A note: I have many problems with Zionism. I disavow the policies of the Israeli government which I believe constitute a system of Apartheid, and I don’t support the various war criminals sacrificing the lives of thousands of Palestinians, not to mention their own citizens, both soldiers and hostages. This project is not meant to serve as a defense or critique of Israel, but it is meant to explain the function Zionism serves in my community. I believe a dive into the pervasiveness of this ideology within my own community both better shows the humanity of a group many of […]
Introduction – A Brief History of Elmhurst and the Purpose of this Photo Essay In 1642, the original Elmhurst was first settled by the Europeans in Maspeth Creek in what is now Maspeth, Queens. However, in 1652, escalating violence between the Native Americans and Dutch settlers forced the latter to abandon the original Elmhurst and rebuild a new village further inland. This new settlement was located in present-day Elmhurst (between Queens Boulevard and Broadway) and named Middleburgh – a Dutch name. However, the English referred to the town as “Newtown” in order to differentiate it from the older (original) town. […]
Introduction Dyker Heights. One of the most well-known, wealthy, suburban neighborhoods known for its beautiful array of lights every Christmas season and also known as my hometown. In the eleven years I spent as a child in Dyker, I’ve loved the block parties, the warm neighbors who knock on our door to give us tasty pieces of cake, the quiet ambiance of our area, and the shops on 13th Avenue that I can go to for a quick cup of coffee. One of the best aspects of community that Dyker has shown me throughout my years living here is the […]
Growing up, my parents always wanted me and my siblings to attend public schools. While my mother, who had taught in public middle schools in under-privileged areas of the Paris banlieue, was cognizant of some of the opportunities that were not granted to public school kids as compared with the wealth of academic boosts that were afforded to private school students, there always seemed to be an unshakeable belief in the public school system. One of my more distinct memories from going to my public french elementary and middle schools was the emphasis placed on the founding egalitarian principles of […]
If I were to ask you, what is home, what would you say? Would it be the place you currently live? The country your family migrated from? Or the neighborhood where you spent your childhood? The answer often depends on who you ask. Yet one thing remains true: every home, whether it’s a house, an apartment complex, or an entire community, carries stories that reach far beyond our personal experiences. Long before we arrive, others lived, laughed, struggled, and created memories in those same spaces. Still, we often get so caught up in our daily lives that we forget or […]
I grew up in Ridgewood, Queens, long before it was written about on Instagram as “the next hot neighborhood.” Back then, Ridgewood was mostly known for being a quiet, family friendly neighborhood with immigrant-owned businesses, and the sense of stability that comes from knowing your neighbors. My childhood was framed by familiarity like walking to the same corner convenience store for snacks after school, hearing Spanish and Polish in the air, and eating sandwiches from the local deli. Although these were small things, they made Ridgewood feel like a tightknit community Now, when I walk those same blocks, I barely […]
If you swipe your MetroCard, hop on a D train headed toward Coney Island, head down the stairs at Bay Parkway station located right in the heart of Bensonhurst, and take a glance, you’d be remiss to think that the neighborhood had always been chock-full of bubble tea shops. Shrouded by the crowds of customers patronizing shops along the 86th Street corridor while the train roars above, you realize that there isn’t a trace left behind of a neighborhood that once was. And amid bakeries, big-box retailers, and ethnic Russian or Asian supermarkets, you’d be surprised to notice storefronts catering […]
Figure 1: Above is a picture of a wooden post that represents the once-physical location of the wooden wall that Wall Street was named after. During the Anglo-Dutch wars, the Dutch settlements in Mannahatta decided to construct a tremendous wooden wall to defend themselves from a potential British invasion. The project cost the Dutch around 5,000 guilders, resulting in a wall that was around 2,340 feet long and equipped with cannons. Much, if not all the labor on the wall is believed to have been performed by slave labour, foreshadowing Wall Street’s next steps. (Homepage, 2025; Taylor, 2024). Introduction Wall […]
Introduction Bedford-Stuyvesant, also known as Bed-Stuy, is both a cornerstone of black cultural heritage in New York City and now, one of the most visibly transformed, gentrified neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Once considered a thriving epicenter of African American life, Bed-Stuy has, over recent decades, become a battleground for the forces of gentrification. The echoes of Black pride and political organizing that defined Bed-Stuy in the 1900s remain embedded in its identity, even as many of the community’s long-term residents are being priced out or displaced from the neighborhood due to the increasing rents. To truly understand the impacts of gentrification, […]
The Settlement of Polish Communities in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, in Three Major Waves During the late 19th century and early 20th century, a small city in Brooklyn, known as Greenpoint, became a popular place for citizens from Poland immigrating into the United States. Throughout history, there were three main waves of Polish migration into Greenpoint, Brooklyn, that we will look at throughout this photo essay. These three waves of immigration were essential to the Polish diaspora of this community, making up the cultural background that has persisted for years to come, which is an area that is of great importance to […]
Great Kills, a peaceful neighborhood on Staten Island, has long stood as a symbol of immigrant resilience and community. With roots stretching back to early 20th-century migration patterns, the neighborhood has grown into a cultural hub, particularly for Italian-Americans. This photo essay explores how Italian immigration shaped the Great Kills community—from its religious institutions and culinary traditions to its family dynamics and changing urban landscape. Drawing from first hand interviews, community observation, and independent research, this project seeks to understand how culture survives and transforms across generations. Walking through the streets of Great Kills, one can find visual traces of […]
In cities across the United States, immigrant communities often build spaces that help them feel at home—neighborhoods, cafes, religious centers, and cultural organizations where people can connect to their roots while living in a new country. Staten Island is one of those places, especially for the growing Albanian-American community. Over the past three decades, this borough has quietly welcomed thousands of Albanian newcomers from Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and, more recently, from Albania itself. Among international food markets stocked with Balkan produce, community centers built by local fundraising, and a growing number of Albanian-owned businesses, Staten Island is now home […]
https://dek011806.wixsite.com/bridgingconnect (The introduction and reflection are both included in the site!)
An Analysis of the Cultural Enclave in Brighton Beach Victoria Bernadskiy Introduction Brighton Beach is a world away from Brooklyn. Incredibly sheltered from the surrounding city, this neighborhood is one that is almost entirely catered to Russian-speaking immigrants. Like in any of the cultural enclaves in NYC, Brighton Beach boasts its individuality through its many cultural food markets, grocery stores, restaurants, music, language, and people. Many outsiders refer to Brighton Beach as a neighborhood “stuck in the past,” as it is incredibly reminiscent of the Soviet Era. Under the Soviet regime, Russian was the official language that was used in […]
The West Village and wider Greenwich Village have been known as a gay neighborhood for years. This idea has come from the prevalence of LGBTQ stores, organizations, and events in the area. The Stonewall Riots started here. Gay Street, part of the Stonewall National Monument, also falls within the confines of the neighborhood. Historic gay bars still hang on as the area rapidly changes: the Stonewall Inn (the namesake of the riots), Julius’, Cubbyhole, and many more. The question is how it became such a center of community. The Lesbian, Gay, and Transgender Community Center (affectionately referred to as The Center) […]
Brighton Beach, often referred to as “Little Odessa,” has long served as a cultural enclave for Russian-speaking immigrants in New York City. Tucked between Coney Island and Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn, the neighborhood has been a haven for waves of Jewish Soviet refugees, post-Soviet economic migrants, and more recently, those fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The bustling streets, lined with Cyrillic signage, Eastern European groceries, and Soviet-style cafés, evoke a powerful sense of continuity for residents from former Soviet republics, many of whom have found a second home here. But since the war in Ukraine began in 2022, Brighton Beach […]
