New York City is a vibrant hub of cultures, languages, cuisines, and lifestyles. From the Irish who made up one-third of the city's population in 1850 to the influx of European immigrants in the 19th century, New York has been shaped by its diverse population. The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated to working with cultural organizations to engage more New Yorkers at different stages of their lives. To gain insight into the city's role as a sector and to implement strategies and programs that promote equity in the cultural workforce, DCLA collaborated with the research firm Ithaka S+R, with support from the Mertz Gilmore Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, to conduct a survey of their recent beneficiaries. The survey revealed that New York's cultural workforce is composed of 61.8 percent white, 35.4 percent people of color, and 53.1 percent women.
However, there is a lack of information about people with disabilities, which is an obstacle for DCLA's diversity initiative. To learn more about different cultural groups in New York City, visitors can explore the city's neighborhoods and sample authentic dishes prepared by people from different ethnic backgrounds. They can also visit iconic landmarks such as Federal Hall on Wall Street, where the first United States Congress declared the new Constitution of the United States and elected George Washington as the first president. New York City has been a leader in many sectors such as finance, medicine, education, communications, law, and tourism. During the 1930s, some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world were built in New York, such as the iconic Empire State Building, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, and the Chrysler Building.
By exploring New York City's rich cultural landscape, visitors can gain a better understanding of its history and culture.
