Jerome Avenue Workers Project — portraits by the Bronx Photo League

Jerome Avenue Workers Project documents and celebrates the workers and tradespeople of Jerome Avenue in the Bronx, one of New York City’s few remaining working-class neighborhoods, where many still make a living in small shops and factories or by repairing automobiles. The city is considering a plan to rezone two miles along Jerome Avenue; speculation and rising rents are already evident. If passed, the rezoning will lead to construction of housing units but also, many believe, to the end of a proud culture of industry and work in this last bastion of New York City’s working class.

The Bronx Photo League, a project of the Bronx Documentary Center, is made up of 16 Bronx photographers committed to documenting social issues and change in our borough. The Photo League works to present a balanced and nuanced image of the Bronx. The Jerome Avenue Workers Project is the Photo League's first major exhibition, featuring work by Ed Alvarez, Trevon Blondet, David “Dee” Delgado, Melissa Bunni Elian, Jesus Emmanuel, Giacomo Francia, Michael Kamber, Katie Khouri, Netza Moreno, Nina Robinson, Heriberto Sanchez, Jonathan Santiago, Rhynna M. Santos, Adi Talwar, Berthland Tekyi-Berto, Edwin Torres, Elias Williams and Osaretin Ugiagbe. The portraits in this show were shot on Kodak Tri-X negative film with Hasselblad cameras and lenses. The Jerome Avenue Workers Project was made possible through the support of the Workforce Development Institute (WDI).

The book, "Jerome Ave.," by the Bronx Photo League, the first publication of the BDC Editions, accompanies the project and is now available here.

Photography by the Bronx Photo League

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