PHILADELPHIA — Encouraging discussion about the preservation of community history and identity, the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA) will present its first-ever Philadelphia SAADA Community Forum on Thursday, April 4, 6-7:30 p.m., at Asian Arts Initiative. The only independent nonprofit working to document, preserve and provide access to the rich history of South Asians in the United States, SAADA recently moved its headquarters to Asian Arts Initiative’s multi-tenant facility in Philadelphia’s burgeoning Chinatown North neighborhood.
The forum, co-presented by Asian Arts Initiative, will give attendees the opportunity to learn about SAADA’s mission, view materials from the archive, ask questions and tell their own stories about objects that have personal value in a “show and tell” open mic. (Sign up for a two-minute slot by emailing showandtell [at] saadigitalarchive [dot] org.) Following the forum, the Philadelphia chapter of the Network of Indian Professionals (NetIP) will host an after-party. Both the forum and the after-party are free and open to the public.
According to Asian Arts Initiative executive director Gayle Isa, SAADA’s presence as a new tenant underscores AAI’s goal to be a cultural anchor in the community: “We’re excited that when SAADA moved to Philadelphia, they sought out Asian Arts Initiative to help increase their local connections and impact. Having their headquarters in our building adds to the creative energy among our shared communities.”
Event Details
SAADA Community Forum
Thursday, April 4, 6-7:30 p.m. (after-party to follow)
Asian Arts Initiative
1219 Vine St.
Philadelphia, PA 19017
Free (register online at saadaforum.eventbrite.com)
For questions about the event, please contact Samip Mallick at samip [at] saadigitalarchive [dot] org.
About SAADA
The South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA) was founded in 2008 in order to document and provide access to the diverse and relatively unknown stories of South Asian Americans. Our collection reflects the vast range of experiences of the South Asian diaspora in the United States, including those who trace their heritage to Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the many South Asian diaspora communities across the globe. For more information, visit saadigitalarchive.org.
