In 2017, the Sanctuary City Project (SCP) launched its first Sanctuary City Print Shop at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, inviting visitors into dialogue and participatory artmaking about immigration, sanctuary, and belonging.

Artists Sergio De La Torre and Chris Treggiari transformed these conversations into striking visual works—silkscreen posters, billboards, neon signs, and apparel. Eight years later, as part of Bay Area Then, SCP revisits the Print Shop through new workshops that draw from years of public engagement and oral histories, continuing to amplify immigrant voices and underscore the enduring importance of policies that protect and uplift communities.

For its final activation as part of Bay Area Then, SCP, known for its advocacy and artistic engagement, will collaborate with Refugee and Immigrant Transitions (RIT) to design, print, and sell 100 tote bags emblazoned with the message “I AM AN IMMIGRANT.” Proceeds from the initiative will directly support RIT’s free education, family engagement, and community leadership programs for students who have sought refuge from war, violence, persecution, or economic hardship. This tote bag project exemplifies SCP’s long-standing mission to use art as a catalyst for dialogue and social justice, with the design serving both as a statement of identity and a declaration of solidarity, emphasizing shared humanity across immigration status.

Learn more about the Sanctuary City Project: sanctuarycityproject.com
Learn more about Refugee and Immigrant Transitions: reftrans.org