“Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon” Exhibit Opening Event
December 19, 2009
Iowa State Historical Building
600 E. Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa
DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Human Rights’ Commission on the Status of Iowans of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage, in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, will be hosting the Opening Event for the Smithsonian “Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon” Exhibit on Saturday, December 19, 2009 from 1:00PM to 4:00PM at the Iowa State Historical Building on 600 East Locust, Des Moines. Marking next year’s 35th anniversary of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement in Iowa, the Opening Event will raise awareness about the State’s pivotal role in welcoming Asian refugees and the gifts that those communities have brought and continue to bring to Iowa. Featuring distinguished speakers, performances and storytelling by the Asian community, the event is open to the public and admission is free.
“Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon," was created by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program to tell the story of the Vietnamese-American experience in America, from the significant influx in 1975 to the present. It explores the themes of challenge, contribution and change, emphasizing the vibrant diversity of the Vietnamese-American community. This traveling exhibit was previously shown at the Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center in Washington, D.C. and has toured California, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Missouri prior coming to Iowa. The exhibit will be shown at the Iowa Historical Museum beginning December 19th and will continue to be on display through February 28, 2010.
The Opening Event will include distinguished speakers such as former Governor Robert D. Ray, who opened Iowa’s doors to over 13,000 Southeast Asian refugees in 1975, and Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, President of the World Food Prize Foundation and former staff member of Gov. Ray, who worked on Indochinese resettlement and was Executive Director of Iowa SHARES, which sent doctors, nurses, medical supplies and food to Cambodia and refugee camps in Thailand.
The Smithsonian “Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon” Exhibit Opening Event is sponsored by: Christopher L. McDonald, Des Moines Area Community College, Double Dragon Food Market, Mercy Medical Center, and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
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The Commission on the Status of Iowans of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage (CAPI) is a division of the Iowa Department of Human Rights, and its mission is to ensure Iowa’s Asians and Pacific Islanders have opportunities equal to other Iowans in education, employment, health care, housing, and safety and to publicize the accomplishments and contributions of the Asian and Pacific Islanders to the state. Visit www.iowacapi.org or call 515-281-4223 for more information.
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"Exit Saigon Enter Little Saigon" Opening Event Schedule
1:00 – 1:30 PM Welcome, Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served
1:30 – 2:30 PM Opening Ceremony
¾ Masters of ceremony: Alma Reed, Arlene Samona, and Kristopher Walters, CAPI Commissioners
¾ Lao Traditional Music with Lanat (Lao Xylophone) by Thomas Vilavong, Director of Lao Natasin Troupe of Iowa
¾ Welcome by Director of Cultural Affairs Cyndi Pederson and Director of Human Rights Preston Daniels
¾ Opening Remarks by Vinh Nguyen, CAPI Commissioner
¾ “A Promise Called Iowa,” Dan Miller and Sara Frasher, IPTV
¾ Traditional Vietnamese Dance performance by the youth of Vietnamese American Community of Iowa
¾ “We are Family” by The Sayavongchanhs and the Munns
¾ “A Life Saving Experience” by Governor Robert D. Ray and Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn
¾ Ribbon Cutting
2:40 – 3:10 PM Concurrent Workshop I
¾ Taidam Dance Troupe, Performing the greeting dance “Sae Khan” and "Candles Dance"
¾ Iowa Matsuri Daiko, Students of Valley High School of West Des Moines will perform dances from Ryukyo and Okinawa, Japan
¾ “Refugee Experience: Boat People” by Dr. Truc Nguyen, A Vietnamese American Chemistry Professor of Mercy College of Health Sciences will share his family’s story from Vietnam to Iowa
¾ “About Hmong” by Officer Doua Lor and Mrs. A. Lor, the rich Hmong culture and history will be shared.
3:20 – 3:50 PM Concurrent Workshop II
¾ Cambodian Dance Group, Performing classical dances which preserve the unique Khmer history & culture
¾ Gateway Dance Theatre, Bhil - A folk dance interpreting the lifestyle of the Bhils in North India
¾ “Journey from Laos to Iowa” by Mr. Khampheng Manirath, a Lao American artist will use his own hand-drawn book to illustrate his journey from Laos to Iowa
¾ “The Taidam – An Untold Story” by Mrs. Siang Bacthi, the history of Tai Country and about Taidam people who were forced to flee to Hanoi, Laos, and Thailand to finally resettle in Iowa will be shared
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