Who Are We?

Good question. Lao Americans have been here for nearly 40 years yet many are unaware of who we are - ourselves included. As refugees of war (3 to be exact - Laotian Civil War, Vietnam War, Secret War in Laos) there is very little documented about when or how we all got here. Can you imagine being a child and answering that question of where you’re from?

My name is Catzie Vilayphonh. Growing up, I was aware how different being Laotian was, yet not able to find any answers in my parents photo albums, school books, or museums (still).  As a writer, I was able to reflect my complicated identity into my poetry. And then, after seeing other Lao artists and their work, I learned more about my parents history and why they never talked about their past. If Lao American artists were able to do more work in communities, there could be more of these exchanges that would initiate dialogue.

Laos In The House is an initiative to engage the Lao American community through writing, performance and visual arts to promote storytelling as a healing medium for war refugees whose upbringings did not prioritize art education.

What We're Doing:

Laos In The House will present community-based work with national artists for the very first time in Philadelphia, May 2015, hosting a series of events that will consist of:

• Community workshops, where we document generational tales about life before, during and after transitions to America. These stories will then be shared through our online digital archive. In partnership with the Lao Diaspora Project, Lao from all over the world can submit their own stories through words, pictures, and video.

• An interactive gallery installation display story submissions where visitors can also add their own pictures. In collaboration with Legacies of War, these will be displayed alongside an exhibit of historic illustrations by Lao villagers whose drawings were used as evidence to stop the Secret War bombings in Laos and advocate for the removal of the unexploded ordnances still remaining today.

• A public showcase highlighting Lao American artists, from traditional folk musicians to literary playwrights to fashion designers, who will also host workshops and panel discussions on how they represent their heritage in their works and highlight issues we face in preserving our cultural history.

What We Need and Why:

The project is backed by a Knight Foundation Challenge Arts Grant - a matching grant worth up to $25K depending on how much we could raise. That’s where you come in. By donating to our modest goal of $10,000 you’ll help bring us closer to the full $25K match.

By helping raise our target goal we will be able to provide the following:

• travel and honorariums for Lao American artists to come to Philadelphia

• marketing materials printed in Lao & English distributed within the community

• exhibit materials for the interactive stories installation

• facility and equipment rentals for hosting events

• video documentation of these performances

Even if we don’t hit our target, all the money will still be applied towards the Knight Foundation match so in effect, your donations will be doubled and still going to a good place - all the more reason to help us make our goal!

The Impact

This will be the first national Lao American event of this scale. The community in Philadelphia is looking forward to hearing these stories and they will be documented on our website as a resource to the community at large across the United States. Lao American youth from all over can learn what it means to be part of this community. These artists will be able to connect with each other and audiences on a new scale. Finally, these stories get to be heard by a much larger audience.

For more info go to laosinthehouse.com.

*Please note, the Laos In The House Project takes place in Philly, but is fiscally sponsored by the Miami Foundation nonprofit organaization through the Knight Foundation Grant, so your receipt will say "Thank you for donating to the Miami Foundation".