The family carrying a city on their shoulders represents how immigrant families support and sustain the United States. My idea was that their sacrifice and efforts couldn’t be portrayed in a better way. 

The words outside of the image represent some of the many benefits funded by taxes. They are placed outside of the image to represent how, even though their hard work to contribute, they are still excluded from receiving these benefits.

The stitches are small but essential, holding the image to the quilt. They represent the hard work and contributions of immigrants, which often go unseen by others.