In the face of the climate crisis, immigrant women in New York City are not only survivors: They are storytellers, witnesses, and leaders.
Climate Chronicles: Immigrant Women’s Voices in NYC is a storytelling and exhibition project by New Women New Yorkers that centers immigrant women’s lived experiences at the intersection of climate change, migration, and everyday resilience.
In Fall 2025, Climate Chronicles took shape as a five-session training program combining photography and written storytelling, culminating in a public exhibit. Through facilitated writing workshops and a guided photography field walk, participants developed the skills to document how climate change and green energy intersect with daily life in New York City. The program created space to explore real challenges immigrant communities face, including heatwaves, flooding, and pollution, while also strengthening participants’ ability to communicate personal stories connected to broader climate justice issues.
Using photography as a tool for observation and advocacy, and writing as a way to connect personal experience with collective realities, each participant created a visual and written story grounded in her lived experience. Together, these works form a collective exhibit that invites audiences to listen closely, reflect deeply, and engage with climate justice through the voices of immigrant women, highlighting connections between environment, housing, migration, and community resilience, and imagining more just and inclusive futures.
This project is made possible thanks to the financial support of Con Edison and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Their support sends a strong message: that immigrant women’s voices matter, and that they belong at the center of the fight for climate justice and a better future for all.
I want to talk about the trash, by Dilenia Carolina Rodriguez
Through images of waste and everyday consumption, Dilenia reflects on immigrant life in New York City and the tension between resourcefulness and excess. Her story recalls earlier ways of living that valued reuse and imagination, offering a hopeful vision where discarded objects become tools for play and creativity.
In a City of Millions, No One Should Be Invisible, by Kateryna Vynohradova
Kateryna’s story turns our attention to parts of the city we often overlook. In a place filled with millions of people, some lives remain nearly invisible. Her story is about survival, kindness, and the small acts that can make a meaningful difference, reminding us that no one should be unseen in a city like New York.
When Rainbows Speak of Hope, by Vero Henintsoa Andriamiarisoa
A double rainbow over the Hudson River reconnects Vero, a Malagasy diplomat, to her childhood in Antananarivo and to the enduring promise of light after storms. Her story weaves together climate vulnerability, displacement, and resilience, reminding us that even after profound change, renewal remains possible.
Lessons Learned from Mango Trees, by Jolly Patel
From a childhood rooted in nature in rural India to rebuilding purpose in Queens, Jolly’s story reflects a journey of disconnection and return. Inspired by her grandmother and her love of the natural world, she finds her voice through community work and environmental advocacy, using storytelling as a tool for climate justice.
The Park, by Mariana Gutiérrez
A quiet morning walk with her dog, Lola, brings Marianna back to childhood memories of early mornings and the belief that everything had to be “just right.” Over time, and especially after migrating, she learned that life does not unfold that way. Comparing herself to trees, Marianna reflects on how storms, changing climates, and shifting traditions can reshape us without breaking us. Her story speaks to resilience, self-belief, and the quiet strength to bloom again after even the coldest winters.
A Second Chance, by Maria de Los Angeles Baez Rivera
This story reflects on a traumatic memory of destruction in Mexico and its lasting emotional impact on Maria. Years later, returning to the rebuilt place, she encounters it as a symbol of resilience, renewal, and hope. The story weaves together personal migration, collective strength, and the need for awareness and care in a time of climate change, emphasizing the act of rebuilding both places and our relationship with the planet.
The Air We Breathe, by Dayra Barona
Dayra reflects on a seemingly peaceful autumn day in New York City, where clean-looking air masks invisible pollution. As the body reacts, her story raises a quiet but urgent question: has breathing clean air become a luxury in a city drifting further from its natural balance?
A Memory That Still Echoes in My Heart, by Veronica Saquisili
Veronica’s story is a wake-up call about how we care for this planet, and about the human decisions that have led to the loss of innocent lives. It reflects on the deep intersections between climate justice, responsibility, and accountability.
Longing to see you again… My beautiful Flamboyant, by Rosa Velez
This story is about a woman who remembers growing up in Puerto Rico and how her mother protected her during big storms. Years later, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, and she felt very worried because her mother was there and she was in New York. The island was damaged, but the community worked together to rebuild.
The story is about love, hope, and wanting to see her mother again on their strong and beautiful island.
Hope in Solitude, by Shakila Haseen
A lonely sparrow perched on a barren tree stirs deep emotions for Shakila, calling to mind the contrasting climates of her homeland and her life today. While she no longer experiences the direct impacts of climate change as her family and friends do, she recognizes the urgency of taking action for a greener world. Through her story, Shakila shares a vision of a future where the Earth and its inhabitants live in balance and harmony.
Meet the team behind Climate Chronicles Exhibit
Maria Isabel Dicent
Maria Isabel Dicent served as the Project Coordinator and facilitator of Climate Chronicles: Immigrant Women’s Voices in NYC at New Women New Yorkers. A bilingual facilitator and storyteller, she led workshops that empowered immigrant women to share their experiences around climate justice and resilience in New York City. In this role, Maria Isabel guided participants in story development, public speaking, and podcast creation, helping them amplify their voices and raise awareness about the intersection of immigration and climate change.
A graduate of NWNY’s We Speak We Lead program (2022), Maria Isabel first joined the organization as a volunteer before facilitating the Bridge to LEAD workshops in 2024. Her work centers on building confidence and advocacy skills in immigrant communities through creative storytelling, leadership development, and community engagement.
Ana Reza
Ana Reza was born in Mexico City. She came to New York looking for new challenges to improve her personal and professional life. From an early age, she enjoyed writing and illustrating short stories and books. She studied journalism, and her constant need to communicate her ideas, thoughts, and concerns in the English language has led her to take several English writing courses. Thanks to New Women New Yorkers she has discovered that her voice has no limits, no matter what language you speak.
For Climate Chronicles, Ana facilitated a photography workshop and field walk.