In April, two thousand happy Chicagoans reveled in Amazing India at Navy Pier. Lively dancing, vendors ranging from Ayurveda to eyebrow threading, rangoli activities, a historic display courtesy of South Asian Policy and Research Institute, and a rickshaw photo op!

So far this year we have introduced nearly 600 schoolchildren, college students, and adult groups to Indo-American heritage through neighborhood tours on Devon Avenue. These programs use the Devon Avenue marketplace to open a window into the life of the immigrant community and how it sustains and adapts its cultural practices. 

New this year:

• The Idea of India at the Field Museum, in collaboration with Eye on India, where panelists shared emotional connections to the homeland. There we also launched our collections initiative, with the endorsement of Field Museum and its CEO Richard LaRiviere.
•  A Taste of India premiered under the auspices of Choose Chicago and Chicago Cultural Alliance, combining the neighborhood tour with a thali dinner that took guests on a tasting journey to the four corners of India.
• A new Sacred Sites tour that visited places of worship for an exploration of the religious diversity of Indian Americans.
• Last month we held our first annual meeting.  Marigold Merriment celebrated our sixth year, honored volunteers and donors, and accessioned our first major artifact, a Durga murti donated by the Bengali Students Association at University of Illinois at Chicago. Many thanks to the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center for hosting the event.
• A part-time employee now assists with administrative and program duties. We welcome Dhruv Mehta, and appreciate all he's done so far.

The year has also brought growing pains. Since our inception six years ago, our small collection resided in the boardroom of the Indo-American Center. When the IAC tightened its belt, IAHM felt the squeeze too. They divided the boardroom into offices, and we put our things in storage. We are grateful that IAC continues to host our educational programs, but IAHM needs a home of its own. We are actively seeking a facility to not only house our collection, but also host our programs. Estimated expenses for a modest space are $1,000 per month.

We need your help.  Will you support the Indo-American dream?  We are a 501(c)3 charity and your tax deductible contribution will help preserve the Indo-American story for future generations.  Your check can be written to Indo-American Heritage Museum and mailed to our treasurer: 

Gyan Agarwal

947 Lathrop Avenue

River Forest, IL 60305

Or donate through paypal on our website http://iahmuseum.org/support-us/donate/

Give today, on Giving Tuesday, and the board will match the first $1000 in contributions!

You can give more than money: we seek your ideas and active participation as our museum continues to grow. Major initiatives for 2015 include our Oral History project, choosing and preparing a facility, producing a spring fundraiser, and planning to host the Smithsonian Institution's Beyond Bollywood exhibit in Chicago in summer 2017, augmenting the traveling exhibit with exciting programs and exhibits of our own.  Please contact us at [email protected] to get involved.

With many thanks for all you do,

Tamara Biggs

Board President