Mexican and immigrant housing in NY (New York, York: apartments, living in, legal)

[Olly P]

Hi people.

I am doing some research into housing for immigrants who have recently arrived in the states.

We would like to film with a Mexican family living in a tenement block somewhere in NY, preferably a block with families of many different ethnicities. We are looking into immigrant people's perception of American life and their pursuit (or not) of the American dream. What were their preconceptions? What were their impressions on arrival? What are their present realizations? What aspects of their cultural identity have they lost - if any, since living in the US? The struggle in finding work etc...

Can anyone recommend any such tenement blocks in NYC? Or indeed recommend any families that they might know...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Olly

[Andysocks]

such tenement blocks don't really exist anymore and Mexicans are far from a dominant immigrant group in NYC. There are male day laborers but Mexican families are few and far between. A new illegal immigrant, regardless of ethnicity, is probably sleeping on the floor of a flophouse and a legal one is probably living with a sponsor of the same background. You might wanna do some paper research on the modern NYC immigrant experience before delving into a documentary...

[NJ Chutzpah]

well I may be able to help

I know some mexican families here

They speak perfect english, and decent honest people.

actually they may be honduran or what not, i will have to look into it further

just DM me with details

[marilyn220]

Go to Jackson Heights, Queens. Most of the latinos that live there are central/south american (i.e, salvadorian, colombian, nicaraguan, etc.). Don't know about mexicans, but these other groups have been living in this area for years.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by marilyn220

Go to Jackson Heights, Queens. Most of the latinos that live there are central/south american (i.e, salvadorian, colombian, nicaraguan, etc.). Don't know about mexicans, but these other groups have been living in this area for years.

agreed, at least from J.H. he/she can get leads to specific areas for Mexicans in large concentrations.

[OldStyleNo10]

Olly:

Contact the Archdiocese of New York, or the Diocese of Brooklyn, both of which have numerous outreach programs for Latino immigrants. They can send you in the right direction.

And Andysocks, I don't know where in the city you live, but such tenement blocks do exist, and Mexicans are becoming quite a sizeable group. With wives and familes, and apartments.

[Fred314X]

There's actually a Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side. They may be able to provide you with the kinds of information you're seeking.