New Jersey Monuments to Migration and Labor

The New Jersey Monuments to Migration and Labor project is a three-year initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation and Rutgers University to honor the history, labor contributions, and resilience of immigrants and migrants across the state.

Over the past year, Monuments to Migration and Labor (NJMML) has organized and facilitated 27 public events across the state of New Jersey. Monument artists Chat Travieso (Central Jersey), Michelle Angela Ortiz (North Jersey), and Immanuel Oni (South Jersey) have now completed the designs for installations that will debut to the public in June, July, and at the start of August, respectively. The monument artists’ final concepts reflect both distinct visions, and a shared commitment to participatory processes and sustained community engagement that have driven NJMML from the beginning. Grounded in listening to migrants and their descendants, these works channel collective histories and voices into powerful works of art that invite the public to honor immigrants, migrants, and their contributions.