About Us

“Where I’m From”

Shanaya G Lawrence

I am from a metallic bracelet,

from Salsa Lizano and Pinito.

I am from the yellow walls, wine rug in the living room, and ceramic tile stairs.

I am from the lime tree,

the water apple tree, and the coconut tree in the backyard.

I am from eating Rice and Beans con Pollo every sunday

and dark brown eyes,

from Egbert 

and Eva and Steycie.

I am from the always being right

and having the last word.

From “Yes” 

and “If I come back and you are not done with your food, I’ll eat it.”

I am from no specific religion.

I’m from Centro Central Limon and Central America,

rice and beans.

From the time I was five years old and scared everyone making them believe I wasn’t home when I actually fell asleep under the bed,

the first and last time my grandfather picked me up from school,

and the first time I met my mother in person.

I am from the plastic bags in my grandmother’s closet, the albums under the TV in my mother’s room, and my father’s external hard drive. Places where precious memories are kept for us to always come back to and never forget.

Where I’m From

Desire Acevedo

I am from an island where cocoa is produced, has coconuts palm, 

and the beaches are clear blue.

From Induveca salami and president beer. 

I am from the house with a medlar tree in the front, smells like cinnamon, and has two floors. 

I am from the rose of bayahibe and the Cigua palmera,

The coffee plantations, Carnival of La Vega. 

I am from sweet beans,

and tanned skins.

From Mr. Acevedo,

and Mrs. Vasquez, and Abreu.

I am from the parties,

and dances .

From don’t leave for tomorrow what you can do today, 

and every night kids must pray 

I am from Catholics and go on Sundays to the church. 

I’m from Dominican Republic and Fritos con chicharron.

From the woman getting married and leaving her parents a note,

the kids being punished for throwing a glass on the floor. 

I am from the photos in my grandmother’s hallway

From doctors and business women where they were taught family worth it.

Where I’m From

Trinasia Harper

I am from glass tables,

from Lysol and Febreze.

I am from the small taupe apartment, which smells of cigarette smoke and vanilla  

I am from the snake plant,

the golden gate

I am from family reunions

and stubbornness,

from Pat

and Troy and Andrea.

I am from the unwillingness to get along

and the resistance to change.

From “just get it next time”

and “you can’t be perfect”

I am from a strong but sometimes wavering belief in a higher power.

I’m from New York and uncertain origins,

Chicken and Chocolate cake.

From the dedication of a mother to raise her children as well as someone else’s,

the supportive father who worked hard to provide,

and the unrelenting will to survive.

I am from the always messy yet somehow neat photo. Although the pictures fade and the pages start to age the memories held within them will always remain

Where I’m From

Shakhrizoda Sadriddinova

I am from strawberry that you dip into chocolate,
from cakes and delicious treats.
I am from the borough of Brooklyn, a small, cozy house, filled with the aroma of vanilla cake
I am from the baby roses,
the miniature roses, barely found in flower stores
I am from vacations spent in my hometown
and cute dimples on cheeks,
from grandma Malika
and Mr. Shukhrat and Mrs. Shakhnoza.
I am from a white Asian
and brown-green eyes.
From never giving up
And achieving your goal
I am from praying five times a day.
I’m from a family whose half Tajik and half Uzbek,
Plov and kebab are our favorite dishes.
From the story of my aunt giving me the Shakhrizoda which means a princess,
the one and only girl in the family,
and the difficulty of my family starting a life in New York without anyone’s help.
I am from the box of childhood, family photos on top of my closet.
I am from enjoying life with family and friends
From engaging to the man I dreamed of.

Where Im from

Michael Jimenez

I am from The Bronx but my family is from The Dominican Republic

I am from the comfy bed in my room

and from my tropical mango smelling room

I am from the love of Music

and the love of comics

I am from the love of sneakers

I am from my parents telling me I have to go to college

and being able to provide for myself

I am from having freedom

I am from As I am curling jelly

and leave in conditioner

I am from the gym

and working on myself

I am from trying to grow a beard

Where I am From

Alkasti

By Alkasti Grullon

I am from sunshine,

From cold water and rocks.

I am from the loud truck sounds, loud but very significant.

I am from the top of the mountains, where fruits shine bright.

I am from celebrating New Year with a broken family.

I am from one who is always forgiving but never being forgiven.

I am from believing that people change and deserve second chances.

I am from love.

I am from honesty.

I am from loyalty.

I am from a broken home but caring and supportive parents.

I am from Manathana with a Dominican family.

“Where I’m From” by Andrea Shamon

“Where I’m From” by Andrea Shamon

Andrea Shamon

I am from a small country,

Where they deal with less but appreciate more,

It must be a different chemistry,

I am from Central America,

Before I was born I was from the Middle East,

Then the two met and ta-da,

I seemed to have joined the feast,

I am the last of three,

Because of the things that I would see,

I am free of the mistakes of the ignorant world,

I find the beauty in everything,

I am just a girl,

Who dreams like a Martin Luther King,

I am from living blindly and walking through faith,

Living kindly, patience because it will be worth the wait,

I am from strength and independence, in my mom you will find the resemblance,

Creativity and passion I get it from my dad’s descendants,

I am from one of those little fierce women,

Ask her how she does it, she’ll tell you the power of Amen,

I am from a dad so cliche,

“Did I tell you I love you today” he would say everyday,

I am from hard work no hand outs,

No shortcuts you must take the hard routes,

I am from loving coffee and croissants,

The heart wants what it wants,

My first best friend was a dog,

I am from loving animals,

I am from caring over living things,

It’s morals and fundamentals,

I am from the smell of fresh flan,

A very delicate dish,

“Easy now when you flip over the pan”,

I am from always having a sweet tooth,

Baby me even ate a fruit flavor chapstick,

Can’t explain the furry slug I ate in my youth,

But I’ll tell you this I caught a fever it made me sick,

I am from once being very impulsive,

But now I am more causative,

Because I come from all of this,

It sounds so beautiful,

That’s because I only kept the things that give my soul a kiss,

Now that I can choose what I am from,

I ask myself what I’d like my future to be,

So I can find in life the things I want for me,

Where I’am from🤔

Sicong wu

I am from radio, 📻

from hudie 757 and transistor.

I am from a brick house, sturdy, faded, but it is safe.

I am from the cracked cement,

the dilaptated wood.

I am from Filial piety

and yellow skin, 🙌

from HuiYu, the woman who gave me a life👩‍👦

and RuiYan, the  woman who raised me when my mom went to work🤶

 and Shengshao, the  man who motivated me to be a better man.👨‍💼

I am from the Nothing special is happiness and Seize the day.

From Cantonese songs🎤 and Cantonese Tv shows.📺

I am from Deism. Our families believe there is no God sometimes.

I’m from a small countryside in Southern China,🇨🇳

rice and steam fish. 🥢🐟🍚

From the “Study hard is the only way you can change your life.”,📚

the my mom would punch me when I got a poor grade,😢

and the”What do you want to eat tomorrow?”.🤤

I am from a black leather sofa. The woman siting with me is my beloved.❤️

Where I’m From

Skyy Woodroffe

by Skyy Woodroffe

I am from coloring pencils,

from Bratz dolls and BR Fruit Gloss.

I am from the yellow house and brown fence

I am from the red-seeded dandelions

the amaryllis’ and green grass

I am from summer cookouts

and toughness,

from Jamillah

and Denise and Delphina.

I am from nurses

and artists

From “you get what you get and you don’t get upset”

and “you kids go out and play in the backyard”.

I am from Christianity.

runs deep in my family.

I’m from African Americans and Trinidadians,

soul food and Caribbean food.

From the story of my dad coming to the United States,

the time my family and I went to Virginia beach every spring break,

and the first time my mom went to Trinidad & Tobago.

I am from the brown cabinet full of family photographs

strong, powerful, and amazing.

“I am from…” – Branden Guerrero

Branden Guerrero

I am from piled sheet music, from 

Budget D’Addario violin strings, and 

I am from the laboring streets, popcorn ceilings and cold, cracked walls

I am from both the palm trees and flocks of pigeons, the starless night sky.

I am from gossip at the table on holidays, from lies and deceitfulness, from Alberto, Myriam, and Maryann. 

I am from unrelenting excuses and laziness, from 

“Speak with your chest”, and “Look me in the eyes when I talk”.

I am from liking alone time to the point of it being religious, avoiding social interaction at all cost

I am from the New York, and Puerto Rico, rice and beans, from my grandfather leaving my grandma for another woman to whom he married and left his wealth to, I am from ashes (Awkwardly enough, my building  recently burned down so we lost the pictures along with many other possessions)