Winter break is usually a time for travel, family gatherings and celebration of Christmas and the New Year. However, for many international students in the United States, the decision to make a trip home during the holidays now involves legal and financial uncertainty.

Faced with visa rules, high travel costs, embassy delays, and advisories from international student offices, many students on F-1 visas, which allow international students to study full time in the U.S., say they are choosing to stay put this winter, even when it means spending the holidays far from home.

A computer science student from Uzbekistan studying in Los Angeles said she checked flights and visa rules multiple times before deciding not to travel. Leaving the U.S. would require a new visa application abroad, a process she described as expensive, time-consuming and uncertain.” Every time I leave, there is that worry in back of your mind about the interview,” she said. “Considering the break is only one month, it didn’t feel worth the risk.”

She is not alone. Other students shared similar worries, and all of the students interviewed for this story, including one from Uzbekistan, requested anonymity.

For international students, travel is not just about buying a plane ticket. Their legal stay in the U.S. depends on both immigration status and a valid visa. Most F-1 students are admitted to the U.S. for “duration of status (D/S),” meaning they may remain as long as they are enrolled full time and follow school rules outlined by the Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program. However, the visa itself controls re-entry. Students can legally remain in the U.S. but still risk being denied re-entry if they leave. If a visa has expired, travel would trigger a required visa application abroad, a process that can take weeks or months and does not guarantee approval.

According to the U.S. Department of State, the visa processing timelines differ sharply by country and embassy, with some locations reporting limited availability or not accepting student visa appointments at all.

Adding to the uncertainty, the Department of Homeland Security has proposed changes that would replace the current duration-of-status framework with fixed admission end dates. While the proposal is not in effect, immigration attorneys say the change could require students to apply for extensions more frequently and increase the risk of falling out of status if applications are delayed or denied, complicating travel and long-term planning.

On top of that, in late 2025, U.S federal agencies also expanded social media screening for some visa applicants, requiring them to provide social media handles and adjust privacy settings to make accounts public during the visa process. Boston University’s International Students & Scholars Office warned that added screening could slow visa processing and lead to closer review for students, including students with F-1 visas. 

Students’ concerns have been shaped not only by federal policy but also by guidance from universities themselves. Earlier, in December 2024, several universities urged international students to return to the U.S. before the presidential inauguration, citing uncertainty around possible immigration policy changes, according to reporting by the Associated Press.

That caution continued into 2025. On March 28, Brooklyn College’s International Student Office emailed students warning of potential federal travel restrictions and advised avoiding non-essential international travel until clearer information was available. The message cited uncertainty around visa processing, entry requirements, and possible delays that could affect students’ ability to re-enter the U.S.

Other institutions issued similar advisories. In June 2025, the University of Southern California warned some F-1 and J-1 students about travel risks following a presidential proclamation.

Boston University later warned that expanded vetting, visa delays, and the possibility of new travel bans could continue into Winter 2026.Several students said the warnings changed their travel plans.

A graduate student from Kosovo at Brooklyn College said unclear rules make travel feel stressful.“The issue that bothers many F-1 students is the chance of not getting admitted back into the country,” he said.“It feels like a gamble.”

A business student from Kazakhstan at Baruch College said she decided to stay after hearing stories of students being denied re-entry. “Many people want to go home,” she said, “but they are scared.”

A cybersecurity student from Turkey at John Jay College said he cannot travel because he does not currently have a valid visa. “Even if I could go, I wouldn’t,” he said. “The situation doesn’t feel calm.”

For some students, travel is not realistic at all. A biology student from Russia studying at Queens College said the U.S. Embassy in Russia remains closed. Renewing her visa would require traveling to a neighboring country at significant cost, with no guarantee of approval. “I wish I could spend the New Year with my parents,” she said. “But it will have to wait.”

Not all students stay because of fear. Many point to practical barriers, including airfare prices and the short length of winter break. An Indian student majoring in computer science and economics at Columbia University said flight prices were too high to justify a three-week visit. “The travel itself would take two full days,” she said. “I’d rather use that time to rest and work on a project.”

In contrast, another student from India said she plans to travel home anyway. She said she has not seen her family in over a year and felt prepared for the return. “I’m definitely still concerned,” she said, “but I’ve taken steps to make sure my return is safe. Some of my friends traveled over the summer and were able to come back without issues.”

A nursing student from South Korea at George Washington University said she will stay in the U.S. “Winter break is too short, and I want to save money,” she said. “Also, it is not really safe to travel. If immigration thinks I’m suspicious, I might not be able to re-enter.”

According to the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA), international students contributed $43 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2024-2025 academic year through tuition, housing, and daily expenses. For many students, that financial investment represents years of savings and family support, making the risk of being unable to return especially heavy. 

Even when students say staying is the logical choice, many still feel homesick. Students described spending the holidays alone or with friends instead of family. A student from Hunter College said the winter season is difficult. “Everybody looks forward to holidays to see their families,” he said. “That makes me sad that I can’t.”

The Uzbek student shared, “Back home, we celebrate with many people,” she said. “Here, my friends are with their families.” Still, she tries to stay hopeful. “It’s not a terrible life,” she said. “Just bad timing.”

Even so, universities acknowledge that some international students will still choose to travel. International student offices advise students to confirm that passports and visas are valid, obtain updated I-20 forms, which verify a student’s F-1 status, and carry additional documents such as enrollment verification. Colleges also recommend checking visa appointment availability before traveling and allowing extra time to return. Universities note that preparation may reduce risk, but it cannot guarantee re-entry, as admission decisions are ultimately made by federal officers at ports of entry. Students are also encouraged to discuss travel plans with their international student advisors before departing.

This caution around winter travel in fact reflects larger challenges in international education that are already affecting enrollment. According to Reuters, U.S. colleges saw a 17 percent drop in newly enrolled international students in 2025, raising concerns about how immigration uncertainty is shaping student decisions.

According to data from the Open Doors Report, published by the Institute of International Education, international students make up a significant share of U.S. higher education, across undergraduate, graduate, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs. However, federal systems do not track how many students travel during academic breaks or how many decide to stay.

For many international students, winter break has quietly shifted from a time of reunion to a period of careful decision-making. With no clear travel ban but continued warnings, students say the responsibility falls on them to decide what risks are worth taking.

This winter, many are choosing to stay.

Flower vendors have increased their bouquet prices in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, as agriculture tariffs have affected imported flowers by some 10 percent, according to a recent report by CNN News.  

“A bouquet of 15 dollars with carnations and four roses has increased to 20 dollars with two roses and more carnations,” said a local customer in the Bronx, Gina Rossi. 

Vendors, in turn, expressed frustration with customers who complain about the increases. “Many customers don’t understand and complain about the increase on the bouquets, and we explain to them that it’s becoming expensive for us to get the flowers available for them,” said vendor Jose Mirelba. Florists are not profiting from tariffs.”

Countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and the Netherlands are the largest exporters of flowers and floral material such as vase, foams, plastic flowers, etc. to the United States. According to a 2005 American University report, 85 percent of the flowers sold in the U.S are Imported from these countries. 

Ecuador is the dominant exporter of cut flowers throughout the world. It sells the most roses, carnations, and lilies, to most countries, with the U.S. as their top buyer. 

After Trump’s tariffs on agricultural goods affected the flower industry, prices are increasing and are affecting customers’ pockets and causing doubts to purchase flowers depending on the occasion.

Flower costs have varied wildly through the year, typically price changes based on season and vendor. As of this year common flowers such as Carnations are 2-3 dollars per stem, a dollar increase then last year. Orchids start at 20 dollars a bunch, Baby’s Breath at 15 dollars a bunch. Red Roses could vary from 40 dollars a bouquet or more, other colored roses prices are much higher. 

“Bulk purchases for events like ceremonies and weddings could range from 100 dollars to thousands, customers look for alternatives to achieve their ideal flower arrangements because 500 roses could cost an eye,” said floral designer Jessica Montez. 

Tariffs increase on imported flowers began in May before Mother’s Day. These tariffs significantly impacted South American imports, raising prices on carnations, tulips, roses, plants, and even supplies like foam and vases.

For corner flower shops such as Juquilita Flowers, tariffs prices have had an effect on their customer count. The flower shop, located near Saint Raymond’s Cemetery in the Bronx, mainly sells to customers who purchase for lost loved ones,. The flower shop has been open for over a decade and they are committed to keeping the store open. 

“Before the tariffs increase we sold mixed cardinal bunches for 7 and 10 dollars, we purchased our flowers from Ecuador and the prices have increased for us and we try to keep the prices as low to keep the store open,” said vendor Juan Lucas.

Most flowers are grown in countries with ideal cultivating conditions and low labor costs, Before tariffs increased in May, purchasing flowers grown locally could cost almost double the price of imported flowers due to labor and operation cost. 

“Local flowers are more fresh and better for the economy but more out of reach, most flowers found in local stores are imported and cheaper, and with the rush of the city life it will be difficult to search for local grown flowers,” said customer Carolina Mendez. 

“Every week I come to Juquilita because they are usually more affordable than bigger flower shops. I always purchased the same flowers for 15 dollars, but now the same flowers cost me 23 dollars after taxes,” said local customer Andrea Vincent. 

The flower shop has replenished merchandise less often this month and it’s concerning for the shop’s revenue. 

Hunts Point flower market is the wholesale outlet hub for many flower shops throughout the Bronx. The market was opened in 1967, and later relocated to the flower district on 28th street in Manhattan. 

“Our flowers are imported from South America and many Bronx flower shop owners purchase their flowers here. They ask for discounts or payment plans as the cost of flowers increase,” said florist Ramon Diaz. 

Florists worry that tariffs will increased further, but for now they’re hoping the tariff will stop at 10 percent or get reduced.

New York City is dubbed the “city that never sleeps,” operating twenty-four hours with no breaks. But Coney Island, wide awake in the summer as an iconic tourist destination, sleeps during winter, until the scorching heat returns. 

To most New Yorkers Coney Island is the beach, the Cyclone and Luna Park. It is constantly labeled as a summer attraction. Summer crowds jump around from the boardwalk to the rides to local dining options. All day, the MTA’s Stillwell Avenue station brings waves of visitors, who follow the same routine as those who arrived earlier. It is the season where businesses, both corporate and local, are able to thrive off the large crowds. 

But after the summer, foot traffic diminishes to a trickle of local residents taking the subway to work. The long lines are reduced to three to five people. Business operating hours, which once stretched from noon to midnight or beyond, now end by 10pm. Local businesses, without a brand name to carry them through the off season, close early or shut down entirely. Surf Avenue at night becomes a deserted, quiet space.

Two related development plans are in the works that might swell Coney Island’s resident population and maybe draw visitors to Coney Island in the cooler months.

On December 11th, a one billion dollar reconstruction for the Coney Island boardwalk was approved, according to Grace Tang, program director at the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, who spoke at a Community Board 13 meeting. The plan includes renovating the boardwalk using existing materials, replacing broken wood panels and unleveled concrete floors.

“Once design kicks off, we’ll reach out and work with the Community Board 13, New York City Housing Authority, the alliance of Coney Island, the Aquarium, and many others,” Tang said. Aside from offering new housing space, the ground floor of these new buildings also includes space for businesses to build new restaurants. As of now, there is an Asian cuisine restaurant being built in the space, adding more restaurants in the area.

The boardwalk renovation is part of the “Coney Island West” plan, first announced by NYC Mayor Eric Adams in 2024 that also includes 1,500 units of new housing and an upgrade to the sports center. Mayor Adams said, “We are delivering mixed-income affordable housing, investing $42 million to renovate Abe Stark Sports Center, and making significant improvements across streets, sewers, and the public realm. Coney Island’s best days still lie ahead, and today, we are starting the next chapter of its bright future.” 

The plan intends to encourage local business and address many issues that were caused by Hurricane Sandy, as the storm’s impact on the area is still present to this day. But the Coney Island West plan also stirs fear of gentrification.

Rosalina Khanis, a longtime native of Coney Island, said, “When I was little there were a lot of mom-and-pop shops and overall family-run businesses where everyone knew each other, and now it feels more commercialized, where it’s for business rather than being a community.” Khanis added, “Gentrification, on one point, is ok to bring in more younger people, but on the negative side, the sense of community really goes down.” 

Some businesses, though would be welcome. The current Coney Island area lacks 24-hour delis. Delis on Surf Avenue close down for the night by 11pm. As of now, there is only one deli open for twenty-four hours. The deli is located next to the Coney Island-Stillwell Av, and a worker, Jaheem, who preferred to not give out their last name, said, “People come to us because we are the only deli open all day and all night. MTA workers getting off work come here instead of McDonald’s. We’re the better option.”

   Ruby’s, a popular family-owned restaurant, may also benefit. A former worker, Brandon Zayas, commented, “Rudy’s will only benefit from any change happening to Coney; the place has been in business for decades and is considered a local landmark.” Ruby’s is currently closed for the winter season.

One development plan was recently defeated: the plan to introduce a casino. The selling point for the community was that a casino would boost the area’s economy by attracting year-round foot traffic. The casino proposal encountered pushback from Brooklyn’s borough president, Coney Island’s community board members, and City Council members. Talks regarding the proposal have lingered in the air since 2022, but finally, in 2025, the casino idea was shut down. Dubbed as a victory for the community.

The New York City Council is considering ways to eliminate gender bias in artificial intelligence technology used by city agencies. On December 8, 2025, Council Member Farah N. Louis introduced a bill that would require the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DOITT) to conduct a gendered impact assessment every two years on AI algorithms used by city agencies. As a result, the DOITT would have to evaluate and ensure that any AI technology used does not contribute to gender disparity in the workforce. 

For many AI experts, the bill addresses a problem that they have been researching for years since AI became open to the public. Because AI can have bias. By going unchecked, this bias can bring disadvantages to women in the workplace. Artificial intelligence was developed and introduced to the public as problem-solving software designed to make everyday life easier. While some will argue that it has done that, critics argue that AI is doing more to reinforce gender bias. 

This bias ranges from placing women into stereotypical roles to placing their resumes underneath those coming from men. AI learns from what it is taught and what is documented on the internet. The world itself holds gender bias, and artificial intelligence picks up on that. 

Much of the gender bias that women are facing from AI technology comes from hiring algorithms. These AI-powered algorithms filter through resumes during the hiring process and select candidates they find would be best suited for the job. On a smaller scale, when prompted to generate images, AI will categorize men and women into gendered roles in the workforce, such as nurses and construction workers.

“Most of the leaders in leadership positions are men, right? So, you just don’t have enough examples of women who’ve succeeded,” said Swathi Dhamodaran, a founding member of The Neural.AI, a network of engineering and technology professionals that examines the possibilities of AI. “And therefore,” Dhamodaran said, “what is AI based on? Training data, the bulk of which is successful, but men in this instance. That’s why hiring algorithms have gender biases.” 

In 2018, Amazon pulled an AI-powered recruitment tool after it was determined that it favored the resumes of men over women. The tool learned to pick out gendered terms in resumes that pointed to applicants being women, and even put graduates of two all-women’s colleges at the bottom of the list. Facial recognition systems also struggled to identify women, especially those who are women of color. False matches can be dangerous, leading to false arrests, placement on watch lists, and unwarranted police altercations, among other things. 

Sarah Wyer is a PhD researcher who specializes in bias in AI and received an award for being a top woman in tech. Wyer discovered gender bias within Google and, as an experiment, began prompting the GPT-2 tool she was using to gain feedback on specific gender biases she fed to it. 

“Some of the outputs that we were getting were terrifying,” Wyer said. “It was elevating the status of men and sexualizing the status of women. Then I did it with different versions of GPT-3, which is where ChatGPT came from. It was all very negative and very derogatory against women.” 

Wyer’s research found that AI like ChatGPT is easily influenced, and feeding it these gender biases then causes it to be trained around these beliefs. “The data choices that we make when we’re creating these large language models (LLMs) are important because our values can get embedded within there,” she said. 

Algorithms can be trained to break out of this habit, but it proves difficult when the AI tools can reinforce these biases from what they have already learned. However, the implementation of a bill by the NYC Council is a step towards keeping these tools from continuously leading users towards gender inequity.

“There is so much we as women can do,” Dhamodaran said. “Focus on the impact that can be made rather than the barrier that’s getting in the way of you being the only woman in the boardroom.”

The City University of New York’s Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) is making a difference in addressing low graduation rates in the two-year colleges it serves. Founded in 2007, and offered at 14 CUNY colleges, including some four-year programs, ASAP provides holistic support to students, helping them complete their associate degree in three years or less. 

Three-year graduation rates among ASAP students rose from 36.2% in FY2024 to 38.5% in FY2025, according to the most recent Mayor’s Management report. 

The program offers free unlimited OMNY cards for transportation, tuition scholarships, advising, career exposure opportunities, and textbook assistance. ASAP requires full-time enrollment.

ASAP has increased its support for CUNY students over the years, currently serving some 25,000 students annually, and a total of over 120,000 since it began. As of fall 2025, the program supported 44% of first-time, full-time associate degree-seeking students, according to a recent CUNY ASAP Fast Facts evaluation report. 

The report also showed that 69% of ASAP graduates enroll in a bachelor’s degree program upon entering ASAP, and of those, 43% earn their degree.

“It’s really that kind of commitment, ensuring that students, have all of the resources they need that are very customized to their needs,” said Christine Brongniart, Executive Director of CUNY ASAP. Brongniart also heads Accelerate, Complete, Engage (ACE), launched in 2015, which follows the ASAP model to support bachelor’s degree students. It currently serves seven CUNY colleges and over 7,856 students since its start. 

Brongniart hopes that more investment in ACE’s expansion will create a clear pathway for graduates to complete their bachelor’s degree through ACE.

“The hope is that the city and the state continue to invest in an expansion so that we can ensure that the majority, if not all, of our ASAP graduates are moving to a support structure that will continue to support them to maintain academic momentum and ensure that there is a pathway to bachelor’s completion,” said Brongniart.

In late November, the NYC Council Committee on Higher Education held a hearing, led by the Chairperson Eric Dinowitz, to examine CUNY’s graduation rates. Since 2018, according to the  Mayor’s Management report, graduation rates for associate’s degree students increased from 33.1% in FY2018 to 37.6% in FY2024  Baccalaureate students saw a similar pattern: 56.6% in FY2018, rising to 60% in FY2024. Both showed a slight dip in FY2025. 

Dinowitz urged CUNY administrators to boost these numbers and explore support systems to help students and CUNY. 

“The graduation rates, in my view, they’re not where they need to be, and we need to set our sights a lot higher,” said Dinowitz in the Council hearing. “We are partners here in the City Council to make sure that our students are achieving everything they can, both to benefit themselves and, of course, our entire city at large.”

CUNY students face challenges from multiple factors as they proceed through college.

They must often balance work, family, and school, which can be challenging for these students. This can lead to reduced course loads or increased stress, making it harder to stay in school.

“I was kind of doing less classes because I don’t have the ability to do five classes at once, so I take four classes,” said Ylé Blackburn, a Brooklyn College senior and double major. “For other students, I’m very much aware it just takes a slower time to get through the process than for others at times.”

There are also systemic issues, including limited courses, funding, and advising.

COVID-19 sparked a change in the way students attended school as they had to transition to remote learning. This shift disrupted accessibility, as some students lacked laptops or reliable Wi-Fi. The pandemic imposed financial and mental hardships on many families.

Blackburn, who started college back in 2020, has experienced challenges in her academics with disability support services because of the lack of communication during COVID.

“I went an entire semester without accommodations because during COVID, there was no direction on the website on where to submit my accommodations for help, and then I failed a class,” said Blackburn.

She adds that the accommodation process is ongoing and often challenging. While she appreciates the staff’s efforts to support students, she believes the current systems can be more of a hindrance than help.

Blackburn is set to graduate in May 2026. 

Another contributor to declining graduation rates for CUNY college students is unpreparednes. Not all city high schools prepare students for college.. 

“I think because the Department of Education(DOE) is so focused on increasing graduation rates, it graduates students who are unprepared for post-secondary careers and education,” said David Bloomfield, professor of Education Leadership, Law, and Policy at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center. 

Bloomfield stressed that high schools should clearly explain college academic requirements to students, adding that the city’s college placement process is a key issue. “The city has a motivation for placing students in colleges, and I think sometimes it doesn’t inform students of both the economic and the academic consequences of that decision.”

Across the United States, about 71% of students who started at four-year public colleges in 2018 completed  their degrees within six years, while 43% of those starting at two-year public colleges graduated within the same time frame, according to a 2024 national report. 

The CUNY ASAP and ACE models are influencing efforts nationwide to improve these rates. According to the CUNY’s ASAP and ACE evaluation report, “More than 60 institutions across Ohio, California, Colorado, New York (SUNY), North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Maryland have implemented — or are preparing to implement — the ASAP model with technical assistance from the CUNY National Replication Collaborative.”

Brongniart adds that it’s an expensive model, but the returns are clear, and scaling it could make a big difference. 

“We’re replicating this model through the country, and again it takes millions and millions of dollars up front, but I mean the return is more and more clear,” said Brongniart. “The potential to scale this model it makes such a dramatic impact to lift the tide across the university and other systems too.”

New York City is bursting with creativity. But for Queens, the issue isn’t a lack of talent, but rather a lack of connection. One institution, the Flushing Town Hall, works to provide a remedy for the entire borough and create relationships between cultural institutions. 

“Queens is so amazing. I’ve lived here for a really long time, but what it is missing that other boroughs have, and I’m thinking mostly of Manhattan and Brooklyn, is a really robust network where we have a lot of talent, but not necessarily the network,” said KC Trommer, the director of marketing and community engagement. “So what Flushing Town Hall does as an arts council is really trying to connect the artists to each other and to the resources that are available.”

The FTH is a multidisciplinary arts center and hosts an array of programming and events, but its mission is more than just working for itself; rather, it aims to build and uplift Queens. 

“FTH is so many things: an arts council for Queens that supports the borough’s many talented artists, an education center with a range of school shows and cultural opportunities for kids and their families, a world-class performance space with amazing programming, and a cultural hub for Queens and greater NYC,” said Trommer. 

This cultural hub seeks to unite the borough and build its own network that benefits both organizations and community members. The Queens Cultural Mapping Initiative is a project started by FTH that connects other art facilities within the borough to one another and hosts all of their information in a digital database for the public to view and utilize. 

“The project was inspired by a desire to better understand who is doing cultural work in Queens, what they need, and how we as an institution can better support them,” said Natalie Bedon, the project manager for the Queens Cultural Mapping Initiative. “Queens is one of the most diverse places in the world, yet many artists and organizations operate independently, with little visibility or connection to each other.” 

The initiatives promote collaboration between the organizations represented, as well as addressing the needs of the community. One-on-one interviews, town halls, and artist interviews were used to help inform the project. 

According to the initiative’s executive summary, a benefit of these organizations is how much they showcase culture and heritage in their respective communities. However, these groups are hindered by the geographical makeup of Queens, with inconsistent transportation throughout the borough, and the lack of guidance from a borough-wide arts council, as the Queens Council on the Arts has quietly “transitioned from its traditional role in 2022.” This has resulted in smaller groups working harder to support the entire borough. 

“Collaborating with organizations has been incredibly rewarding. Many groups serve as cultural hubs for their communities,” said Bedon. “Spotlighting their work and giving them a platform has strengthened relationships across the borough and shown just how vibrant and interconnected Queens culture truly is.”

Before its current role as a cultural and artistic space, FTH held a long history that had deviated from the arts. The building opened in January of 1864 as a town hall, but after Queens became part of New York City in 1898, the city took over the building, and it functioned as a courthouse and jail until 1960. Then the building was abandoned. As part of an effort to restore it, the National Park Service deemed it a historic site in 1972. The building reopened as FTH in 1990. As an arts institution, FTH earned many honors, including becoming a member of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs’ (DCLA) Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) in the late 1990s, as well as a Smithsonian Institute affiliate in 2004. 

Today, FTH covers a variety of arts experiences for visitors, including live performances like Monthly Jazz Jam and exhibitions, along with partnering with DOE schools to provide workshops for students. 

But beyond being an arts institution, FTH gives back to the community through providing grants to enhance the neighborhood’s cultural climate, including the Queens Community Arts Grant and the GO Queens Grant for non-profit organizations, and the Artists in Queens Grant. 

The FTH also provides space grants for artists to use the facility and opportunities to connect and receive guidance from FTH staff in Artist Professional Development Conversations and Friday Zoom Artist Hang events. 

Trommer has received a city grant to fund her work on the literary project QUEENSBOUND and understands the impact a grant can have on an artist.

“Getting that grant money was for my own personal writing and then for my project, really important to feel not only supported, but to make it possible for me to do programming that brought in people,” said Trommer.

New York has the highest concentration of Puerto Ricans in the world outside Puerto Rico, but Puerto Rican Studies across City University of New York  has consistently been defunded and understaffed, and often a target for political attack. Puerto Rican and Latin Studies (PRLS)  at Brooklyn College has too few tenured lines meet the minimum requirements for a CUNY department at CUNY: only two tenured faculty remain, several courses run only every two or three years, and the department’s operating budget is less than half what it was in the early 1990s, adjusted for inflation.  

Today, according to CUNY, Brooklyn College is nearly 24 percent Latino, but Puerto Rican students say they cannot find enough courses on the history, diaspora and identity of Puerto Ricans on campus.  

This is not a new situation. In 2022, student Maria Hernandez told Brooklyn College Vanguard “there are barely any classes about our history anymore. Maybe one or two a semester, how is that enough for a Latino campus?”  

At that time, the Vanguard reported that PRLS lacked a viable majority of tenured faculty, despite two new faculty being hired. Students expressed fear that it would be merged with another department as had occurred in previous rounds of cutbacks at CUNY in the 1980s and 1990s. Dr.Virginia Sanchez Korrl, a historian who helped shape the field, warned that eliminating tenure lines in ethnic studies amounts to “disciplinary death.” 

When the Puerto Rican Studies Department, the forerunner of PRLS,  was founded in the early 1970s, fewer than 1% of the students at Brooklyn College were Puerto Rican. Despite having thousands of Latino students today, the department has less funding and fewer resources than some directors of the department had several decades previously.  

By 2007 the Center for Puerto Rican Studies, CENTRO, at Hunter College reported  that Puerto Rican Studies programs at CUNY were consistently “diminished… primarily for budgetary reasons” whenever those programs were placed under the purview of other ethnic studies departments. 

Students say these pressures continue today and are part of a larger pattern of reducing humanities classes. During the COVID-era budget cuts, CUNY eliminated over 3,000 adjunct class sections, disproportionately affecting humanities programs.  

“This is about what stories get told, and which ones get erased,” said Dr. Yarimar Bonilla, director of CENTRO, during a 2023 public panel on austerity and Puerto Rican cultural institutions. “Ethnic studies programs are structurally underfunded because they challenge the status quo. That is not accidental.” 

Bonilla has also warned that austerity measures typically accompany periods of political mobilization for marginalized people. 

“In times of crisis, policing, colonialism, Palestine, there is always pressure to shrink the spaces where critical conversations happen.” 

In 2024, CUNY received a $5 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to continue and expand the Black, Race, and Ethnic Studies Initiative (BRESI), allowing Brooklyn College, among other schools, to offer new courses, support academic research, and offer internships. But experts say BRESI cannot reverse decades of erosion. 

“This is patchwork,” an ethnic studies researcher said during a public BRESI briefing in 2022. “Useful, but not a substitute for rebuilding what decades of cuts eroded.” 

Some PRLS students have noted a relationship between CUNY’s funding priorities and the wider national atmosphere on Palestine activism. After pro-Palestine demonstrations on campuses nationwide, administrators faced pressure from donors, elected officials, and the media to more rigorously scrutinize curriculum and activism taking place in ethnic studies environments. Some students argue that austerity leaves PRLS especially vulnerable to these pressures. 

Some PRLS students say the climate at CUNY has shifted further in the past year, shaped by national backlash to pro-Palestine demonstrations and new campus disciplinary practices. Students at multiple CUNY campuses reported receiving misconduct charges related to protest actions, including charges for “failures to comply,” “disruptive conduct,” and “unauthorized demonstration.” Brooklyn College’s Undergraduate Student Government and administration did not respond to repeated requests for  comment.   

Puerto Rican Alliance’s (PRA) president Angelina Rivera neologized the political climate surrounding ethnic studies as “the broader political environment exacerbated by campus protests,” referencing the campus conduct charges against students across CUNY related to the protests from the previous spring. She told the audience at the Encuentro event that “Our biggest issue as a club now is repression from the administration, especially against political activism,” in reference to the focus on PRLS and solidarity organizing.  

 “Even now, there are a lot of students facing conduct charges we’re still worrying about,” Rivera added. 

While PRLS fights for stability, other departments are growing. Jewish Studies programs across CUNY have received millions in philanthropic donations, including a $3 million donation to CUNY Queens College’s Jewish Studies program in 2023.  

Meanwhile, STEM programs receive more consistent investment: CUNY received $18 million in National Science Foundation STEM grants in 2023-2024. Brooklyn College’s new science facilities were funded through state capital allocations exceeding $100 million over the past decade.  

“STEM expansion is funded as the future,” Bonilla noted in the 2022 panel. “But communities also need the tools to understand power, race, and history. When those programs shrink, students lose more than classes, they lose the language to understand their world.” 

Over 13 years after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, the waterfront community of Gerritsen Beach still suffers from the same vulnerabilities as it did during Hurricane Sandy, as residents say little has changed. 

Before the storm hit in 2012, Gerritsen Beach was considered Zone B in the city’s emergency management plan. This designation was a critical factor in the neighborhood’s preparation and response to the storm, because unlike Zone A, the residents of Zone B were not instructed to evacuate when the storm came. The flooding started with people’s basements but very quickly escalated.  

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that Gerristen Beach would now be considered Zone A, and pledged better social services and improved infrastructure to prevent similar disasters in the future. 

Some homeowners have since elevated their houses to fit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) construction standards, including the base flood elevation (BFE). BFE is the height floodwater is expected to reach during a base flood, which has a 1% chance of occurring any given year. This is true for resident Barbara Curran, who lost her house due to flooding during the storm. She said it took roughly five months to rebuild and elevate her home, but that it worked. 

“Since we elevated our house we haven’t had any flooding,” said Curran. 

Her house used to be below sea level, something that many people in the neighborhood still struggle with. “Many homes with basements continue to flood during heavy rain or coastal storms,” said Curran. 

Since Gerritsen Beach was not originally part of Brooklyn’s floodplain, “…[houses] were not built to current flood resilient construction standards provided by FEMA and reflected in the New York City Building Code,” according to the Department of City Planning (DCP). 

A proposal to rezone Gerritsen Beach under the DCP’s Resilient Neighborhoods initiative entered public review in October 2020, but there haven’t been any updates since then. DCP did not respond to inquiries about the plan’s status. 

According to Community Board 15 Chairperson Theresa Scavo, the proposal appears to have stalled completely. “We were promised DEP [Department of Environmental Protection] sewer shut offs as well as generators for the stores on Gerritsen Avenue and many other updates. But, as far as I remember nothing has been done,” said Scavo. 

She added that no significant action was ever taken. “City Planning proposed how Gerritsen should be zoned and elevation heights but only a few houses have followed the plan,” said Scavo. 

The reason for this is straightforward: “The cost for floodproofing is very high. Most homeowners can’t afford it,” said Scavo. 

With elevation out of reach for many residents, some advocates are pushing for alternative strategies to reduce flooding. One option, permeable pavement, uses alternative materials designed to soak up storm water and prevent flooding. At a Town Hall meeting at Brooklyn College on Oct. 22, permeable pavement advocate Rona Taylor, Executive Director of the Central and South East Brooklyn Community Development Corporation (CXSE BK), described how it would work. 

“It’s a type of pavement where when it floods, the water can go into this material and then it absorbs the water and then when it’s hot, the water evaporates and it cools the air,” said Taylor.

The first implementations of permeable pavement were installed in South Brooklyn over the summer, but there have been no announcements of where it may be installed next. 

For a waterfront neighborhood like Gerritsen Beach, such infrastructure could offer relief. But implementing permeable pavement would require extensive construction and major funding, both of which remain uncertain. 

A new affordable housing project is set to be built in Bath Beach, with the remodeling of the New Utrecht Library and the adjacent parking lot, to create new apartments that will be part of a new city program called “Living Libraries.” 

Living libraries are a city initiative that is part of the “City for Yes for Families” led by the city government, as well as the Economic Development Corporation, the Brooklyn Public Library, and Housing Preservation and Development. The program involves remodeling existing libraries and adding affordable housing. 

Over the last few years, the Bath Beach/Bensonhurst area has seen many changes, including business openings and closings, and project delays. Still, one of the major topics under discussion is adding housing to the area.

In 2023, the area received notice of a new homeless shelter under construction, and the community’s reaction was adverse. Both Councilmember Susan Zhuang and Assemblymember William Colton, along with many residents, protested for over 100 days straight to hope that the shelter wouldn’t be built. 

The reasoning is that the homeless system is flawed, and businesses and schools surround the location at 2501 86th St. The current fight is ongoing as the neighborhood approaches the demolition date of the building that will become a homeless shelter. 

In late September, Mayor Adams announced the redevelopment of the New Utrecht library as part of the “Living Libraries program.” Its goal is to develop more affordable housing. His administration, earlier this year, announced that it “created, preserved, or planned approximately 426,800 homes for New Yorkers. This will include the 69-year-old library and the parking lot next to it. 

“Earlier this year, I told New Yorkers that we would make our city the best place to raise a family; projects like New Utrecht and how we get it done. This ambitious project will deliver affordable housing, high-quality services, and a state-of-the-art library, all in one location,” said Mayor Adams.  

The current stage of the process is the community engagement section, which seeks to understand the community’s views, including those of the public and government officials who represent it.

“At this very early stage in the process, my priority is to determine how our residents feel about the project,” said District 47 Assemblymember William Colton. “For this reason, I am reaching out in a variety of ways to those who live and work in the area, to determine what questions and issues they may have about what is being proposed, and any concerns that they may feel need to be addressed. My intention, once I clarify this, is to advocate strenuously on behalf of my constituents, to make sure that their needs are taken into account.” 

As of now, Community Board 11 hasn’t taken a stance on the project. They are waiting for residents to contact them. 

The library project isn’t new in New York; in 2017, the Fifth Ave Committee announced plans for an affordable housing project at the Sunset Park Library in Sunset Park. The project includes a renovated library and 50 units around it, which were reopened in November 2023. 

At the time, people were mixed on the project, as it could lead to gentrification or displacement from the community. Another issue is that some residents aren’t able to access that housing due to costs and background checks. 

“Yeah, it’s affordable for some people, and that’s great, but the reality is that a lot of people in Sunset don’t have the paperwork necessary to even apply for this type of housing. Not to mention the process is long and tedious,” said Antonio Meza, who has been a resident in Sunset Park for 15 years. “Overall, I’m more for more affordable housing, but the process to obtain it needs to be improved.”

As of now, there is no set date for the construction or demolition of the New Utrecht Library, but the questionnaire regarding people’s reactions to the NYC Housing Preservation and Development deadline is scheduled for December 19. 

In the morning of November 5th, the Magen David Yeshiva on McDonald Ave, in Gravesend, Brooklyn, was graffitied with a swastika symbol. It was spray-painted on a fence pillar in front of the Yeshiva building and on a nearby school window.

This is offensive to the Jewish community, as it reminds them of the Nazis and antisemitism happening in New York City. 

“The vandalism of the Yeshiva is just another reminder that anti-Semitism is still with us. Anti-Semitic hate crimes are more common than other hate crimes in America, and it’s only becoming more prevalent,” said Richard Shlayan, a resident of Brighton Beach and part of the Jewish community, in an interview.

Currently, the NYPD is looking for the suspect, and surveillance video shows him fleeing the scene on a bike towards Avenue S. 

This offended the community, so the following day there was a heavy security presence in the area. Men who identified as security were patrolling while kids were still in school, as well as McDonald Park across the street. 

This has prompted newly elected mayor Zohran Mamdani to speak out on X.“This is a disgusting and heartbreaking act of antisemitism, and it has no place in our beautiful city. As Mayor, I will always stand steadfast with our Jewish neighbors to root the scourge of anti-Semitism out of our city,” said Mamdani.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, in 2024, there were a total of 976 incidents of Jewish Hate, and in Brooklyn, there were 253 incidents. The organization is also concerned about the severity of incidents across the city. 

William Colton, Assemblymember of District 47, put out a press release stating, “I am confident that the culprits who committed their shameful acts in the dark of night will be identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. But, we must go further to ensure the safety and peace of mind of all of our religious and ethnic communities,” said Colton.

As of the writing of this article, no arrests have been made. Currently, the Yeshiva has not made any public statement. 

The Jewish community is still doubtful of the future steps the government could take to combat hate speech.“Our government and institutions have failed to combat this crisis, if they’re even trying,” said Shlayan.

The number of animals entering shelters has been increasing, so Petco has partnered with several animal welfare organizations to host adoption events. On September 6, they brought dogs and cats for adoption to Bensonhurst. 

As of June 2025, approximately 2.8 million cats and dogs were entering animal shelters annually in the United States, according to data from the Shelter Animal Count. This influx has led to significant overcrowding, particularly in urban areas like New York City, where some shelters have been forced to stop accepting new animals due to capacity limitations.

The Animal Care Center of NYC (ACC), a non-profit organization, faced a challenge in July 2025, when its animal population exceeded 1,000, leading to what ACC called “a capacity challenge.” ACC reported more than 600 animals surrendered by their owners in June 2025.

Despite this, the group is still accepting new animals into its shelters. Furthermore, ACC is expanding with a new shelter location in the Bronx scheduled to open by late 2025. But the ACC’s primary goal is “to end animal homelessness,” according to an ACC coordinator. 

The ACC regularly organizes adoption events across different parts of New York City, collaborating with numerous other animal rescue organizations. Furthermore, ACC has established a partnership with Petco, allowing it to showcase adoptable animals at select Petco stores. 

Petco’s Bensonhurst location frequently hosts adoption events, providing a place for different organizations to showcase animals in need of homes. Key organizations that have participated in these events at the Bensonhurst store include Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), Pup Start Rescue, See Spot Rescued (SSR), and Best Friends Animal Society. 

The event is designed to provide prospective adopters with an understanding of the responsibilities and emotional aspects of pet adoption, ensuring that they are prepared to provide a lifelong, caring home for the animal they choose to adopt. The adoption process typically begins with a thorough interview about expectations of adopting a pet. Organizations prioritize understanding an applicant’s history with pets, their current living situation, and their approach to caring for the animal. Once the initial assessment is complete, applicants will then be required to provide identification and pay an adoption fee before they can take their new pet home. 

The rate at which pets are surrendered by their owners to shelters remains high. A recent case highlighting this issue involves a dog named Coco. Coco was surrendered by her owner, though the specific reasons behind this decision are unknown.  

A volunteer from the ACC, Jake, observed Coco’s gentleness with other humans, noting that she would be an ideal companion for an owner, capable of“just to sit on their lap and watch TV. It’s like a companion.” Jake said.

During this event, there were lots of cats and dogs waiting to be adopted. There were several types of animals to choose from, both big and small. The volunteers helped out the community by letting people take out the dogs for a walk, petting or playing around with the cats.

Despite many animals creating a busy and sometimes challenging environment, the staff genuinely seemed to enjoy caring for them and strongly encouraged continued adoption. 

Tasha, who preferred not to give his last name, is a current mobile adoption coordinator and travels across the city to ensure that every animal’s basic needs are met. 

“I think this is what leads to like our capacity challenges, is […] if we overpopulate with cats, we can put pop-up crates in a room and double our capacity. For example, in like certain rooms with dogs, it’s not an easy solution because you can’t just throw six dogs in an area or without being very deliberate about who it is.” Tasha explained. 

    Flushing residents, like the members of the Flushing Workers Center, are enraged by the recent approval of the building of casinos in their hometown of Flushing and are demanding answers. 

   “We are outraged by the Gaming Facility Location Board’s decision to give billionaire Steve Cohen, who was at the head of the largest insider trading scandal in American history, a license to build a casino on public land in our community. To be clear, this is a racist attack on our communities,” the center stated in their press release immediately following the approval of the casinos. 

   The New York Gaming Facility Location Board approved the licensing for the final three casino candidates on Dec. 1st. The approved licenses are for the building of casinos in the Bronx and Queens, leaving residents within these communities furious with the agreed-upon outcomes. 

   This licensing approval allows Bally’s Corporation in the Bronx, and Metropolitan Park and Resorts World in Queens to advance to the next round of approvals, which will allow the building of the casinos in these areas. 

   Though community members are mourning the approval, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and some Flushing organizations welcomed the news. 

    In a statement, Gov. Hochul said, “The three projects approved today [Dec 1st] promise to unlock billions in funding for the MTA and create tens of thousands of jobs. It is critical that they keep those promises. I look forward to the Gaming Commission’s review of the Board’s recommendations in the weeks ahead.”

   The Alliance for Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the area where the Metropolitan Park casino is set to be built, maintained its favorable opinion when it comes to the building of the casino in its park. 

   Rob Carson, the media contact of The Alliance for FMCP, stated, “The Alliance for Flushing Meadows Corona Park supports the Metropolitan Park development that will bring thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment to Queens. However, the Alliance wants to see more investment go directly into the park, from both public and private sources. Our concern is that the influx of visitors to the new development will not be met with adequate maintenance support for the parkland outside of its footprint.”

   A representative of Metropolitan Park spoke about the positive impact this casino will provide to the Queens community, in an article by The City.

   “After years of community engagement and support, Metropolitan Park is one step closer to becoming a reality,” said spokesperson Karl Rickett. “Following a fair, transparent, and rigorous process, the Gaming Facility Location Board has validated the positive economic impact this project will have with billions of dollars in tax revenue, 23,000 union jobs, and over $1 billion in community benefits.”

   Queens residents have been rallying against the casino for months, hosting protests, meetings, and fundraisers to abolish the casino from their neighborhood.

   Graciela Quispe, a lifelong resident of New York City and member of the Flushing anti-casino group, explained, “Not only is a casino in the neighborhood obviously going to bring gambling addictions, but it will also make my entire neighborhood a casino town, where we all work for the casino, live for the casino.”

   Quispe followed this statement by stating, “We deserve to not be bound to work at a casino for the rest of our generations. We deserve to dream bigger. The Flushing Anti-Casino Group demands the release of all communications between Steve Cohen, Assembly member Larenda Hooks, State Senator John Liu, and any private gaming facility location board meetings. We demand the release of all redacted information on the Metropolitan Park applicant.”

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani made a surprise visit to the Bronx borough’s holiday tree lighting ceremony at Lou Gehrig Plaza of the Grand Concourse on December 5th.

Before the tree lighting which was sponsored by television station Univision, Bronx Borough President Vanesa Gibson introduced Mamdani to begin the ceremony. 

Mamdani expressed his appreciation for the borough and made promises to make the Bronx an affordable and safer place for locals.

“We are going to make sure that no longer The Bronx is the forgotten borough of the city,” said Mamdani.

Mamdani answered questions as to why the Bronx is considered a forgotten city. He explained that in many budget decisions the Bronx is not included. 

“This is going to be the borough where we deliver our fast and free buses, the borough where we deliver on rent freeze, the borough where we deliver universal child care,” said Mamdani.

As the Mayor-elect delivered his speech the crowd applauded and cheered.

“I was not aware that the Bronx was a forgotten borough but I hope Mamdani does keep his word,” said daycare worker Maria Cerano who was at the event. 

Gibson took the stage and informed the crowd of Univision’s annual toy giveaway for those hundreds of people who attended the ceremony.

As the night was filled with music and joy Santa arrived with bags of toys to hand out to the kids  one by one.

“I have brought my two kids to the toy giveaway and yet to be disappointed, many beautiful gifts that the kids enjoy”, said local Miranda Gomez.

Univision has partnered with past and current Bronx Borough presidents for their annual tree lighting at Lou Gehrig Plaza for many years. The ceremony has featured elected officials, high school choirs, NYPD bands, local musicians, and a Univision toy drive. 

Many people approach Mamdani asking questions on his future plans for the borough and suggestions on their unique situations.

“I know too many Bronx sites that are having to look at if they can even stay in this city any longer”, said Mamdani. “We are going to transform the most expensive city in this state”.

In the early morning of December 7, Rikers detainee Aramis Furse was found “unwell” in his cell by an officer. Less than 90 minutes after being transported from the facility to a hospital in Queens, he was pronounced dead. Furse was the 14th to die in the custody of the New York City Department of Corrections (DOC) in 2025. Another Rikers inmate had died in custody less than a month earlier. 

“The safety of everyone in our care is always our foremost concern, ” said Lynelle Maginley-Liddie, NYC Correction Commissioner, in a news release regarding Furse’s death. She added that the Department is “mourning the tragic death” of Furse, and will fully investigate the event. 

The announcement of Furse’s death sparked outrage among prison reform advocates who have long been calling for conditions at Rikers to be improved until the facility can be shuttered. 

Inmates at Rikers “have suffered immense violence, medical neglect and preventable deaths,” said Yonah Zeitz, the Advocacy Director of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice, an organization working to build community power and win systemic change. 

The organization is urging Governor Kathy Hochul to sign legislation that would overhaul the State Commission of Corrections (SCOC), an agency responsible for the oversight of New York state correctional facilities, including Rikers. By reviewing over 200 SCOC inspection reports, news outlet New York Focus found that major problems went unresolved for years, contributing to violence and deaths in correctional facilities. Though the agency released a report in 2018 listing Rikers as the worst jail in the state, it has taken no action to intervene as conditions deteriorate. 

The Katal Center is also campaigning for the city to continue on the path to close Rikers, which Zeitz said the Adams administration had “abandoned.” 

Introducing the city’s planned borough-based jails is “one step in terms of improving the culture that we have behind bars,” said Alana Sivin, director of the Greater Justice New York program of the Vera Institute of Justice, a policy organization committed to ending overcriminalization and mass incarceration. The new facilities will feature increased access to medical and mental health care, and smaller units will allow better monitoring. Sivin added that “as long as we have our jail system as it is right now, that’s not a system that treats people with dignity.” 

Medical neglect has long been reported among Rikers inmates. City records show that, during the month of April 2022, people detained on Rikers Island missed nearly 12,000 medical appointments. A state judge ordered the New York City Department of Corrections to pay out fines to Rikers inmates who had been deprived of medical appointments. The decision was called a “critical step towards holding the City accountable for its unwillingness to ensure the health and safety of people incarcerated in its jails” in a statement from the Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, and Milbank LLP, the firms that brought the lawsuit. 

However, in response to Faust’s passing, the Legal Aid Society and Brooklyn Defenders emphasized that the DOC has proven ill-equipped to handle conditions on Rikers Island. 

In May of 2025, state judge Laura Taylor Swain announced that she would appoint an independent remediation manager to work in conjunction with the DOC Commissioner. 

“Neither court orders nor the Monitor’s interventions are sufficient to push the DOC toward compliance,” she said. 

While the remediation manager still has not been named, Silwa added that she hopes the manager will realize that conditions in the DOC can not be improved while Rikers still stands. Silwa hopes mayor-elect  Zohran Mamdani‘s administration will maintain a close relationship with the manager. She also hopes to see Mamdani’s administration “really working to reduce the jail population by investing in alternatives to pretrial detention” and to speed up construction of the borough-based jails. 

Furse’s family told News 12 they were not contacted when he was transported to the hospital, only finding out when someone saw it on the news and informed them. They were trying to get him to a drug treatment program, but described him as otherwise healthy and known for being soft-spoken and respectful. Furse was arrested in early 2025 and was set to appear in court the week of his death. 

“Even though the condition surrounding him,” Furse’s father said, “he was very optimistic.” 

The NYU Production Lab felt warm and busy on Saturday evening, November 22, as people walked through the International Student Arts Incubator Showcase. Bright screens, drawings, music, and short performances filled the room, each shaped by the students’ own backgrounds and personal journeys. Many of the artists spoke openly about their experiences studying far from home, adding a quiet layer of meaning beneath the creative work they shared. 

According to NYU’s Creative Career Hub, the incubator helps students practice their craft, create portfolios, and understand what steps artists need to take after graduation. But the heart of the program was obvious when students performed and explained how their projects grew out of their own experiences.

Gabriela Pinasco, student from Ecuador showed the first part of a documentary she filmed in the Amazon rainforest. She has worked with Indigenous communities before, and she wanted to show how environmental damage is affecting their lives. She explained that Ecuador does not have a large documentary industry, so studying in New York taught her how filmmaking, producing, and festival distribution actually work. “Learning the process is important,” she said. “It will help me share these stories with more people.” Her full film will be around forty minutes long.

Nearby, artist Odalia Zubarev from Toronto presented her first personal art project Selvedge, a series of stitched portraits combining alcohol marker drawings with sashiko thread. Sashiko, a traditional Japanese mending technique, is used symbolically in the work to explore themes of identity, resilience, and emotional repair.

Odalia moved to New York about seven months ago for a one-year MBA program at NYU’s Stern School of Business. Even though business is her main field, she explained that she has always cared about making art. “It started as a hobby,” she said, “but it’s something I want to keep doing.” She hopes to stay in the U.S. through temporary employment authorization after graduation and said that life as an international student can feel lonely, especially without close family support. Still, finishing this project gave her confidence and reminded her why she wants to build a future in New York.

On the other side of the room, a music student from East Asia talked about his goal of bringing the popular music of his home country to a wider world audience. He studies composition and songwriting, and he believes New York is the best place to grow creatively. The student, who asked not to be named, explained being an international student makes him work harder because his time in the U.S. is limited. “You feel pressure, but it helps you focus,” he said. “You don’t want to waste the chance.”

A theatre student from China, who also asked not to be named, shared a written piece based on a character he first created while studying abroad in London. The story explores identity and masculinity, and how people sometimes feel the need to perform roles that don’t fully match who they are. He said creating art while far from home feels emotional, but it also gives him a sense of purpose.

Although their backgrounds and media were different: film, illustration, music, and theatre; the four students shared similar feelings about the showcase. Many said the incubator gave them a safe place to experiment, learn, and meet people who understand what it is like to study in a new country. They also spoke about working under pressure, missing home, and trying to make the most of their time in New York.

By the end of the night, the room felt calmer. The showcase proved how meaningful it is when students from around the world are given space to tell their stories through art.