The Arts at Millersville University will present "Prelude to 'Our Journeys: 50 Years After the Fall of Saigon'" on Wednesday, April 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the Ware Center, 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster. The event will honor Vietnamese refugees and their families through stories, songs, and photographs as it looks ahead to an immersive exhibit coming to the Ware Center in 2026.

Featured speaker Len Tran, whose journey to the United States began on a small fishing boat lost at sea, will talk about the organization Vietnamese Boat People (VBP) and its public programs, including the exhibit "Our Journeys: 50 Years After the Fall of Saigon." He will also share his experiences as a refugee and talk about his book, "Split Up by the Sea: A Vietnamese Refugee's Memoir of Survival and Hope," copies of which will be available for signing.

VBP is a podcast and nonprofit with the mission to preserve and carry forward the stories of the Vietnamese diaspora. The "Our Journeys" exhibit will be on display at the Ware Center throughout the month of February 2026, seeking to center the voices of those involved in the Vietnamese diaspora as narrators of their own story and to educate broader audiences on the Vietnamese diaspora experience.

Rounding out the evening with perspectives from the Lancaster-area Vietnamese community, local singer Panda (Le Thanh Truc) will perform "Co nhung nguoi anh" ("There Are Brothers") by Vo Đức Hảo, a song about the sorrow and joy of reflecting on the homeland. Finally, Lancaster photographer Brian "Bri" Nguyen will speak about his photography exhibit, which will be displayed in the Ware Center lobby during the event, showcasing many of the photos he took during his Baldwin Fellowship trip to explore his family's home community in Vietnam.

This event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.

In addition, the Arts at Millersville University will celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with We the People First Friday on May 2 at the Ware Center.

At 6:30 p.m. in Steinman Hall, the Lancaster Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) invites audiences to step into the world of xiaochi, or "small eats." Live food demonstrations will feature popular Asian street foods from Burma, Thailand, and Cambodia. The Temple Breakers, a breakdancing team from Temple University, will perform between each country's presentation. Attendees may sample small bites and beverages.

The event will also include a reception to celebrate the opening of "Ikebana" ("Giving Life to Flowers") by Lancaster AAPI artists from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Regitz Gallery. Experience the cultural richness of the local Asian American and Pacific Islander community through a collaborative art exhibit showcasing the artists' interpretations of "Ikebana," a Japanese art form that focuses on harmony and minimalism. The exhibit will be on display until Friday, May 30.

This event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.