Wellesley Free Library
The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape
Photographs of New Americans
Mark Chester
This exhibit of inspirational portraits, presented by photographer Mark Chester, offers a moving display of more than 400 newly naturalized U.S. citizens who hail from over 190 of the 196 countries and territories around the globe and are now residents of the Commonwealth.
The Bay State: A Multicultural Landscape, Photographs of New Americans may be viewed throughout July and August at the Wellesley Free Library located at 530 Washington Street. Hours are Monday through Thursday 9AM-9PM; Friday 9AM-6PM; and Saturday 9AM-5PM.
“This photographic essay conveys the many faces of immigrants in our American society. It captures the fact that the strength of America is the extremely varied background of our citizens. We should cherish this process and continue to nourish it. In this photo essay, “immigrant” becomes “U.S. citizen,” and we better understand the importance of naturalization which often gets overlooked in the broader dialogue of immigration matters. Congratulations to Mark.”
— Honorable William P. Joyce, Immigration Judge, U.S. Immigration Court (retired)
The Mark Chester Diversity Project has developed a new educational program, “Faces of America:” Teaching Tolerance to Massachusetts’ Elementary Schools. The program will utilize Chester’s exhibit of photographs of new Americans and his companion book as well as complementary classroom activities and lesson plans. “Faces of America,” which is launching with a pilot program for the Falmouth Public Schools, is designed to help students to understand that differences in viewpoint and culture are to be cherished and appreciated rather than judged and feared. The project will provide the opportunity for students to develop their own cultural identity while appreciating the vast variety of ethnicities that make up their state.
As President John F. Kennedy said, “Everywhere, immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of American life.”