We take pride in the ways our staff contribute to the community beyond their roles in our schools. This February, we are proud to recognize Bri Nguyen, Communications Specialist, for their involvement in Our Journeys, a traveling multimedia exhibition presented by Vietnamese Boat People at the Ware Center for the Arts.
From Feb. 2 to 28, the exhibition centers Vietnamese American voices and brings forward deeply personal stories of migration, loss, survival, and belonging through oral histories, artifacts, and interactive storytelling.
The exhibition includes local Vietnamese diaspora stories from Alys Truong, Mai Nguyen Yeager, Ho-Thanh Nguyen, and Thuat Nham ’81, the first Vietnamese woman to attend and graduate from Millersville University. Their contributions ground the exhibition in regional history and highlight how global narratives live locally, carried forward through education, leadership, and community ties.
Bri participated in the exhibition’s opening event in late January as a Baldwin Fellow and contributing visual artist. The event featured artwork by local Asian American artists, a display of traditional Vietnamese dresses curated by Julia Cao, Vietnamese cuisine provided by the Rice & Noodles and Sprout family, and a musical performance by Vietnamese American singer Lê Thanh Trúc, also known as Panda. During the program, Maian Ly McCauley, a McCaskey High School Distinguished Alumna from the Class of 2005, shared her family’s diaspora story, which is also featured within the exhibition, adding another layer of lived experience and intergenerational reflection.
Vietnamese Boat People founder Tracey Nguyễn Mang also joined the opening to share opportunities for community members to participate in the organization’s oral history project and to sign copies of the Our Journeys companion book. Since 2018, Vietnamese Boat People has documented Vietnamese refugee experiences through podcasts, workshops, and grassroots storytelling initiatives. Our Journeys represents the evolution of that work, transforming audio narratives into a visual, participatory experience that invites reflection, dialogue, and connection.
One of the exhibition’s final sections features a global interactive map where visitors can chart their own migration journeys. This shared space allows individual stories to intersect, reinforcing the idea that history is not static, but shaped by people and movement across generations. Conversation cards throughout the exhibit further encourage guests to engage with one another and reflect on the stories they carry.
At the School District of Lancaster, we believe storytelling plays an essential role in education. When students and communities see their histories represented with care and accuracy, learning becomes more meaningful and inclusive. We are proud to recognize Bri and Maian’s contribution to Our Journeys and grateful for the ways their work reflects our district’s values of representation and community connection.
We encourage our families, staff, and community members to visit the Ware Center and experience Our Journeys during its run this month.