Check out the museum’s newest intercultural space and community led project, the LAB. Developed by Sara Siestreem (Hanis Coos), the LAB activates conversation and leaves passivity at the door. With careful deliberation and thoughtful planning, the space came to fruition this summer in 2019. Director of OJMCHE, Judy Margles, dreamt of the space and its potential for community involvement once the museum changed locations in 2017. She hopes the room will center itself around conversation, interaction and resistance, following simple ground rules on inclusivity. “We are interested in pursuing an intercultural space, for people who are interested in talking to one another,” said Margles.
Siestreem and Margles’ dream grew larger when Drew Fredenburg joined the LAB staff as an intern. They believe the space has the capacity to activate messages and spread pertinent information. The space is not only a library and a forum for dialogue, the LAB also poses an opportunity for community members to submit their own research and art. Additional details are on OJMCHE’s website and at lab.ojmche.org.