A chat with Lakshmi Menon from the Indo-American Heritage Museum

Lakshmi Menon, one of the board members at the Indo-American Heritage Museum, recently took time out to answer some questions about the Indo-American Heritage Museum (IAHM) and its relationship with the Chicago Cultural Alliance. Her answers are below:

The Indo-American Heritage Museum was just recently awarded 501(c)3 [a federal non-for-profit] status, and though shares the same space as the Indo-American Center, the Museum is a different organization. Their mission statement is to promote understand of the diversity, history and culture of Indian Americans. The museum serves the Indian American community as well as members of wider society, such as school groups, universities, and professional groups though the museum itself represents people who came from India to the United States and settles in Chicago.

The IAHM serves the community by helping document the experiences of the early immigrants from India. Their cultural outreach and educational programs promote understanding of the community and appreciation of the culture. The IAHM's work with schools and with tour groups helps to raise awarness of other cultures and enhances the image of Chicago as a global city that welcomes diverse tradition. The IAHM also nutures interest in the artistic expression of the immigrant experience by organizing programs featuring the work of Indian American artists.

For Lakshmi personally, the most rewarding part of her work with the Indo-American Heritage Museum has been the opportunity to interact with people from a variety of other cultures, other walks of life and of all ages. Their work is creating a positive impact on their interests and in acceptance of persons of Indian origin in this country.

The relationship between the Indo-American Heritage Museum and the Chicago Cultural Alliance is important because the Alliance allows the smaller museums to share resources and knowledge and widens the reach of these museums. The IAHM shares the ideals of the Alliance to to create public understanding of cultural diversity.

The relationship is growing further with the two representatives from the Indo-American Heritage Museum being training in dialogue facilitation is conjunction with the Chicago Cultural Alliance Talking Im/migration programming.