Howland Cultural Center 150th Anniversary Opening Night (in person)

Save the Date! Exhibition opening and performance, Saturday, August 6th at 6pm. Come celebrate our Library’s 150th anniversary! The exhibit will take place at the Howland Cultural Center the original library building, from August 6th – September 25th. Join us opening night on August 6th for a special performance with local performers! There is an exciting line up of exhibits and events at the Library, the Cultural Center and Historical Society.

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“Sewing in Kingston” Exhibition Opening (in person)

Sewing in Kingston is a major exhibit accompanied by a range of programs showcasing more than a century of Kingston’s rich history of garment manufacturing and the immigrant communities, entrepreneurs, and women whose work made it possible. Join us to learn about the ups and downs of Kingston’s garment industry, the persistence of small businesses, the imagination of artists, and the power of family. The exhibit will highlight the role of immigrants and women and connect local experiences to broader historical, cultural, and economic stories. With one of the most significant local history exhibits ever mounted in the region, Kingston’s newly renovated Reher Center Gallery reopens to the public.

Oral History Project and live music by Ávila Ensemble (in person)

At the heart of it, our work at the Reher Center is to honor the historic legacy of the bakery we inhabit – by amplifying the voices and contributions of Hudson Valley immigrants, past and present.

To further that mission, we’ve partnered with the Kingston Library to record the personal stories of immigrant neighbors. The interviews kicked off earlier this month, and we can’t wait to engage the community with these global, and local narratives.

The Reher Center will  provide snacks and invite participant sign-ups!. And, to help set the tone for cultural exchange and connection, at 3 pm the Ávila Ensemble will perform a range of folk and classical music traditions of Venezuela. We hope to see you there!

An Afghan Culture & History Primer: Helping the Hudson Valley to Welcome Refugees (virtual)

On Sunday, February 27, join The Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History and Sina Baha and Khadija Ghanizada to learn about Afghan culture and history, and to hear first-hand some of the challenges Afghan newcomers face in the Hudson Valley. Over the past few months, several dozen Afghan refugees have settled in the Hudson Valley. This presentation is geared toward assisting Hudson Valley neighbors in welcoming our newest neighbors. The program will feature presentations as well as time for questions. We will also hear from the Afghan Support Circle of the Hudson Valley, a group currently working in support of a refugee agency to help resettle a family in Ulster County. Register here!