[The following final update was written by the organization and then sent to us for further sharing.]

(re)Location: The Lao/Korean Acculturation Project was an initiative to amplify first-generation refugee and immigrant experiences from Lao and Korean communities in Los Angeles. It is an invitation for younger generations and the broader public to engage with the untold legacies and perspectives of Lao and Korean elders who migrated to the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s. Supported by the LA2050 grant, the project offers a deeper understanding of the resilience, cultural preservation, and acculturation central to diasporic communities, honoring elders who are critical yet often overlooked, and highlighting the diversity within the often-monolithic label of Asian American.

Our program, based on an art-centered research project involving 10 Lao and 10 Korean elders, engages audiences through a physical and online exhibition as well as public events. Designed to provide a deeply personal and humanizing view into the experiences of these elders, the exhibition focuses on themes of migration, adaptation, and identity in the U.S. The stories and perspectives of participating elders came alive through a range of media—including video interview compilations, artifacts and artwork, and contextual information based on historical events, U.S. immigration and refugee policies, and the aforementioned research. We prioritized language inclusion in Lao, Korean, and English, adding audio for Lao text to support those who may not read Lao due to limited formal schooling before migrating as refugees in the 70s and 80s. Running up to the events, (re)Location was promoted via our own newsletters, social media, and website, Loyola Marymount University (LMU) outlets, as well as with physical posters at locations throughout Los Angeles. Promotion was also supported by community partners, including LA2050, California Humanities, LA River X, and Laos Angeles.

As a lead-up to the gallery opening, we hosted a panel discussion entitled Artist Dialogues: Exploring the Intersections of Identity, Creativity, Mental Wellness, and Spirituality on September 26, 2024 at LMU accessible both in-person and via Zoom. The event drew 22 attendees and featured Project Director Joyce Yip Green, Art Director/Project Manager Helen H. Kim, and Korean American musician Jeff Schroeder, former guitarist of The Smashing Pumpkins. Together, they explored broader themes of Asian American identity, art, spirituality, and liminality through their personal and professional experiences.

The physical (re)Location gallery ran from October 5 to October 21, 2024 in Koreatown at The Oriental Mission Church (OMC), a longstanding institution in the Korean American immigrant community. Interactive features enriched the exhibition, fostering personal connection, empathy, and multicultural understanding. These included a communal weaving project symbolizing connection and shared experiences and a response prompt inviting visitors to share their own relocation stories through writing or drawing. Many visitor contributions became part of the gallery display and are preserved online at re-location.us. We also offered a series of collectible cards—14 unique designs, each honoring a different participating elder, as meaningful mementos of these (re)Location stories. Mini looms were also gifted to younger visitors.

Our opening reception on October 5, 2024 fostered community connection and celebration, with art, music, food, and activities such as communal weaving, visitor art responses, and button-making. The event, featuring live Lao and Korean interpretation, drew approximately 180 attendees, ranging in age from 10 to 96. In the spirit of cross-community outreach, we invited Lao American children’s book author Jacob Singhavong and musician Jeff Schroeder to share their talents and stories. Key partners like our generous host OMC and Issan Station Thai Street Food contributed to creating an inclusive and welcoming space. Additionally, 36 volunteers—including Loyola Marymount University students and faculty, and community members of all ages—were essential to the success of both the opening reception and the physical exhibition. Multilingual resources from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health were also available for visitors. Over the course of the gallery’s run, we welcomed approximately 70 additional visitors, including a group of Korean Canadian pastors from Toronto, reflecting the exhibition’s broad appeal. Simultaneously, our online exhibition on re-location.us launched on October 5. As of October 29, it has attracted 1,908 unique visitors and 3,674 total visits.

Due to logistical constraints, we did not conduct formal surveys but assessed our accomplishments through qualitative observations and attendance figures. Attendees noted the project’s role in highlighting elder voices and bridging cultural and generational gaps. Young people related the stories in the exhibition and opening reception to their own experiences, such as adoption or changing schools, while adults reflected on their migration stories or family roots beyond Los Angeles. Observations, including engagement at the weaving station and response areas, demonstrated a strong resonance with themes of migration and identity. Multi-generational attendance and multilingual access affirmed the project’s inclusivity. The participation of community figures like Jacob Singhavong and Jeff Schroeder reflected our commitment to collaboration and cultural preservation.

The project met objectives outlined in the LA2050 grant by elevating the unique experiences of Lao and Korean elders and offering younger Asian Americans a bridge to their personal histories. (re)Location created a shared space for cultural expression and fostered a participatory experience that went beyond the elders’ narratives, engaging the multiethnic and multigenerational audience of Los Angeles and reflecting the city’s diversity through themes of migration, resilience, and liminality.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to sustaining and expanding (re)Location. The website re-location.us allows visitors in Los Angeles and beyond to explore the stories and reflections of Lao and Korean elders and engage with the themes of migration and identity at their own pace.

In February 2025, we plan to host the exhibition at the Clovis Regional Library, in Fresno County, where a larger Lao American community can experience the project in person. In addition, the exhibition will be travelling across the United States through a collaboration with Exhibit Envoy. Our work will also be featured in the podcast Asian Americana in 2025. We will continue to share updates, visitor responses, and project developments through our website and social media. Through this ongoing work, (re)Location will continue to serve as a platform for community storytelling, cultural understanding, and connection, building on the momentum created thanks to the LA2050 grant.