1 Earth City (NYChildren) Story

by Danny Goldfield

It’s 2025, and systems meant to protect fairness and dignity are failing too many people. Due process is no longer guaranteed for everyone in our communities. What can we do?

In 2003, during a cross-country drive from Los Angeles to New York City, I pulled into a gas station in Mesa, Arizona and met Rana Sodhi. He was a Sikh whose brother had been murdered in a hate crime just four days after 9/11, right in front of their family owned gas station. A year later, Rana lost a second brother, shot to death while driving his taxi in San Francisco.

Rana chose connection over fear. He told me, “It’s important for me to get out of my house and meet my neighbors.” By showing up, he hoped to build understanding and reduce the danger to himself, his family and his community.

Driving later that night, inspired by Rana’s simple prescription to make the world safer, I was struck by the idea to photograph a child from every country on earth and find them all living in New York City.

I started with no camera in hand showing up in neighborhoods around the city. I would go with a friend or volunteer and show up at immigrant service organizations, churches, mosques, restaurants, hair salons, government offices, and more. We listened, built trust, and met community leaders who introduced us to families willing to participate.

On September 21, 2011, Rana joined me in New York for the opening of a work-in-progress exhibit at the so-called Ground Zero Mosque. With media cameras rolling and flashing, Rana cut the ceremonial red ribbon to open the show that his good will inspired.

One more thing, the original name NYChildren was replaced with “1 Earth City (NYChildren)”.