Culture Club
Immigrant Heritage Month Feature Presentation: Ugly Prey
Presented by: Emilie Lucchesi, PhD
In 1922, Sabella Nitti was a poor immigrant from Bari living on a small Stickney farm with her husband and children. When her husband went missing, the Cook County deputy sheriff wrongly suspected Sabella. He pounced when a decayed corpse was found in a nearby catch basin, and prosecutors gladly pursued the case. They were looking for a win and Sabella was an easy target -- she didn’t speak English, she was foreign, and the jurymen saw her as haggard and dangerous. Could anyone save her? Ugly Prey is a piece of lost history. Ugly Prey is a timeless story of judgment, deception, and redemption. The themes regarding media bias and fear of others are relevant to today's cultural climate. Author Emilie Lucchesi, PhD will be here to share her research in an interactive presentation.
Menu includes: Italian muffuletta sandwich, sides, and dessert.
Tuesday, June 11 • 11:00am-1:00pm • $11M/$16NM
Shimmy Fitness
Come pick up some smooth moves with this ancient Southeast Asian dance with Carmella the Belly Dancer leading the way. Once just considered a performance art, women of all cultures, ages, and backgrounds are exploring the world of belly dance as a workout and a self-empowerment tool. Born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Carmella made her first steps with traditional Bulgarian folklore dances at the age of 10 and has had a lifelong passion for dance, music and culture. Shimmy Fitness is designed to get the blood flowing in a fun way. Can’t stand for too long or worry about your balance? No worries, just shimmy in your seat! All fitness and dance levels welcome. Afterwards, we will share a lunch of chicken kabobs, sides, and dessert.
Friday, May 3 •11:00am • Lesson only, $7 • Lesson and meal, $12
AAPIHM Presentation: "The King & I"
Join us for the special program celebrating one of the most watched musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein, The King and I. Derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam (now Thailand) in the early 1860s, this work of art made waves across the big screen and theatres, and introduced a piece of Asian history to audiences worldwide. Lecturer Tim Wilsey will be discussing how the show was originally written and casted as well as the stars that emerged from this musical that has lasted for decades. Before the presentation, we will share a lunch of grilled chicken with an Asian chopped salad, roll, beverage, and dessert.
Wednesday, May 15 • 12:30pm •$11M/$16NM
AAPIHM Movie Presentation: "Only the Brave" (R, 99 min)
"Inspired by the historic rescue of the Texan "lost battalion" by the all-Japanese-American 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team who endured heavy casualties, this film captures the tragedies and sacrifices of these courageous Americans, who had to overcome great prejudice and injustice to themselves and their families." -Netflix
Menu includes: Teriyaki chicken skewer, sides, beverage and dessert.
Thursday, May 23 • 12:00pm • $7M/$10.50NM
Immigrant Heritage Month Feature Presentation: "Ugly Prey"
Presented by: Emilie Lucchesi, PhD
In 1922, Sabella Nitti was a poor immigrant from Bari living on a small Stickney farm with her husband and children. When her husband went missing, the Cook County deputy sheriff wrongly suspected Sabella. He pounced when a decayed corpse was found in a nearby catch basin, and prosecutors gladly pursued the case. They were looking for a win and Sabella was an easy target -- she didn’t speak English, she was foreign, and the jurymen saw her as haggard and dangerous. Could anyone save her? Ugly Prey is a piece of lost history. Ugly Prey is a timeless story of judgment, deception, and redemption. The themes regarding media bias and fear of others are relevant to today's cultural climate. Author Emilie Lucchesi, PhD will be here to share her research in an interactive presentation.
Menu includes: Italian muffuletta sandwich, sides, and dessert.
Tuesday, June 11 • 11:00am-1:00pm • $11M/$16NM