Heritage and Future
Community Discussion
December 7th, 2024
Community Discussion
On December 7th, the Heritage Museum of Asian art welcomed a vibrant group of representatives from the Center for Native Futures, Yollocalli Arts Reach, the, Chinese American Museum of Chicago, APIDA Arts, Typhoon Dance Troup, Project:VISION, and the Asian American Club from Whitney Young High School. The afternoon was filled with thoughtful discussions and inspiring exchanges, as our incredible contributors came together to explore central themes such as: connecting heritage with the future, fostering cross-generational collaboration, and engaging next generations in such types of conversations.
At the round table we had: Debra Yepa-Pappan, the founder of the Center for Native Futures; Vanessa Sanchez, Direction of Education from Yollocalli/National Museum of Mexican Art; Caroline K. Ng, the Executive Director from the Chinese American Museum of Chicago; Emily Zhang, the Social Media Manager from APIDA Arts; Nicole Bonilla and Irina Cheng, Present and alumni respectively from Typhoon Dance Troupe; Sabrina Woo, the Youth Program Coordinator from Project:VISION; and the members of the Whitney High School Asian American Club!
From exploring innovative ways to make heritage relevant for future generations to brainstorming actionable steps for deeper collaboration between cultural communities, the roundtable highlighted the power of shared stories and mutual support in preserving and evolving heritage. The Heritage Museum of Asian Art aims to continue to foster an environment for such important and education conversations. Together, we will shape a future that honors the past while also embracing new possibilities.
About the Contributors
The Center for Native Futures (CfNF)
The Center for Native Futures is the only all-Native artist-led arts non-profit organization in Zhegagoynak (Chicago). They promote the advancement of Native fine arts, foster contemporary artists, and encourage Indigenous Futurists. Located in the Marquette Building, their art center hosts gallery exhibitions, artist-in-residencies, and community events throughout the year.
The Center for Native Futures brings together Native artists to imagine themselves richly, where art can provide a lens to learn from the past, nurture the present, and realize a thriving future.
To learn more, visit their website here!
Yollocalli Arts Reach
Yollocalli Arts Reach is the award-winning youth initiative of the National Museum of Mexican Art, which offers free arts and cultures programming to teens and young adults.
Located in the heart of Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, they serve as an open community center with studio spaces, a computer lab, radio production studio, a large art library, and a creative, supportive staff who are always around to help, encourage, and inspire. They aim to strengthen the students’ creative and cultural capital by engaging them with their own cultural discourses through art making.
To learn more, visit their website here!
The Chinese American Museum of Chicago (CAMOC)
The Chinese American Museum of Chicago looks to advance the appreciation of Chinese American culture through exhibitions, education, and research, and to preserve the past, present, and future of Chinese Americans primarily in the Midwest. Their vision is to work with organizations, visitors, and community leaders across the country to tell the story of Chinese Americans primarily in the Midwest and to build a community around a continuous dialogue illustrating how Chinese American culture and contributions are an important part of the American fabric.
The museum building, formerly the Quong Yick Co., is located in Chicago’s Chinatown, at 238 West 23rd Street in Chicago.
To learn more, visit their website here!
APIDA Arts
APIDA Arts is a Chicago-based non-profit celebrating and supporting the creativity of Asian, Pacific Islanders, Desi/South Asian Americans. Their mission is to amplify and unify artists in Chicago by showcasing their work at premier cultural institutions, providing greater representation, equity, and opportunity.
By showcasing and bringing together the creativity and imagination of APIDA Americans, they envision a strong and sustainable APIDA arts community that is integral to Chicago's culture-- evocative of their past, declarative of their present, and innovative towards their future.
To learn more, visit their website here!
Typhoon Dance Troupe
Typhoon Dance Troupe is a student organized dance group at Northwestern University that highlights popular, classical, ethnic, and contemporary dances of East and Southeast Asia. Through the art of dance, they dedicate themselves to displaying pieces of the regions' rich, diverse cultures and to promote more interest and appreciation in the community for those cultures. Dances are open to people from any type of background, ranging from beginner to experienced, in many styles of dance, including but not limited to: Traditional Han and ethnic Dai Dance, Hip-hop and street dance, jazz dance, and Kpop dance.
To learn more, visit their Instagram here!
Project:VISION
Project: VISION was founded in 2003 by a group of five young professionals, students, and community volunteers: Kirsten Chan, Karen Chiu, Vincent Kwan, Sheri So, and Karen Tam. Each had a passion for education and youth development and saw the need for teens in the neighborhood to have a safe place to call their own, where they can find support and guidance as they navigate through high school and pave a path for a bright future.
Project: VISION takes a holistic approach to youth development. Their programs help youth achieve academic success, develop personal strengths and 21st-century skills, and build positive attitudes and confidence, preparing them to become well-rounded, socially responsible community leaders. Three core program areas aim to help our youth LEARN, encourage them to SERVE, and finally LEAD.
To learn more, visit their website here!
Whitney Young Asian American Club
Whitney Young High School's Asian American Club celebrates AAPI culture through dance and performance. Since 2015, the WYAAC has served its community with annual multidisciplinary performances from cultural dance to contemporary to classical music, and so much more!
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School is a Chicago public high school located in the Near West Side. Named after Whitney M. Young, a prominent figure in the American Civil Right's Movement, the high school aims to support and reperesent those of all backgrounds.
To learn more, visit their Instagram here!
EVENT PHOTOS
