From Italy and Poland, they came. From the desert terrains of the Middle East to the heather-filled highlands of Scotland, they came. Lured by the promise of a $5-a-day paycheck in Henry Ford’s factory or simply looking for a new place to create a new life, they came.
They were on a Journey of Hope.
The Lorenzo Cultural Center at Macomb Community College will offer a new series of exhibits and programs this fall exploring Michigan’s Immigrant Experience.
A Journey of Hope: Michigan’s Immigrant Experience will feature more than 30 lectures, presentations and other experiences, all of which are free, at the Lorenzo Cultural Center in Clinton Township. The program runs Sept. 27-Nov. 23.
Visitors to the cultural center will be able to learn more about the history of the U.S. immigration experience and the role that ethnic stereotypes have played in the forming of American values and culture. A special exhibit will focus on the cultural and historical complexity of the area’s Arab-American community, one of the oldest and most diverse Arab communities in the nation, as well as the largest.
The heritage and experiences of more than a dozen different ethnic groups will be profiled during the program, a sampling of which includes:
• Polish: Separate presentations examine the four different waves of Polish immigration in the area (Oct. 3), the influence of Polish settlers in the Hamtramck area (Oct. 9) and the personal Americanization of a Polish girl who escaped the German occupation of Poland in World War II and eventually settled in Detroit (Oct. 18).
• German: Programs look at the move of German immigrants into the American mainstream (Oct. 10) and offer a taste of a traditional German Oktoberfest, with German food available for purchase (Oct. 25).
• African-American: A presentation reviews the history of Michigan African-Americans, who, as free laborers and slaves, were among the state’s earliest permanent residents (Nov. 5) and, in a program designed for children, a theater troupe will perform African tales through storytelling, acting and drumming (Oct. 24).
• Latino: A review of the history of Latinos in Michigan (Oct. 8) and a bilingual program aimed at children featuring tales drawn from the folklore of South and Central America (Nov. 14).
Additional programs examine the immigrant experience of early Michigan lumberjacks, miners in the Upper Peninsula and how Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood has evolved with the arrival of various immigrant groups over the decades. Keith Faime, celebrity chef and author, will present a program detailing the philosophies and stories he has uncovered during his “Our Stories” series of documentaries, which focus on the individual ethnic communities of the Detroit region (Sept. 28). Those interested in researching the roots of their own family’s experience will be able to speak with local librarians with expertise in family research who will be available in the cultural center during the program. The librarians will be available to answer questions 10 a.m. – noon on Wednesdays and 2-4 p.m. on Saturdays beginning on Oct. 4 and continuing during the remainder of the exhibit’s run. A special computer lab, open to those wishing to conduct online genealogical research, will be available at the center beginning Oct. 4 during regular exhibit hours.
The full event schedule is available at www.lorenzoculturalcenter.com.
About the Lorenzo Cultural Center
The Lorenzo Cultural Center (lorenzoculturalcenter.com) explores the influences and experiences that shape our community's heritage, examining topics from a variety of perspectives and creating interactive opportunities for learning, celebration and entertainment. Located on Macomb Community College's Center Campus, Hall and Garfield Roads in Clinton Township, the cultural center is adjacent to the Macomb Center for Performing Arts
About Macomb Community College
Macomb Community College (www.macomb.edu) is one of the nation’s leading community colleges, providing learning experiences to more than 59,000 students annually. Macomb nationally ranks in the top two percent in the number of associate degrees awarded and as the largest grantor of associate degrees in Michigan. The college’s comprehensive educational programming includes pre-collegiate experiences, university transfer and career preparation programs, bachelor degree completion and graduate degree programs, workforce training, professional education and certification, and continuing education and enrichment opportunities.
Media contact:
Dan Heaton
(586) 445-7271
heatond@macomb.edu