Portraits of the 14th Street Y

Portraits of the 14th Street Y

Photographs by Bridget Badore

Portraits of the 14th Street Y is a photography project that tells the stories behind the many faces of the 14th Street Y community, including members, staff, teachers, trainers, artists, caregivers, families, and local business owners. This series showcases intimate portraits of these individuals, accompanied by their unique anecdotes and experiences captured through interviews with the artist. Together, these portraits showcase the East Village community center  as more than a gym, theater, preschool, or place of work–through the eyes of our community, this space proves to be a center for creativity, friendship, inclusivity, and discovery in downtown Manhattan.

Each year, the unique stories of more than 20,000 New Yorkers are woven into the fabric that makes the 14th Street Y a Downtown home for all. As 2017 comes to a close, this captivating photography series celebrates the more than 50 individuals who’ve been positively impacted by the 14Y and serves as an important reminder of the importance of accessibility to an open, inclusive community for New York residents at a time when we need it most.

About the Photographer

Bridget Badore is an editorial and portrait photographer living in Brooklyn, originally from upstate New York. She began taking photographs in elementary school when she received her dad’s old 35mm camera; she taught herself photography through her late father’s scribbled notes and old photography manuals.

She moved to NYC to attend the School of Visual Arts and received her BFA in Photography in 2013. She’s been featured in American Photography 32, and participated in the Daniel Cooney Fine Art emerging artists auction.

In 2014, Bridget began teaching photography in the 14th Street Y After School program. In her tenure at the 14Y, she also founded the Photojournalism unit at New Country Day Camp, acted as the 14Y’s principal photographer, and put the 14Y’s social media presence on the map as she continues to work within the marketing team. The 14th Street Y has been a family for her, providing a safe space to grow as a person.