite a citywide conversation about the importance of immigration to the vitality and future of New York City. 

“Media, art, and advertising help tell the stories that shape how we see the world,” said Christina Daigneault, Executive Director of F.Y. Eye, a nonprofit social impact media organization. “The ‘New York Proud’ campaign uses these tools to celebrate the richness of immigrant experiences in New York City. By transforming public spaces into storytelling platforms, we aim to deepen understanding and build a more inclusive and compassionate city.” 

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“New York City is, and always has been, a city of immigrants, and our communities are strengthened by their contributions,” said City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, District 28. “It is vital that we celebrate and recognize the experiences of immigrant New Yorkers, who helped build our great city. The ‘New York Proud’ campaign is a beautiful testament to immigrant communities and their value to our society. The ever-expanding collection of portraits and narratives honors immigrants as not just a part of our history, but as an integral part of our city’s fabric and future. I thank the New York Immigration Coalition for their work to memorialize these journeys in public spaces where we can reflect on and learn about the indispensable New Yorkers that make our city shine.” 

“The New York Immigration Coalition’s new campaign ‘New York Proud’ showcases the experience of our newest New Yorkers through stunning portraits. Immigration has always been a central part of the New York experience, and the exhibit highlights how these stories continue to unfold today,” said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, District 12.

 “I am thrilled to take part in a campaign centered on uplifting the humanity of the vibrant immigrant communities that have come to define New York City’s collective identity. I’m grateful to the NYIC team for their efforts on the NY Proud project and look forward to seeing them out in the community in the coming weeks,” said City Council Member Alexa Avilés, District 38, Immigration Committee Chair. 

“New York City is and always has been a city built by immigrants. “New York Proud” is a beautiful celebration of the innumerable contributions that immigrants continue to make to our city every day, and by uplifting these stories we stand firm in our belief that this city is for everyone. We are proud to welcome new neighbors, no matter where they come from, and this city is stronger and more resilient because of the people who have traveled from around the world to thrive here. This campaign will inspire empathy and understanding across the city, and I’m glad to welcome it to my district,” said Assembly Member Tony Simone, District 75. 

“New York City has been a beacon of opportunity and possibility for immigrants for generations. Nearly 40 percent of our residents are foreign born, making our city one of the most diverse in the world. I’m proud to stand with the New York Immigration Coalition and all the partners on the “New York Proud” public art campaign. As an immigrant and the first Dominican woman Council Member to represent North Manhattan I know first hand the struggle, joy, and hope that our new neighbors face living in our city. Art and culture provide a new lens to see the humanity in our all communities and I am grateful to take part in this important campaign. As our city and country face more anti-immigrant sentiments it is campaigns like this that can further break down barriers for further solidarity and understanding,” said City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, District 10.

“New York City is a city built by immigrants. In District 14 alone, nearly 45% of our population is foreign-born – New Yorkers who earn their living here, pay taxes here, and send their children to schools here. With a recent stark rise in xenophobia, I am proud to stand with the New York Immigration Coalition and support the new “New York Proud” campaign, highlighting the fundamental role of immigrants in shaping New York City’s identity, in order to bring us closer to expelling harmful, anti-immigrant rhetoric. Our immigrant neighbors are essential to the fabric of our city and are here to stay,” said City Council Member Pierina Sanchez, District 14.

“When I see the portraits in the ‘New York Proud’ public art exhibition, they feel immediately familiar. I think of my neighbors, my constituents, and my own parents, who found a home in Brooklyn after migrating from Bangladesh. In a time when xenophobic narratives are being spread about newly arrived immigrants, this installation fosters dialogue, empathy, awareness, and understanding of their experiences. I’m grateful to the New York Immigration Coalition and to Oscar B. Castillo, the photographer behind the exhibit, for capturing and preserving these important stories that often go unnoticed,” said City Council Member Shahana Hanif, District 39. 

“New York City was built on the backs of working-class, immigrant families who have shaped our city into the vibrant, diverse place it is today. By highlighting the stories and portraits of immigrant New Yorkers—lawyers, librarians, street vendors, DJs, filmmakers, caregivers, teachers, and more—NYIC’s new ‘New York Proud’ campaign honors their contributions to our economic, social, and cultural life. I am proud to join the NYIC in celebrating the vital role of immigrants in our city’s ongoing story,” said City Council Member Shekar Krishnan, District 25.  

“New York Proud” is a project of the New York Immigration Coalition, in partnership with F.Y. Eye and The Opportunity Agenda. This public art campaign would not have been possible without the involvement of all the project participants, photographer Oscar B. Castillo, as well as our partners at Photoville, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Times Square Alliance, and Two Trees Management Co.

Photo credit: 1-3) New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC).