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Explore Immigration and American Identity at Arab American National Museum
U.S. President John F. Kennedy once described America as “a nation of immigrants.” That statement is borne out by history books that tell how, since the 17th century, millions of people have the made arduous journey here in search of freedom and the chance to make a better life.
Yet today, issues related to immigration and what it means to be an American are some of the most controversial and divisive we face as a nation.
The Arab American National Museum invites the public to examine and discuss immigration and the definition of American identity during a free program on Friday, June 17, at the Museum, 13624 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn.
The program includes a screening of the 2009 documentary Welcome to Shelbyville, directed by award-winning filmmaker Kim A. Snyder. The film introduces a cast of straight-talking people in rural Tennessee who are taking immigration into their own hands – by welcoming newcomers. Set against the backdrop of a shaky economy, Welcome to Shelbyville takes an intimate look at a southern town as its residents – whites and African Americans, Latinos and Somalis – grapple with their beliefs, their histories and their evolving ways of life.
The film screens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 17, 2011, in the Lower Level Auditorium, followed by a short intermission with refreshments available for purchase.
An 8:45 p.m. panel discussion will feature New Detroit President Shirley Stancato and State Rep. Rashida Tlaib, followed by a question and answer session.
The event is free and open to the public. It is cosponsored by the global human rights organization Breakthrough; Active Voice, which uses media to spark change; and the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.
Kim A. Snyder is an award-winning filmmaker whose most recent film, Welcome to Shelbyville, is recipient of a Gucci-Tribeca Documentary Fund grant and a selection of the U.S. State Department’s 2010 American Documentary Showcase. It aired on PBS’s Independent Lens in early 2011. Snyder most recently worked with the BeCause Foundation, producing a series of short documentaries furthering the work of the social innovators they highlight. She also directed and produced I Remember Me (2001) distributed in the U.S. by Zeitgeist Films.
Shirley Stancato is the longest serving president and CEO of New Detroit, Inc. She provides strong leadership and guidance to carry out New Detroit’s mission to improve race relations in southeast Michigan. Prior to joining New Detroit, Stancato enjoyed a long career at what is now Chase Bank, where she rose to the rank of senior vice president. Stancato has received numerous awards including the Distinguished Leadership Award from the National Association of Community Leadership, Crain’s Detroit Business 100 Most Influential Women, Woman of Achievement by the Anti-Defamation League, and The Detroit News Michiganian of the Year. A lifelong Detroiter, Stancato is a graduate of Cass Technical High School. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wayne State University.
Rashida Tlaib was raised in Southwest Detroit and is the child of immigrants, who taught her the importance of hard work, honesty, and commitment to community. She earned a B.A. in Political Science from Wayne State University and while working full-time attended weekend classes at Thomas Cooley Law School, where she earned her law degree in 2004. Tlaib provided social and advocacy services to thousands of Southwest Detroit families at Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development (LASED), the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), the Office of State Rep. Steve Tobocman, the International Institute of Metro Detroit, and the Neighborhood Tax Center. Rashida Tlaib was elected to Michigan House of Representatives in 2008, representing the 12th District (Southwest Detroit).