KINGSTON – It was a beautiful morning Saturday when the ribbon was cut at the Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History for an exhibit called, “Taking Root,” about immigration to the region.
“We want to create a sense of belonging,” said Sarah Gordon, the exhibit curator. “This particular exhibit is about immigrant stories, people who have their own personal stories or family stories about immigration to Kingston and the Hudson Valley.”
The Reher Center is located in a former bakery run by Polish/Jewish immigrants on Broadway, on the hill leading down to the Rondout Creek waterfront, and food is an essential part of their mission. Now the exhibit will feature pictures of immigrants and stories in their own words.
“To me that’s a fundamental way we interact with each other,” said Gordon, of gathering for food or a meal.” I love that bread is part of our mission. It is also about connection.” The center will be open through November and will reopen next year with the exhibit, so it spans two years. And during the time of the entire exhibit, there will be programs that will include potluck dinners and listening days for other stories as a way to encourage and foster community engagement.”
“Next year we will be open again because we felt this particular exhibit was so on mission, and so interesting and so important,” said Gordon, “we want it to be here for two years.”
