Portraits of the 14th Street Y, a series of photographs by Bridget Badore, will be shown at the 14th Street Y, 344 E. 14th Street, New York, NY 10003,from December 6, 2017 through January 6, 2018, with an opening celebration on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 from 7-9pm. The exhibition is FREE; to reserve a spot for the opening celebration, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gallery-opening-14yportraits-tickets-40136281699.

Portraits of the 14th Street Y 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 40intimate portraits of those individuals, accompanied by their unique anecdotes and experiences, as told through interviews with the artist. Together, these portraits show the East Village community center as more than a gym, theater, preschool, or place of work-as seen 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.

Support the Downtown Story at http://bit.ly/14YPortraits_Donate2017. Your generous support ensures the Downtown Story continues today and for generations to come.