Content Description 4 oral history interviews (approx 60 minutes each) and the full 23-minute short film “Feed/Back”, a short experimental documentary released in 2022 in partnership with the Center for Story-based Strategy and Village X Studio. The film wove together a futurist narrative of escape with present-day stories of food service workers, many formerly employed at Busboys and Poets, a cultural centerpiece in the DMV community. It was awarded Best Director (DMV Short Film Festival) and honorable mention...

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Gene Itoh traces his father's side of family's lineage back to Japan, his childhood memories growing up as Japanese American in Washington metropolitan area, his young adult life in San Diego, his connection to the restaurant industry and career in healthcare industry, continuing the legacy of the father's restaurant, the restaurant staff, closing the restaurant, and D.C.'s changing dining scene.

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John Tran discusses his parents' journey to the US, his memories of growing up in Northern Virginia as Vietnamese American, working in various jobs and meeting his wife, opening and operating his restaurant in Washington, D.C.

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John Tran discusses his parents' journey to the US, his memories of growing up in Northern Virginia as Vietnamese American, working in various jobs and meeting his wife, opening and operating his restaurant in Washington, D.C.

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Larry La discusses his parents' journey of leaving Communist China, growing up in Saigon with his Chinese heritage, his family's escape from Vietnam after the Vietnam War, settling in Erwin, TN after living in a refugee camp in Malaysia, moving to Washington D.C. to work at City Lights of China, opening and running Meiwah, numerous anecdotes of his restaurant's customers working in politics and government, closing Meiwah West End, and earning the Outstanding American by Choice Award.

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Patrice Cleary discusses her experience of growing up in Massachusetts as Filipino American, joining the Marine Corps, various Filipino dishes, opening and running her restaurant in Washington, D.C., and promoting Filipino cuisine in America.

Scope and Contents Seng Luangrath discusses her childhood in Vientiane, Laos, living in a multi-generational home, learning to cook from her grandmother, the impact of the Laotian Civil War and the Vietnam War on her family, attending a French-language school, learning that her family would be escaping Laos but that her sister would remain with her grandmother, the experience of being smuggled across the Laos border into Thailand, life as a refugee in Thailand then the Philippines, attending an English...

Scope and Contents Seng Luangrath discusses her childhood in Vientiane, Laos, living in a multi-generational home, learning to cook from her grandmother, the impact of the Laotian Civil War and the Vietnam War on her family, attending a French-language school, learning that her family would be escaping Laos but that her sister would remain with her grandmother, the experience of being smuggled across the Laos border into Thailand, life as a refugee in Thailand then the Philippines, attending an English...

Scope and Contents Seng Luangrath discusses her childhood in Vientiane, Laos, living in a multi-generational home, learning to cook from her grandmother, the impact of the Laotian Civil War and the Vietnam War on her family, attending a French-language school, learning that her family would be escaping Laos but that her sister would remain with her grandmother, the experience of being smuggled across the Laos border into Thailand, life as a refugee in Thailand then the Philippines, attending an English...

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

D.C. Oral History Collaborative (DCOHC) is a citywide initiative to train community members in oral history skills, fund new and ongoing oral history projects, connect volunteers with oral history projects, and publicize existing oral history collections. DCOHC is a project of DC Public Library, HumanitiesDC, and the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. This collection contains oral history interviews, transcripts, and indexes produced by DCOHC grantees.