Identity, assimilation, diversity, and change. These are just some of the themes that define the lives of immigrants in New York City. During the Spring 2016 semester, the students of Professor Jessica Siegel’s Macaulay Honors College course at Brooklyn College explored the lives and neighborhoods of immigrant communities. We spoke to people about their families, cultures, and histories. While we learned about the wide range of experiences that make up immigrant life, we also reached another important conclusion: the big apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

We welcome you to explore our own narratives as well as the stories of the people who we learned from. We hope to convey the many histories that make up our city that also bring us all together.