Each month, First Generation American Project hosts live meet-up events at local venues throughout Chicago and the suburbs. We invite FGA’s from all cultural backgrounds to join us in an open dialogue, focusing on the experiences of growing up first generation in the US. The environment is always casual and we have been so thankful to see our network of FGA’s evolve over the past year.
Francis Son Photography
This month we were excited to visit Pint Bar & Restaurant in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood. The location itself is a testament to the diversity of our great city. Next to Pint’s patio, you can find a retro phone booth that is reminiscent of England. Inside, you definitely get a feel for their motto: “A home away from home. Pint’s relaxing atmosphere, delicious meals, tasty beer selection and ‘old world’ charm will make you feel as comfortable and welcome as any public house in Chicago.”
The eclectic crowd of artsy entrepreneurs and Blackhawks fans filled the public side of the venue, while our group enjoyed a private room in the back. Pint’s staff was kind enough to provide complimentary appetizers and drink specials for our group, and even set up a massive projector to watch the Hawks dominate Detroit in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Right as we began, the roar of the national anthem filled the air, and we waived our American flags with pride. And yes – it was BYOF: Bring Your Own Flag!
Francis Son Photography
The first part of the event started off with drinks and networking. Familiar faces and new faces introduced themselves to each other, while learning about how they heard about FGA Project and why they joined. A few attendees brought American and immigrant friends, all welcomed to be part of the event.
After an hour of meet and greet, we began our dialogue session. Each attendee received a sheet with questions and topics points, and everyone partnered up with a new connection. We asked our partners questions from each category: defining First Generation American, how and why our parents came to the US, food, language, second school, traditions, and cultural identity. We then went around the room sharing what the person across from us discussed. Some had the same interpretation of what being FGA means, others weren’t quite sure how to define it. The openness and honesty of the group made for solid dialogue and really highlighted the purpose of our meet-ups: to catalyze the conversation of what this experience is all about.
Francis Son Photography
Our event photographer, Francis Son, invited his roommate Jo, who turned out to be a first generation Cuban-American. She was excited to jump into our dialogue and share how her family left Cuba because the struggle with Communism in the country. This was the first time I had met Jo, and it was amazing to connect with her on a personal level. Despite coming from different countries, our parents had a similar story, and we felt an instant bond as we continued our conversation.
As we were winding down, a group of locals sat down at the bar in our private section to escape the packed house on the other side of the venue. The Hawks game was playing in the background, but the volume was turned down to allow our guests to share their stories. One of the locals asked why it was so quiet and whether they were interrupting anything. Immediately, our guests welcomed them and shared the purpose of our meet-up. A Korean-American man from the group raised his hand and asked if he counted as FGA. He wasn’t sure of the definition, since he was born in Korea and came at a young age. To his surprise, he did in fact count, and we could all tell he felt right at home with our group.
Francis Son Photography
It’s been so great to meet total strangers and help them better understand their cultural identify. Though our families may come from totally different parts of the world, there are so many nuances that we can relate to. We would love to connect with you and hear about your experiences too. Be sure to join us at our next live event at Vertigo Sky Lounge on Tuesday June 25th from 7pm-9pm.
To learn more about Pint Bar & Restaurant visit www.pintpub.com
First Generation American Project 