NEW YORK - For nearly a decade, residents in Manhattan's Morningside heights have found a unique way to brighten this time of year with a procession of hand-made lanterns. This year, one lantern maker looked to her neighborhood and her neighbors for inspiration.

In fact, after spending weeks working on her lantern for the annual Morningside Lights celebration, Van Tran thought she was finished and that her design really captured her view of her neighborhood.

"From my window I see the grant houses and then I see the other building in my complex Morningside gardens, then I see Columbia University on the right," said Tran as she showed the decorated lantern with a colorful cityscape on the front.

But one night just around the corner from her apartment, Tran realized she didn't want to just capture the buildings, but also her neighbors and the spirit they show during a nightly vigil supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

"We live here and we are all people who believe in the Black Lives Matter movement, and we’re old people we aren'’t going to demonstrations but we wanted to show support," said one one woman, one of nearly a dozen people holding handmade BLM signs.

So Tran created another work of art on the back of her lantern showing these protestors, who've been out every night since early June.

"And the image that got me was the canes and that age just stayed with me. It’s a reminder my conscious, no matter what age whatever you can do you do it," said Tran.

Tran makes a lantern each year for Morningside Lights. which Columbia University's Miller Theatre has been organizing since 2012 to promote the arts and foster a community spirit. Tran and other members of the community usually create their lanterns during a week of free public workshops. This year, the workshops were held virtually.

We weren't sure if people would be willing to take a lantern kit into their homes, and we've been so overhwlmed by the response the enthiusaism of the participants is boundless and it's inpsiring," said Melissa Smey the Executive Director of the Arts Initiative at Miller Theatre at Columbia University.

We followed along as Tran headed out of her apartment with her completed lantern to show her neighbors who were lined up around the corner, socially distanced for their nightly vigil. Everyone excited and recognized their likenesses.  

"I recognize my dog and I think that’s me but my hair is whiter. I love it it’s beautiful," said one woman.

"It’s really great to get this kind of positive feedback from the community. and to show we’re really supporting this cause," said another protester.

After spending time taking photos, Tran takes her lantern and lines up with the protesters, holding her lantern they way they had their signs.

Her lantern and hundreds of others can be seen in a video celebration at morningside-lights.com.