The CCA is a partnership of Chicago's ethnic museums and cultural centers whose mission is to effect social change and public understanding of cultural diversity through first voice perspectives. The Alliance connects our member museums and cultural centers to flagship arts and cultural institutions, universities, schools, businesses and government agencies.
I recently sat down with Carlos Arango of Casa Aztlán at his office. From the moment I began speaking with Carlos, it became evident that he enjoyed the interactions with community members that his position allows. Several times during our meeting, you could hear young children—at Casa Aztlán for one of its many summer activities for kids—calling for ‘Carlos!’ It is a testament to the multiple generations impacted by the Alliance’s Core Members.
Casa Aztlán combines art programming and social services offerings for Mexican Americans in Chicago. Being situated in its current location on S. Racine for over thirty years, Casa Aztlán’s immediate vicinity has certainly had time to undergo great amounts demographic change. The area, however, is still predominantly inhabited by Mexican American immigrants. This community, then, geographically is situated well to take advantage of Casa Aztlán’s social service offerings—including ESOL and citizenship classes and pro bono legal consultations.
In addition to these programs, Casa Aztlán gives the Mexican American population to enjoy and experience the arts. Children in one of the organization’s many after-school and summer programs are exposed to tools of media communication and development. For example, one class of students developed their own radio program while learning technological, writing, and speaking skills.
It’s not just with the day-to-day programming that Casa Aztlán organizes artistic endeavors. Each year around Christmastime, Mexican Americans come together with the help of Casa Aztlán for a night of caroling and festive cheer throughout their neighborhood.
All of these events contribute to a lively and exciting atmosphere, one which Carlos Arango does his best to cultivate. We look forward to many more interesting developments at Casa Aztlán!
On July 28th I sat down with the Founding President of the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago (FAHSC), Estrella Alamar, at her lovely home in Hyde Park (which also happens to be the current home of all of the society's treasures!). After touring her house and seeing all of the amazing pictures and artifacts of the Society, we went upstairs to her office to talk about what the FAHSC does, its core mission, and its relationship with the Alliance.
The Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago strives to record, preserve, and provide exhibits of the Filipino American history in Chicago. It hopes to promote public interest in this history through education, which will ultimately lead to an appreciation and understanding of the Filipino heritage. Estrella says that the most rewarding part of her job as president of the society is her contact with the community and the city at large. She originally decided to start the FAHSC because she wanted to find out more about her heritage and develop her own identity as a Filipino American, born and raised in the United States. It began as a study of Filipino art history and blossomed into something much greater.
Estrella believes that it is important for her organization to be a part of the Chicago Cultural Alliance because the Alliance is ultimately able to create partnerships among various ethnic groups throughout Chicago. Through events such as Cultural Connections, the FAHSC is able to collaborate with other ethnic communities in order to teach others about the Filipino culture while simultaneously giving them the opportunity to experience and learn about other cultures in Chicago. The Alliance has also increased the FAHSC's funding opportunities, which Estrella describes as a "big plus" since it has allowed them to expand to areas they wouldn't have been able to beforehand. Being a part of the Alliance has provided the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago with so many opportunities and has helped further the society's mission of educating others on the Filipino heritage.
This Saturday the Swedish American Museum hosted the second dialogue in the ‘Talking About Im/migration’ series. The session was held in the Museum’s first floor gallery, against the colorful backdrop of Swedish-American artist Peter Åström’s ‘Roundtrip: New York – Gotland’ exhibition, where coffee and Swedish cake were served before an interesting and engaging discussion. The participants included both Swedish citizens living in Chicago and Americans whose families migrated from Sweden many generations ago, who shared fascinating stories and discussed what Swedish culture and identity mean to them.
Saturday saw the first dialogue session of the Alliance’s ‘Talking About Im/migration’ project, held by the Chicago Japanese American Historical Society. The event was a great success, with over 30 guests, CJAHS members and project members coming together to discuss experiences of im/migration and ethnic identity amongst Chicago’s Japanese and Japanese-American communities. Japanese tea and sweets were served, before participants moved on to discuss a fascinating range objects they had brought to discuss - from a rice bowl to a daruma doll, books of Japanese art to‘Su Doku for Dummies’ – as well as simply sharing their stories and experiences.
The group included both Japanese citizens living in Chicago and Japanese Americans, both young and old, and the diversity resulted in interesting and thought-provoking discussion, as well as providing the CJAHS with inspiration for future programming and outreach.
Participants’ comments:
“I had an amazing time and a very insightful discussion”
“Very provocative, very interesting”
“I liked talking to people who I had never talked to about topics what we don't talk about”
On Wednesday June 17th I sat down with Kathy O'Neill at the beautiful Irish American Heritage Center (IAHC) on Knox Avenue. While today Kathy handles marketing and public relations for the Irish American Heritage Center, she originally came to the IAHC as a theatre group volunteer with the hope of learning more about her own Irish heritage.
Kathy begins by explaining that the Irish American Heritage Center strives to be the premiere Irish-American Heritage Center in the United States. It is a place for people of Irish descent as well as those who wish to learn more about the Irish heritage that is dedicated to fostering Irish heritage, culture, and traditions in America. Because the rate of immigration has significantly declined, the IAHC provides education for those who are here through music, dance, and theatre classes. The Irish Step Dancing classes and competitions at the IAHC are especially exciting and so fun to watch! Want to learn even more? The Irish American Heritage Center also provides lectures, poetry readings, service opportunities, children's activities, and art exhibits in order to educate members of the Chicago community about Irish culture. The newest art exhibits- iPhone: Imagine your Perfect App and On the Bright Side: Chicago/Ireland opens July 10th and showcases work by local Chicago artists. In addition to all of these educational opportunities, children and adults alike have the opportunity to take Irish language classes to perfect their Irish Gaelic pronunciation. There is just so much to do!
Kathy explains that the Irish American Heritage Center's involvement in the Chicago Cultural Alliance has helped the organization to build relationships with other communities throughout the Chicago region. Because of the Alliance, the IAHC has the opportunity to learn about other organizations, how they operate, and how they interact with others in Chicago. According to Kathy, these relationships ultimately help the Irish American Heritage Center understand what they need to do in order to improve as an organization. She describes it as an "all in it together" attitude where the different ethnic communities help one another out in order to achieve their goals.
There is no better way to become immersed in Irish culture and to take advantage of the IAHC than by attending Irish Fest this coming weekend (July 10th-12th) which showcases the finest in local and international Irish and American music, dance, and family activities and is held right at the Irish American Heritage Center. Looking for something to do on the weekends? The IAHC houses an on-site pub where friends can grab a bite to eat, enjoy a pint, and listen to live Irish music on Friday and Saturday nights--the opportunities are endless. Before we end our chat Kathy reiterates that you don't have to be Irish to enjoy everything the Irish American Heritage Center has to offer. The IAHC is committed to community and therefore is a destination for everyone to be able to learn about the Irish heritage.
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.
On Wednesday, July 1st, the Chicago Cultural Alliance joined with Brookfield Zoo to celebrate the Zoo's 75th anniversary. Despite the rain and unseasonably cool temperatures (who would expect to need a jacket in July?), the event was a huge success! The best thing about this event was that it emphasized some of the amazing things our core members have to offer and brought attention to their organizations. Representatives from our member communities graced the Zoo's stages with dancers, musicians, and storytellers, and the East Mall was lined with booths hosted by some of our core members. These booths featured an array of activities and crafts, including origami, beaded bracelet making, and calligraphy, to name just a few.
At the Alliance booth, our stamped blue bracelets were a hot item, and both kids and adults had fun coloring paper cupcakes. Visitors also got to test their knowledge of Chicago's ethnic communities by matching a picture or language with the core member organization that it represents. A miniature version of the game is below. How well do you know your ethnic communities?
In case you weren't able to make it to the event, you can still enjoy a small taste of the festivities thanks to this video from the Zoo. Keep your eyes open starting at 0:23 to see dancers from the Cambodian American Heritage Museum, the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago, and the American Indian Center.
The Chicago Japanese American Historical Society (CJAHS) is one of 25 Core Members within the Chicago Cultural Alliance. The Executive director Jean Mishima and volunteer staff member Laurel Fujisawa have described some of what the CJAHS does, their mission and their relationship to the Alliance.
Q: How would you describe the purpose or goals of your organization (in a few sentences)? A: The Chicago Japanese American Historical Society is a grassroots organization founded in the early 1990s. Our mission is to preserve, promote, and present the history of Japanese Americans in the Chicago area.
We have been documenting our history and legacy in Chicago, educating the general public about the Japanese American and Japanese experience and culture, and developing teaching materials and museum exhibits which feature aspects of Japanese American history.
Q: How would you define your community? A: Our community, Japanese Americans in Chicago, is composed of three waves of immigration, and their descendants: The first, about 300 people, came to Chicago around the time of the Columbian Exposition in 1899. The second, and largest, group is descended from 30,000 who came to Chicago directly from the internment camps after World War II. Called the "ReSettlers", they created a community built around social service organizations, Buddhist and Christian churches and small businesses. The third, more recent, group are Japanese nationals who came to Chicago in the 1980s and 90s as artists and students and remained. A fourth, non-immigrant, group are Japanese business executives and their families who live in Chicago for a short span of time of generally two years.
Q: How does it contribute, or in what ways is it an asset, to the city of Chicago? A: The CJAHS partners with many other cultural and ethnic organizations in the city. We volunteer at many events and share the Japanese American culture. We annually decorate a tree that represents our organization at City Hall. We have begun collecting stories of Japanese/Japanese Americans that have made a impact in Chicago.
Q: How does your organization serve your community? Please provide some specific examples.
A: CJAHS mission is dedicated to preserving the first-voice perspective of Chicago Japanese American experiences. We have been documenting our history and legacy in Chicago, educating the general public through workshops for educators, classroom presentations at the elementary, high school, college level and community facilities about the Japanese American and Japanese experience and culture, and developing teaching materials and museum exhibits which feature aspects of Japanese American history.
Q: How did you become involved with this organization?
A: Shortly after the 1980s’ Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWIRC) hearings in Chicago, Yoji Ozaki lead discussion groups for Japanese American senior citizen residents at Heiwa Terrace. These watershed hearings gave psychological permission to former internees to finally discuss their camp experiences. As was the case in many other Japanese American communities, these discussions provided a much needed opportunity to come to terms with past traumatic events. Later, in the early 1990s, Scott La France from the Chicago Historical Society asked the Japanese American community for its help in developing the exhibit “Chicago Goes to War, 1941-45.” Yoji Ozaki responded and the Japanese American relocation story was included in this major exhibit. Following this experience with the community, La France saw a need for formalizing historical documentation and recommended forming a Chicago Japanese American Historical Society.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of working with this organization? A: I feel a sense of accomplishment in preserving the Japanese American experience. It is satisfying to share the WW2 experience to history students and other groups that didn't know about the incarceration of Americans of Japanese ancestry. It is a rewarding to contribute to history projects of young students that can't find information in mainstream resources. Mostly, I feel enriched by all the people I've met through this organization.
Q: Why do you think it is important for your organization to be part of the Chicago Cultural Alliance? A: Our organization represents a rich minority community that has made a large contribution to Chicago.
Q: How has the Alliance expanded your opportunities (i.e. funding, relationship-building, etc.)?
A: It provided us the opportunity to build relationships with other Alliance members to work together on projects. The CJAHS is involved with photo exhibit hosted by the Field Museum "part asian - 100% hapa" on race and will use this opportunity to partner with other ethnic organizations on assimilation and race. Our connections to the museums and educational institutions gives us the ability to find a larger audience. Networking through the Alliance makes it possible to instantly collaborate and partner with other institutions.
Q: How do you understand the Alliance's mission of "effect[ing] social change and public understanding of cultural diversity?" What is the significance of this mission to your organization?
A: After WW2, the Japanese Americans were told to leave the concentration camps in the West and settle in other cities. Chicago was one destination. The Japanese Americans were also ordered to assimilate. Consequently, many of our younger generation are racially mixed. Many of them are interested in finding their roots. We find the Alliance to be contemporary and very attractive to our current generation.
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