The second most ethnically diverse city in the country, Jersey City New Jersey, has become the main focus of my lens for more reasons than one book can ever cover. I’ve just begun to touch the surface of a rather large project, and would like to take a moment to explain some of my experiences.

It really does not take long to realize you’re walking through one of the world’s most diverse cities. It’s not nearly as crowded as New York, so people don’t pass by as quickly; you really get a chance to take in what you’ve seen, provided you’re someone that cares to do so. I set out to give as honest a depiction of the mood and characteristics of the people and places I photographed, and how every area of this beautiful city has its own story. What I found is it it’s really not very similar to what is advertised. This city is incredibly complex, and the challenges it faces are as diverse as the culture.

Diversity is the dream, but does it ultimately rely on segregation to succeed? Are mixed income, safe, apartment buildings a myth, or can this city actually figure out how to make that a reality? Now that the violence is so centralized due to gentrification, why can it still not be contained? These are just a few questions I’ve found myself wondering from photographing in these streets, and I look forward to developing the answers as well as opening the doors to even more questions.