For centuries, the United States has beckoned to immigrants the world over. As a result, contemporary America is a diverse mosaic of cultures and traditions. One in five Americans today was either born in a foreign country or has a parent who was born abroad. In fact, children of immigrant families is the fastest growing population group in the U.S. Understanding the impact of these demographic changes is a national imperative. In the civic, economic, and artistic arenas, yesterday’s newcomer is tomorrow’s pioneer in a continuing process that defines us to this day.
As a catalyst
to celebrate America’s past and promise, the Museum provides
inspiring and compelling educational
and cultural programs and
activities exploring our diverse
immigrant experiences.
Our New Home
The Museum’s new home at the NTC Promenade,
Liberty Station, is located at the historic Naval Training Center, placing
us in the center of San Diego’s flagship destination for arts, culture,
science and technology. As a public forum venue, we invite other organizations
to partner with the New Americans Museum on programming that may include:
• Oral
and visual history projects
• Visual and performing arts
• Cultural
events
• Lectures and speaker series
• Conferences
• Exhibitions
Residents, visitors, scholars and school groups will find the Museum an invaluable gateway to education, exploration, history, international exchange, the arts, and multi-cultural enrichment.
The New Americans Museum offers innovative programs and resources to the city of San Diego, the state of California, and the entire nation.
Its home at the NTC promenade
in Liberty Station is rapidly
being transformed into a major
cultural destination for our
community. The Museum’s
fundamental commitment to education,
arts, culture and history is
reflected in both our current
programs and our long-term
planning. Current projects
include:
The
Oral and Visual History
Project
Personal stories
of the immigrant experience
are a vital component of the New Americans Museum’s
efforts to illuminate the many facets of contemporary immigration
to the United States. The Oral and Visual Histories Project
is intended to collect and preserve these narratives. An advisory
council of scholars, immigrant leaders, and media experts will
provide ongoing guidance. The archived stories will make accounts
of the immigrant experience readily available to family descendents
and researchers as well as the general public. The histories
will be available at the Museum and on our web site, in audio
and digital video format, and as part of interactive exhibitions.
This project is slated for substantial growth in 2008, as it
represents a core collection for the Museum.
Family Histories
Essay Competition: Stories
of Migration to the United States
This flagship program has
been supported by the Parker Foundation; Bank of America; Sempra
Energy, and, in association with The San Diego Foundation, the
Waitt Family Foundation’s Digital
Divide Fund and The Hom Family Fund. One of the Museum’s
primary aims is to encourage pride and a sense of belonging
among the youngest generations of immigrants.
We collect and
preserve family histories while saluting a diverse array of
San Diego students through scholarship awards. Award recipients
receive monetary scholarship prizes and certificates of recognition. All winning stories are documented and archived for future
Museum exhibits and publications.
This program collaborates
with the San Diego Unified School District and the San Diego
Community College District to align the competition directly
with classroom standards and goals. Competition guidelines
and application materials appear on our website. The selection
committee meets in April and awards are announced in May. An
awards ceremony in June celebrates the winners and their families.
Exhibition Gallery
The
New American Museum has now
completed its Exhibition Gallery. Reflecting the spirit of our
museum, exhibitions will examine both historic and contemporary
immigration to the United States, while also serving as a bridge
to partnerships with our diverse communities. 
Future Leaders
Internship Program
Creating
America’s Future / Developing Communities One
Leader at a Time
Young
people can be transformed
as they fully realize both their potential and their responsibilities
as citizens of our democracy. Working side-by-side with the Executive
Director and Program Director of the New Americans Museum, youth
from diverse backgrounds gain professional skills and knowledge
through this program that will enable them to join the leadership
ranks of non-profit organizations in their communities and beyond
Cultural Programs
Live
performances and other cultural
celebrations of immigrant tradition and experience are central
to the Museum’s mission. This program area
will doubtless grow rapidly in the coming years as Museum staff
works in collaboration with local and national artists and community
leaders. Through the Immigrant Festivals Project, for example,
the Museum has already partnered with local organizations to
engage the greater San Diego community in our region’s
cultural celebrations. Seeking ways to educate
the largest possible audience
about the culture and history
behind these festivals,
we encourage visitors to celebrate with the immigrant community
through food, arts, song, and dance.
Contemporary
Story: Perspectives by Immigrant
and Refugee Artists