Students investigate how street vendors in NYC are impacted by current immigration policies and how they are fighting back.

Students

The class interviews Council Member Christopher Marte.

On October 21st, 2025, dozens of masked federal immigration agents arrested and detained street vendors on Canal Street in Lower Manhattan. Protesters of the raid were met with armored federal vehicles and armed agents. 
In the fall of 2025, CUP Teaching Artist Syd Abady collaborated with students at the Academy of Urban Planning and Engineering to look at how New York City’s street vendors are impacted by current immigration policies, how they’re fighting back, and how New Yorkers can support street vendors. 
To explore these questions, students talked with community members, interviewed stakeholders working on the issue, and created art through drawing and photography. They gathered what they learned to create a booklet about street vendors in New York City.

Cover and opening spread of Vend and Defend

Check Out the Project

AUPE 2025 Vend and Defend Web

CUP
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/hugo-rojas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hugo Rojas</a><a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/ana-beirne-meyer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Ana Beirne-Meyer</a>

International Community High School
Acting Principal: Michael Schulman Teacher: Noah Emke

Teaching Artist and Designer
Teaching Artist: <a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/syd-abady">Syd Abady</a> Designer: <a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/sarah-auches">Sarah Auches</a>

Project Collaborators

<h4>Special Thanks </h4>
Janice Northia, Manager of Community Engagement at New York Immigration Coalition
Travis, Volunteer at Mi Casa Resiste
Christopher Marte, City Council Member, District 1
<h4>Funding Support</h4>
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and Council Member Sandy Nurse. 
<h4>Students </h4>
2nd period
Gabrielli Alberto, Mabelyn Barrionuevo, Austin Burke, Marlon Chanchiocha, Jefferson Changoluisa, Kevin Chuquiana Tubon, Matthew Criollo, Amy Evangelista, Maibe Flores, Jhon "Steven" Flores Cuji, Kelton George, Argedy "Sophia" Gonzalez, Josselyn Millingalle, Stalyn Morales, Alvin Narainasami, Karen Ortega, Naomi Pajuna, Jessica Pineda Guevara, Adrihan Rodriguez del Rosario, Komal Seetaram, Britany Tenezaca
3rd period
Joffre Andagana, Jayden Bacchus, Ismael Bueno Montesdeoca, Joshua Delgado, Javion Dunn, Emily Farfan Quinde, Edwin Grullon, Daniel Hazell, Nihanna Javier, Tajh Johnson, Jessica Martinez Doming, Stacey Mendez, Joel Mercado, Angela Miniguano Chilligana, Roselyn Nunez, Ronald Quinapanta, Melody Santos Arias, Julian Soto, Jason Suarez, Pablo Torres, Diana Umajinga Ante, Natasha Velasquez
5th period
Grismel Antigua Maria, Fabian Biela, Timothy Callender, Jessica Castillo, Ayden Cintron, Kelvin Fernandez, Jean Carlos Bastardo, Ammy Heredia, Joel Alex Lala Plaza, Leiroly Mejia, Habeeb Mohamed, Adam O'Neil, Mariano Perez Cantor, Crisbelle Ramirez, Arisleidy Ramirez Duran, Dialfri Rivas Baez, Ian Rivera, Domenica Robayo, Alejandro Solorzano, Eduardo Tiburcio Alberto, Brian Valdez
7th period

Oscar Almanzar, Nestor Cabassa, Edwin Yael Camacho, Analise Cameron, Jessica Chimborazo Nata, Raymer Colon, Justine Fisher, David Jaden George, Rochelle Gordon, Jaiden Guerra, Demetrius Jones-Worthington, Nelson Lin, Gabriel McDonald, Jaydan Mena, Claudia Miranda, Edison Peralta, Angel Pinto, Lesly Polanco, Jhosselyn Pugo, Michael Ramos, Elijah Richardson, Hailey Rivera, Samuel Rodriguez, Maycol Santos Bonilla, Cinthia Uruchima Narvaez, Sherlin Vega, John Villa, Liana Wright

Many Roots, One City

Melting ICE

City of Dreams, Streets of Struggle

A Crisis of Responsibility

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Hyperakt is a purpose-driven design and innovation studio that elevates human dignity and ignites curiosity. Since 2001, co-founders Julia Zeltser and Deroy Peraza, along with the Hyperakt team, have been partnering with change-makers moving society forward. We believe in design’s power to build a future filled with courage, optimism, and honesty.

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The Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP) is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of design and art to increase meaningful civic engagement in partnership with historically marginalized communities.

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