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Arts & Culture
SUN · MAY 17 · 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
05·17

Milwaukee's Chinese American Experience Reception

ft. Angela Wang, Yinan Wang

Milwaukee Central Library· 814 W Wisconsin Ave
13+ · Free · Just Show Up

Discover Milwaukee's Chinese history through poetry, film, and personal stories.

Part I

The details

About this event

Milwaukee's Chinese American Experience Reception offers a deep dive into the city's rich immigrant history. Hosted by the Organization of Chinese Americans-Wisconsin Chapter, this event combines art and storytelling to highlight cultural narratives often overlooked. Angela Wang, the Milwaukee Youth Poet Laureate, will share her work, setting the stage for a documentary screening that explores historical markers and their significance.

The event also includes a talkback session with director Yinan Wang, providing an opportunity for attendees to engage with the film's themes of migration and belonging. It's a thoughtful afternoon designed to foster understanding and appreciation of Milwaukee's diverse heritage. Whether you're a history buff or just curious, this reception promises insights and connections.

From the organizer

Join the Organization of Chinese Americans-Wisconsin Chapter for an afternoon celebrating Milwaukee's Chinese American history. This event features poetry reading by Milwaukee Youth Poet Laureate Angela Wang, personal and historical narratives from notable OCA members, and screening of the documentary film From Section 48 to King Drive (2026). This film uncovers a seldom-told narrative of Milwaukee's Chinese immigrant history through the installation of two state historical markers. Mixing archival fragments, local memory, and careful attention to place, the film traces how these small commemorations open into larger questions of migration, erasure, and belonging. Take part in the post film talkback with director Yinan Wang.
Organization of Chinese Americans-Wisconsin Chapter

Getting in

  • Free — Just Show Up
  • Drop in anytime — no commitment needed

What's It Actually Like?

Energy2/5
ZenMosh Pit
Intimate
Conversational

Who'll Be There

A mix of older adults, families, and young adults, particularly those with an interest in cultural heritage and community events. Expect people from the local Chinese American community, educators, and students.

How the Room Feels

Seated throughoutQuiet expected

What You'll Leave With

A memoryA new connection

Part II · The feel

How it feels

The details organizers don't always put in the description — pulled from the room, the crowd, and what people remember afterward.

The room

Library rules. Whispers and a calm body — this is not a talking-out-loud room.

Seated throughoutQuiet expected

You'll leave with

A memory
A new connection

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