On The Move

In a three-year cycle themed with World Migration at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, this second year presents topics related to Migration across Generations. Visitors explore how American communities and cultures are transformed by the movements, displacements, and interactions of diverse populations over time, with the goal of obtaining insight into the growth of healthy inclusive communities across the country. The focus this year is on the youth, young Americans whose families have arrived in this country within the last generations. These young people are Americans, raised in the United States. Some of them have been born here, others were brought here as part of a family group who immigrated. It is these first-generation Americans who live fully within a framework of biculturalism. Their parents and grandparents carry with them the language and customs of their country of origin, while the children spend their days in the local schools, becoming integrated as citizens of the United States. Building on a small but innovative program from 2016, the 2017 program foregrounds the perspectives of youth, past and present. It invites intergenerational conversations about the interplay of migration, creativity, and culture, highlighting the social power of tradition and art. It focuses on how young people assume responsibility as bridge builders among communities, generations, and into the future. Today's generation of young people—ranging from their mid-teens into their mid-thirties—are the most racially diverse population in American history. As young Americans, they have a particular stake in the world they inherit together. For this program, the National Mall became a space for performances, workshops, sports, visual arts demonstrations, and discussions. Themes of multilingualism, diversity and identity within and across cultural communities are addressed. These themes highlight the shifting notions of the sense of belonging, communication in both high-tech and traditional methods, and the disruptive and generative impacts of migration.

PRODUCTION Director: Sabrina Lynn Motley Curators: Olivia Cadaval, Amalia Cordova, Sojin Kim Curatorial Advisors: Alissa Stern, Sebi Medina-Tayac Project Interns: Michelle Aranda Coss, Juan Goncalves Borrega, Maryam Parhizkar, Jessie Riddle American Anthropological Association Interns: Inigo Acosta, Demilde Adebayo, Addison Marry, Lauren Paniati Lead Volunteer: Kenneth Robinson Presenters: Citlalli Álvarez, Quique Avilés, Diana Baird N'Diaye, Camila Bryce-LaPorte, Regie Cabico, Norma Cantú, C. Daniel Dawson, Eduardo Díaz, Julia Garciá, Theo Gonzalves, Perla M. Guerrero, Mary S. Linn, Samir Meghelli, Mark Puryear, Toni Shapiro-Phim, Daniel Sheehy, Je Naè Taylor, Leslie Walker, Ranald Woodaman, Steve Velásquez, Steve Zeitlin Advisory Committee: Quique Avilés, Christylez Bacon, Carline Brice-Mesilus, Caitlin Buckley, Ashesh Dangol, James Early, Lubna Ejaz, Julia García, Natalia Gardullo, Kumera Genet, Ted Gong, Perla M. Guerrero, Noelle Terefe Haile, Jada Hampton, Mary Houston, Isaia King, Lilia Knight, Hollis "Flash" Lashley, John Leguizamo, Ed Liebow, Von Martin, Suzanne Matthews-Williams, Phyllis May-Machunda, Eva McIntyre, Rebecca Medrano, Natalie Michel, Michael Morris, Alexis Neblett, Darren Neblett, ThienVinh Nguyen, Brenda V. Pérez Amador, Mark Puryear, Dayanita Ramesh, Anil Ranjit, Maribel Rodriguez, Hatum Saenz-Painemilla, Usman Sarwar, Joseph Sciorra, Andy Shallal, Khandeya Sheppard, Doreen Thompson, Amelia Tseng, Leslie Walker, Dennis Zotigh Smithsonian Collaborators: Anacostia Community Museum, ARTLAB+ at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Asian Pacific American Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Latino Center ARTISTS and ENSEMBLES • Sheila Kay Adams, Ballad singer, storyteller • Noa Baum, Storyteller, educator • Caporales Unidos, Washington, D.C., Bolivian Dance Troupe • Capturing Fire, Washington, D.C., International Queer Poetry Summit and Slam • CHELOVE, Muralist, visual Artist • Chinese Youth Club of Washington, D.C., 9-Man volleyball team • Christyles and Washington Sound Museum, Hip-hop artist; collaborative concert series • City Lore and International Storytelling Center, Arts organizations of New York, Jonesborough, Tennessee • DC Caribbean Collective, Music, dance, and history of the Caribbean • DJ VicoVibes, DJ • Fugees Family, Inc., Soccer drills, scrimmages • Gandhi Brigade Youth Media, Media arts program • Mestre João Grande, Capoeira Angola master • PJ and Roy Hirabayashi, Japanese American taiko players • House of Angklung, Indonesian music ensemble • Ledward Kaapana, Ukulele and slack-key guitar player • Kichwa Hatari, Indigenous language radio collective • Kino Musica, Afro-soul band • Los Pleneros de la 21, Music ensemble and cultural center • Los Treinta, Salvadoran American artists • MasPaz, Visual artist, muralist • Muslim Community Center, Faith-based organization of Silver Spring, Maryland • Philadelphia Folklore Project, Independent public agency, event producer • Artemio Posadas, Master son huasteco musician • San Francisco Kulintang Legacy, Filipino percussion ensemble • Roberto "Professor Busho" Tapia, Roda Movements capoeira teacher • Viajeros de las Americas, Alfombra artists • Mestre Jelon Vieira, Capoeira master • The Wong People, Kung fu and lion dance association