Reimagining Guåhan

Humanities Guåhan was pleased to present "Reimagining Guåhan: Social Justice through a Humanities Lens," a civic reflection conversations project that explored significant issues for our island community, including migration, cultural resilience, identity, decolonization, environmental sustainability, LGBTQ experiences, and increased militarization.

This project was part of the National Endowment for the Humanities initiative, “A More Perfect Union”: America at 250, which encouraged exploration, reflection, and storytelling about America's journey toward a more equitable society.

"Reimagining Guåhan" focused on amplifying the perspectives and experiences of marginalized communities in Guåhan, especially CHamorus and those from the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands. These Pacific Islander voices, along with others, were expressed through poetry, essays, chants, personal narratives, films, and other creative mediums, engaging residents in meaningful humanities-based discussions on social justice issues impacting community life.

Launched in late 2021 and continuing through September 2023, the project commenced with two master trainers from Oregon Humanities arriving in late May 2022 to prepare a new cohort of civic reflection facilitators. These facilitators led fifteen series of community conversations, each consisting of weekly 90-minute sessions for six weeks. Additionally, two larger events with 60-100 participants were held, featuring international and Guam-based scholars, cultural experts, and artists.

In July 2023, as part of the project, Humanities Guåhan was proud to present the event "Reimagining Guåhan with Meta: A Homecoming Tour," featuring renowned Filipino rapper, poet, speaker, and educator Meta Sarmiento. The weeklong tour, which ran from July 10 to July 14, included dynamic writing and poetry workshops, a community conversation event at the Hyatt Regency Guam on July 11, and a public performance at the University of Guam’s Fine Arts Theatre on July 13.

As part of the 6th Marianas History Conference in Saipan, CNMI from September 1-3, 2023, HG in partnership with the Northern Marianas Humanities Council presented our second large conversation event with over 60 participants that followed a reading, cultural dance and music performance by indigenous artists and storytellers.

Humanities Guåhan is grateful for the support from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and continues to be dedicated to providing foundational support and educational resources to the people of Guåhan. 

For more information, please contact our Program and Communications Manager, Nedine Songeni, at nfsongeni@humanitiesguahan.org.