We are proud to share with you our new video series looking at the first-hand experience of asylum seekers who have recently come to New York and are building new lives in the city.
The first set of videos, which feature the stories of Juan, Raiza, and Jose Ramon, show the human side of a story that all too often is told through the lens of politics or policy.
Meet Juan, a determined delivery worker from Venezuela, who spent eight days in the treacherous Darién Gap. He shares his experience settling in New York, acclimating to the weather, and how much he misses his family back home.
“I feel really good here in New York. You just have to find your way. This is a process, slowly you will overcome and understand how things work.”
Meet Raiza, a brave mother who was forced to flee from Venezuela with her family due to political instability. She’s been living in a shelter since she arrived, and shares how the 30-and-60-day shelter policies add to her stress and uncertainty. She has dreams of working with children.
“I love working with children, educating them, and taking care of them. I’d like to give it my best for my family, so they can also learn more every day.”
Meet Jose Ramon, a volunteer in his community who came to the United States eager to work but initially faced many hurdles. He shares the experience of thousands of migrants whose minimum wage salaries make renting an apartment in New York impossible.
“Living here is difficult because the rent is too expensive. My salary is not enough. You get paid $15 an hour or $18 an hour, then you have to pay taxes, rent, and food. It’s not enough.”
We are in a moment where people from across the political spectrum, including elected leaders who represent our communities, are creating panic and division. Meanwhile, the people who are most excluded from this conversation are the most directly impacted, the newest New Yorkers. That’s why we are stepping in to help uplift their voices. Watch all the videos here and subscribe to our channel to receive notifications on upcoming videos in our series.
Because no matter when we got here, we all deserve the freedom to thrive.
¡Sí se puede!
— Ricardo Aca, Senior Manager of Digital Strategy