April 15-21, 2010
New York City celebrates the seventh annual Immigrant Heritage Week with a series of events honoring the experience and contributions of the millions of immigrants who have shaped the city for generations. Immigrant Heritage Week is a city-wide celebration that honors the experiences and contributions of immigrants in New York City. Established by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2004 and coordinated by the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Immigrant Heritage Week is a rich collection of free or low-cost programs that build cross-cultural understanding between diverse New Yorkers Immigrant Heritage week is celebrated around April 17th, the day in 1907 when more immigrants entered through Ellis Island than any other date in the City's history. There is an estimated 36 million immigrants all over the United States, representing 12.4% of the populations. In New York State, three are four million immigrants, or 21.6 % of the entire state's population. In New York City, 37% of the population is composed of immigrants. New York City is third among cities with the highest concentration of immigrants, after Los Angeles (40%) and San Jose (38%) and ahead of San Francisco (36%) and Houston (29%).
The New York Public Library is joining in the celebration by featuring the events through Manhattan, Bronx and Staten Island.
Ronald & Michelle Reyes. 15 Palm Court, Flatbush, Brooklyn. October 25, 1978. NYPL Photography Collection.
One of 700,000 pictures in the NYPL Digital Gallery
NYPL Photostore