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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

April 13, 2006
"Voices in Verses" ethnic poetry reading with Grand Rapids poet laureate Patricia Clark. 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Van Andel Museum Center, Grand Rapids. For more information, call 616-456-4107

October 14 , 2006
Randl Jelks lecture. Van Andel Museum Center, Grand Rapids. 2 pm For more information, call 616-456-4107.

October 14 , 2006
Cultural Kaleidoscope Ethnic Heritage Festival . Van Andel Museum Center, Grand Rapids. 11 am - 4 pm. For more information, call 616-456-4107

Nov. 2007: Newcomers, Peopling Of This Place, Public Museum of Grand Rapids.

We the People... of Grand Rapids -- (2005)

Grant Awarded: November 2005

Type of Grant: We the People Grant

Sponsor: Public Museum of Grand Rapids

Contact: Paula Gangopadhyay, 616-456-3536,
pgangopa@ci.grand-rapids.mi.us

Website: www.grmuseum.org

Award: $20,000

The Public Museum of Grand Rapids has been awarded $20,000 for “We the People... of Grand Rapids.” The project began with a multicultural event in fall 2006, the “Grand Rapids Cultural Kaleidoscope: A Globe Trotting Experience.” It builds on a previous MHC-funded project, “Newcomers: The People of this Place” in which K-12 curricular materials were developed to help learn about the personal struggles, journeys, and accomplishments of the migrants and immigrants who settled in Western Michigan.

Among the materials now completed is the Museum's new Ethnic Resource Directory of West Michigan. The directory contains more than 100 pages of informatin about some of the numerous ethnic performers, professionals, services, restaurants, stores adn more available in the West Michigan area. Copies are available to local libraries, educators, ethnic and community organizations.

Also in the works are a calendar of Public Museum ethnic programs and hands-on cultural immersion kits. Programs planned include a film series, cooking classes, a book discussion group, and a scavenger hunt through various ethnic neighborhoods in Grand Rapids. Nince cultural immersion kits will allow visitors to the Newcomers exhibit to touch and examine objects from around the world. Half the kits will contain objects that perform the same function in different cultures. For example, the foowear kit will allow visitors to try on Dutch wooden shoes and experience how different they are from Japanese platform sandals. Other kits will compare musical instruments, hats, and cooking implements. The remainder of the kits will give visitors an indepth look at the material culture of a particular culture or country. A preview of the kits will be available at Carousel Carnival during Spring Break 2007.