Experience Sightlines: Chinatown and Beyond, an exhibition showcasing the historical, cultural, and creative connections of Asian Americans to Washington, D.C. And join us every second Saturday of the month for Sightlines Saturdays!

This month’s Sightlines Saturday feature program commemorates a pivotal moment in Southeast Asian American history. The year 2025 marks 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War, the Secret War in Laos, and the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 1975–events that displaced millions from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Seeking refuge in the U.S., these communities rebuilt their lives and, over five decades, have made enduring contributions to American society, embodying resilience, perseverance, and cultural vibrancy.

Reflection, Resilience, Reimagination: 50 Years of Southeast Asian American Journeys features screenings of short films and selected excerpts from longer works, offering a powerful visual narrative of Southeast Asian American experiences. The screenings will be followed by an intergenerational panel discussion with community leaders.

Join the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and several Southeast Asian American community organizations to reflect on these histories, share lived experiences, and celebrate the achievements of Southeast Asian Americans.

Program Organizers:

• Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center
• Hmong Museum
• Laotian American National Alliance
• RedGreen Rivers
• Southeast Asian Freedom Network
• Vietnam Society

Films: Conversations at the Register; Fighting for Family; In Living Memory; My Name is Lai; New Wave;Taking Root; Hmong Farmer

Speakers:

• Mai Vang Huizel, Founder and Executive Director, Hmong Museum
• Aleena Inthaly, Executive Director, Lao Food Foundation
• Tub Ntxawg Billy Lauj (Billy Lor), Hmong Shaman
• Erin Phuong Steinhauer, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Vietnam Society
• Sochietah Ung, Cambodian Costume Maker and Dancer; 2024 NEA National Heritage Fellow
• KaYing Yang, Co-Founder and President, RedGreen Rivers

Performers: · Cambodian Buddhist Society – Cultural Committee, The Tep Monorom Dance (Dance of the Deity)

Sponsors:

• Resilience Presenting Sponsor: AARP
• Community Leaders: Compassion & Choices; Moving Mountains; RedGreen Rivers
• Legacy Supporters: Funny Asian Women Collective; Hmong National Development; Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce; Laotian American National Alliance; Very Asian Foundation

Notice of Filming and Photography: Sightlines Saturday programs will be photographed, filmed, and recorded.

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May Sightlines Saturday In-Gallery Program: Making Place, Making Space

Start the day with our in-gallery program and enjoy a guided tour of the Sightlines exhibition at noon, then participate in a hands-on activity from 1-3 p.m., creating a personal artwork inspired by maps and monuments and related to the exhibition’s “Making Place” theme on Chinatown. Reserve your free ticket(s) here.