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Immigrant Heritage Celebration 2025

NYC: Built by Generations of Immigrants

Download our Immigrant Heritage Social Media Toolkit

In 1613, Juan Rodriguez who originated from La Espanola was the first immigrant to arrive in New York City on a Dutch ship. For more than four hundred years since his arrival, New York City has become and continues to be a city of opportunity, resilience, and multiculturalism, shaped by the dreams and determination of NYC's diverse immigrant community.

That's why this year, MOIA's IHW campaign celebrates NYC: Built by Generations of Immigrants. Immigrant New Yorkers have transformed the city into a global capital of innovation, creativity, and progress. Pockets of the globe can be found across all five boroughs taking the shape of countless immigrant enclaves. Generations of immigrants have played a part in writing New York City's history.

About the Artist

John Dykes

Artist and illustrator J.S.Dykes has created over five thousand illustration assignments for hundreds of clients. John has garnered recognition and awards from top illustration industry associations. Among these organizations are The Museum of Illustration at The Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, American Illustration, and Luerzer's Archive 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide. Twenty-three of John's illustrations are included in the permanent collection of The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA. John currently works on select illustration projects while devoting increasing time to gallery work and private commissions.
Visit John Dykes' website
Visit John Dykes' Instagram profile

April 2025

Immigrant Heritage Week 2025

The Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) is proud to celebrate the 21st Annual New York City Immigrant Heritage Week which starts on Monday April 14, 2025. IHW 2025 kicks off MOIA's three-month immigrant heritage 2025 celebrations to run through June, National Immigrant Heritage Month.

June 2025

a graphic of a group of diverse people sitting an and standing together with monarch butterflies flying around them

National Immigrant Heritage Month

June marks the start of National Immigrant Heritage Month. More than 40 percent of U.S. citizens can trace their ancestry back to immigrants who arrived in the United States through Ellis Island. Since 2014, the United States has commemorated June as Immigrant Heritage Month to celebrate the shared diversity that forms the unique story of America.

Starting June 1st - June 30, 2025, New York City will join 30 other cities and counties across the nation to send a clear, proud, and unified message directly to immigrant communities.

Regardless of your background, where you live, and your immigration status: You Belong.

The “You Belong” communications campaign is available in over 29 languages and can be found here.

We encourage city agencies and community partners to participate in the joint IHM digital campaign.

We Love Immigrant NYC, MOIA Immigrant Enclave Illustration Series

In 2023, our team launched MOIA's Immigrant Enclave Illustration Series as part of MOIA's Immigrant Heritage Celebration. NYC is home to 3 million immigrants and our aim with this series is to highlight the endless contributions, rich histories, and unique cultures of our city's diverse immigrant communities throughout all of the five boroughs.

Download and share your favorite MOIA Immigrant Enclaves Illustration.

MOIA graphic celebrating immigrant heritage. This graphic celebrates Chinese heritage in Chinatown in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The graphic has illustrations of buildings, markets, statues, trees, fall leaves, a temple, kids playing with leaves, a playground, restaurants, Chinese food, people holding up a dragon for a parade and more.
Graphic from MOIA's Immigrant Enclave Illustration Series for Chinatown in Flushing, Queens. This picture depicts New Yorkers in traditional Chinese clothing, community buildings, traditional Chinese foods, trees, markets, stores, and a mall
MOIA graphic celebrating immigrant heritage. This graphic celebrates Chinese heritage in Chinatown Manhattan. The graphic has illustrations of buildings, markets, statues, trees, cherry blossoms, Chinese food, people playing mahjong, doing tai chi, and more
A graphic of Little Manila, Philippines in Woodside, Queens.
MOIA immigrant enclave illustration for Little Africa in the Bronx, street signs, people wearing traditional African clothes, small businesses, and African foods.
A graphic of Little Dominican Republic in Washington Heights & Inwood, Manhattan.
A graphic of Little Haiti in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
A graphic of Little Mexico in Port Richmond, Staten Island.
A graphic of Little Colombia in Jackson Heights, Queens.
Flyer for event titled: A Word from Our Director image or the Lydia Millet on Atavists with Jenny Offill. In the center there are portraits of the authors and a book with animals on the front.

How to Celebrate with MOIA and get Involved