Recognizing the Opening of the Cambodian Experience: Our Journey to America, Finding Freedom At the Haggin Museum in Stockton, California
Floor Speech
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Mr. HARDER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the opening of The Cambodian Experience: Our Journey to America, Finding Freedom at the Haggin Museum in Stockton, California. This exhibit documents the experiences of Cambodian Americans, tracing their journey from the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime to refugee resettlement and community building in the United States.
Developed and curated by the United Cambodian American Network (UCAN), a nonprofit organization based in Stockton, the exhibit presents a comprehensive narrative through oral histories, archival materials, artifacts, and multimedia storytelling. It highlights the contributions of Cambodian Americans and underscores the role of refugee communities in the broader American story.
Stockton, which became a major resettlement site during the 1980's and 1990's, is home to one of the largest Cambodian communities in the United States. This exhibit reflects the significance of the city as both a destination and a foundation for Cambodian American life.
Key contributors include Sophy Reese, President of UCAN and project manager; collaborating organizations such as the Khmer Language Arts and Culture Academy and A Khmer Buddhist Foundation; and survivors and descendants who provided firsthand accounts and materials for display. The Haggin Museum provided exhibition space, curatorial support, and logistical coordination for the project.
This exhibit is the fourth in a continuing series of Cambodian cultural exhibits presented in partnership with the Haggin Museum. It serves both as a remembrance of a difficult history and a testament to cultural preservation, community strength, and intergenerational resilience.
I commend the individuals and organizations whose efforts have resulted in this important public exhibit and recognize its role in fostering historical understanding and cultural appreciation.
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