Join us for the launch of Colin Boyd Shafer’s newest book, Finding American: Stories of Immigration from All 50 States. Colin will be sharing photographs from the project as well as having a conversation with author Gabriel Allahdua of Harvesting Freedom: The Life of a Migrant Worker in Canada (2023). The evening’s event will be led by award-winning author Martha Bátiz of No Stars in the Sky (2022).

About the book:

A captivating photographic portrait of the diverse experiences of immigrants in the United States, depicting the resilience and realities of building a home in a new place.

Disturbed by the increasingly hostile views of immigrants that arose in the United States during the 2016 presidential election, photographer Colin Boyd Shafer set out on a road trip to meet hundreds of families and individuals with roots abroad who now live in America. The result, after a year of travel covering fifty thousand miles, is this collection of striking photos and moving stories that form a portrait of the nation’s complex and shifting relationship to immigration. Some of the participants chose to make America home; others were displaced by crises. Some were warmly welcomed and granted citizenship; others battled the immigration system for years and still live with fear and uncertainty. Their circumstances and origins vary, but all are united by a willingness to share their stories – of harrowing journeys, intense love, separated families, passionate activism – in hopes of adding nuance and depth to a vital issue that continues to polarize Americans.

Can’t attend the event? Order a copy of Colin’s book here, Gabriel’s book here, and Martha’s book here.