From its very beginning, the story of the United States of America has also been a story of immigration. For 250 years, people have sought out the U.S. as a haven and an opportunity for something better than what they were leaving behind. With these journeys, it is not just the people who have benefitted, but the country as a whole. This May, celebrate the stories of immigrants, both famous and lesser known, who have exemplified what it means to seek the “American Dream” with storytimes, crafts, history presentations, movie screenings and more. Read on to find a small sample of events happening at a Fairfax County Public Library branch near you and more.

Celebrate Immigrant Journeys with Programs

*Please note that dates/times of the following events are subject to change. Check the event listing for the latest information.   

• The Power of Kindness with Terry Catasús Jennings | Centreville Regional Library | Saturday, May 2 
  Hear from the Cuban American award-winning children's book author while she reads from her newest book The Little House of Hope, an inspiring, semi-autobiographical story of how immigrants can help each other find their footing in a new country. 

• Make a Mini Hope Chest | John Marshall Library | Monday, May 4 
  Create a small chest and fill it with messages containing your hopes for the future and traditions you want to continue from the past.

• Immigrant Journeys: Stories & Inspiration | Chantilly Regional Library | Wednesday, May 6 
  Hear from community members about their personal journeys to the United States, the challenges they faced and the successes they have found here.

• Young at Heart Book Club | Herndon Fortnightly Library | Thursday, May 7 
  Join other kid-lit enthusiasts as we explore Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, the powerful story of a seventh-grade Syrian American boy and his struggles, big and small, as he navigates middle school.

• Genealogy 101: Fundamentals of Tracing Your Roots Through Genealogy | Sherwood Regional Library | Saturday, May 16 
  Learn the basics of genealogy and the skills needed to find and use records, documentation, and information on your ancestors. 
   

• Brewing Up History: The Heurich House Museum | John Marshall Library | Saturday, May 23
  Delve into the legacy and history of the Heurich House and hear the stories and experiences of the immigrants, including Heurich himself, who helped make in the largest brewery in Washington D.C. at the time.

• Movie Screenings: “An American Tail” | Various Branches | Various Dates
  Enjoy a screening of this 1986 animated classic depicting the story of a family of Russian-Jewish mice emigrating from the Russian Empire to the United States for freedom, a journey made by many real immigrants in the late 1880s through the early 1900s. 
   

• Story Swap: Immigrant Voices and the American Dream | Kings Park Library | Saturday, May 30 
  Listen to stories from members of our immigrant community or share your own in this live storytelling program.

Celebrate Immigrant Journeys with a Good Book