NOW Live from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

Update from the HomeSpun curator, Pawan Dhingra:

HomeSpun seeks to broaden and deepen our knowledge of the community and the nation. HomeSpun is progressing on many fronts, including securing a space at the Smithsonian for the exhibit, securing objects, and discussing fundraising opportunities. But to make HomeSpun more successful, we want to incorporate a diverse array of community voices. Documentation of the immigration, achievements, struggles, and everyday lives of Indian Americans is valuable. For instance, if you have home movies of your family, photographs of early migration, the suitcases or trunks your or your ancestors brought with them on their voyage to the United States, visas, passports, art pieces, memorabilia of the first Indian organization, business, religious center, etc. in your community, and the like, please consider sharing it with HomeSpun. These pieces may be included in the exhibit and/or archived at the Smithsonian so that they are part of the American story, are taken care of, and shared with the public. This is our opportunity to better represent the history of our community and the nation.

And, financial support is still needed to make HomeSpun a reality, including the exhibit slated for opening October 2012 here at the Smithsonian and then expected to travel around the country; public programs; a middle school curriculum; and a revised website. We have made progress but have a long way to go. No donation is too small. Click here to donate online.

I am happy to answer any questions you might have. You can reach me at dhingrap[at]si[dot]edu, homespun[at]si[dot]edu, and on the phone at (202) 633-2693.