MONEY IN THE HOUSE: BOUN BOLIJUK

"Boun" means good merit and is also the word for holiday. "Bolijuk" means charity or donation. This Giving Tuesday put money in the house and help us make boun bolijuk! Our volunteers can't wait to get started on 2019, but we need your help! The mission of Laos In The House is to promote storytelling in the Lao American refugee community through the mediums of art. Through programming, events and partnership projects, we integrate storytelling with art, seeking to engage community members to share their own personal stories. Our hope is to give voice to those who cannot do so for themselves, in the hopes of healing the scars of war and beginning the process of regular intercultural, intergenerational exchanges.

What We've Done So Far:
2015

• Curated the first ever art exhibition of all Laotian American artists in Philadelphia, in partnership with Legacies of War
• Closing out the three-month gallery show, produced a performance showcase of prominent Lao American singers, dancers, poets, musicians and theatre actors

2016

• The first ever #BLESSED Lao New Year Dinner Pop-Up featured monks to give water blessings, plus guests Channapha Khamvongsa from Legacies of War, Naroen Chinn of 1LoveMovement and Ben Miller of South Philly Barbacoa

2017

• Brought #BLESSED back with guests Lao Heritage Foundation, T.O. Nam and Bryan Thao Worra
• Hosted a Health Survey brunch at Buddhist Lao Temple Wat Phouthathamammaram on gambling, addiction and drugs
• Cooking Class at Free Library's Culinary Literacy Center teaching students how to make mieng, with a reading of Sticky Mess by Nor Sanavongsay

2018

• 3rd annual #BLESSED featuring Cooking with Nana, Chef Phet Schwader of Khe-Yo Restaurant and Itsara Ounnarath of White Tiger Distillery
• Hosted a musical mini Summer Camp with Lao Heritage Foundation, for kids and adults
• Co-Hosted Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival's screenings of works by 4 Lao Americans

Your donation can help us do more.