Make the Road New York’s annual Dignity, Community, and Power Awards Gala celebrates our organization and honors leaders who fight to achieve dignity and justice for immigrant and working-class communities.

This year marks our 25th anniversary, and we are thrilled to celebrate this major milestone at our gala! We will celebrate the resilience and strength of our movements, recognize our fellow changemakers, and look ahead to the future we can – and must – build together.

As our most important fundraiser of the year, the Gala raises critical general operating support and gives us the opportunity to bring our members, staff, closest allies, and supporters together. 

Thank you for your support.

Gala Artist and Design Concept

Leanne Gan is a queer Chinese-Filipino designer and illustrator based in Brooklyn. She works as a designer for the American Civil Liberties Union and during the pandemic has pivoted to creating art to support small businesses and social impact organizations. For the 25th Anniversary, Leanne worked to showcase the organization’s passion and historic commitment to supporting the needs of their community throughout the design. People and posters from multiple actions and community days were collaged to show elements of the community that makeup 25 years of Make the Road. 

The Exhibit

25 YEARS. 25,000+ MEMBERS. 25+ PORTRAITS

Make the Road NY’s exhibit this year reflects our membership over the last 25 years. It consists of nearly 50 portraits of a broad spectrum of members and staff who are or have been part of our organization at different times in our history. Community members were photographed over the course of four days, using our Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Long Island, and Westchester offices as the backdrop for this series.

Josue Mendoza is a 23-year-old New York City-based photographer born in Ecuador. After earning his Associate’s degree in Arts at LaGuardia Community College, he is now pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at SUNY Purchase College. Using their environment as a means for storytelling, Josue catches a glimpse of his subject’s stories in a single snapshot. Josue’s ability to connect with his subjects allows them to open up, become their best selves in front of the camera, and feel powerful.