UND CONNECT: New Americans photo exhibit, video showcase to debut
Photo exhibit opens Sept. 8 in Memorial Union Gallery; video showcase debuts on Sept. 17, Constitution Day
In honor of Constitution Day on Wednesday, Sept. 17, students and faculty in UND’s Department of Communication have worked over the past year to capture stories of immigration, identity and the meaning of becoming an American.
The journeys, aspirations and contributions of new Americans will be celebrated through an upcoming photo exhibition and video showcase.
The project, titled “From Many Places, One Community,” culminated in a photo exhibit set to open on Monday, Sept. 8, at the Memorial Union Gallery. The opening reception will be held at noon that day, and the exhibit will be open through Sept. 19. The reception will feature remarks both from UND President Andy Armacost and Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski — signifying the city of Grand Forks’ partnership in the project.
At 9 a.m. on Constitution Day, the group is premiering its video showcase for the project at the Memorial Union Social Stairs. Fifteen new Americans in North Dakota, representing 14 different countries, will be featured. The showcase seeks to honor their experiences and the ways they continue to shape communities throughout the state.
Expected to appear at the Sept. 17 event is North Dakota First Lady Kjersti Armstrong, who is originally from Oslo, Norway. Earlier this year, both Armstrong and her husband, Gov. Kelly Armstrong, were on campus as the first lady recorded her piece for the showcase.
The event will also be available to watch online, via Zoom.
The New Americans initiative has been supported by UND’s Office of the President, Office of the Provost, the Department of Communication and UND CONNECT.
UND Today writer Janelle Vonasek wrote about the project earlier this year, which featured the perspectives of those both behind and in front of the camera.
