In partnership with the Los Angeles County Library and Magnum Photographers, The Californians Powering America is a powerful, immersive photography exhibit featuring six compelling photo essays that illuminate the immigrant labor force driving California’s most vital industries—from agriculture and construction to caregiving and fire recovery.

Join us for the exhibit opening, which will feature a viewing of the photography and a conversation with Dr. Skye Patrick, County Librarian and Director of LA County Library, Deborah Jian Lee of the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, and the exhibit’s artists.

San Fernando Library: Art Exhibit Reception & Program
October 16, 2025
6:00 – 7:30 pm

At a time when immigrant communities are increasingly marginalized, this exhibit tells their stories with empathy, intimacy, and urgency. The Californians Powering America invites you to see the humanity behind its workforce. These are the faces and stories of the people who make the California Dream possible. From the Central Valley’s farmlands to Los Angeles kitchens and clinics, immigrants are fueling agriculture, construction, food service, healthcare, and more.

Through the work of award-winning photographers and storytellers, Californians Powering America puts a human face on this invisible workforce, capturing both their daily struggles and deep resilience.

To connect these stories with a younger audience, we will also be holding a community workshop on Saturday, October 18th for families to experience the photography and tell their own stories about their own immigration experience or that of their friends, family, or neighbors.

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