Dyckman Farmhouse: History in Focus 2025 – “Diversity and it’s Limits: Attitudes Towards Immigration in New York”

Dyckman Farmhouse Museum presents History In Focus 2025:

A Virtual Lecture Series on
Immigrant History in Upper Manhattan

“Diversity and it’s Limits: Attitudes Towards Immigration in New York” with Dr. Philip Kasinitz

June 18th, 2025
12pm on Zoom

FREE!
REGISTER HERE!

New York’s history has long been the history of migrants and newcomers. Since the days of Dutch New Amsterdam, waves of migrants—some voluntary, some not—have continually remade the city. Historically, immigrants have accounted for almost all of the City’s population growth as well as its emergence as a center of economic activity and cultural innovation.

Despite its long history of ethnic and racial conflict, New Yorkers have generally been more favorably disposed towards immigration—if not necessarily towards all groups of immigrants– than most Americans. However, last year’s influx of refugees, many of whom were bused to New York, has presented the city with new challenges. The mayor described this influx as “unprecedented” and feared that it could “destroy the city”. More recently the policies of the Trump administration have framed migration as a “crisis” and local and federal policies have increasingly come into conflict.

For the FINAL presentation of History in Focus 2025, Dr. Philip Kasinitz will explore some of the history of how New York has received immigrants and discuss what is and is not new about the present situation. Dr. Kasinitz will also present the surprising findings of a new survey on attitudes towards migrants among today’s New Yorkers.

Philip Kasinitz is Presidential Professor of Sociology and director of the Advanced Research Collaborative at the City University of New York Graduate Center, where he founded the Master’s program in International Migration Studies. His co-authored book Inheriting the City: The Children of Immigrants Come of Age received the American Sociological Association Distinguished Book Award and the Eastern Sociological Society’s Mira Komarovsky Book award. Other recent works include Growing Up Muslim in Europe and the United Sates and Global Cities, Local Streets. Former President of the Eastern Sociological Society, he serves on The Russell Sage Foundation’s committee on Race, Ethnicity and Immigration and the Historical Advisory Committee of the Ellis Island Museum.

This program is supported, in part, by, the Honorable Carmen De La Rosa, New York City Council, District 10.

WHCO: 10th Anniversary Season Finale!

Featuring the string players of the orchestra, the Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra concludes our season with Landscapes, a musical homage to the distant lands that are a part of our heritage.

Program:

  • Fela Sowande: African Suite for Strings
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings

Even those born and raised in Washington Heights tend to look back to their heritage in a distant homeland. Talking about “where we are from” is one of the most common unifying conversations in our community. We conclude our 10th anniversary season exploring heritage with Landscapes, featuring the string players of the WHCO in two large format works hailing from Nigeria and Russia. Fela Sowande is considered the father of modern Nigerian music, and his piece African Suite for Strings seamlessly blends both original and traditional themes from countries like Nigeria and Ghana into its five contrasting movements. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is synonymous with the Russian musical output of the late 19th century and was responsible for other powerhouse works like 1812 Overture and The Nutcracker. We conclude the program with his Serenade for Strings. Tchaikovsky himself believed that this work was one of the finest pieces he ever wrote, stating it is “a piece from the heart, and so, I venture to hope that this work is not without artistic qualities.”

Prior to the concert, at 2:15pm, bring the whole family to our “Meet the Instruments” petting zoo where even our youngest listeners can get up close and personal with their favorite instruments before seeing them come alive onstage. This event will take place (weather permitting) in the beautiful setting of the Fort Washington Green, the community garden space at FWCC.

Cornerstone Studios: 10th Anniversary Open Studios & Benefit Auction

Please join the artists of 2025 NoMAA Uptown Arts Stroll honoree, Cornerstone Studios, for a 10th Anniversary Open Studios & Benefit Auction on Saturday, June 14, from 11am to 5pm.
See work by John Hampshire, Linda Smith, Marjorie Van Cura, Vicky Azcoitia, Gal Cohen, Jessica Alazraki, 2025 Uptown Arts Stroll honoree Jeff Hoppa, Paul Birbil, Alison Cuomo, Christine Kuper, Soren Glassing, Jeanne Jalandoni, Matt Jones and Katitia Miller, plus Studio178 Artist-in-Residence, Dana Schein.
There will be a benefit auction by current and former Cornerstone members in Gallery178 to benefit Our Saviour’s Atonement Lutheran Church’s captial campaign.

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