Register Now for Symposium “Leaving and Belonging: Making an Impact on Immigration and Displacement through Arts, Culture, and Storytelling”

George Mason University’s Institute for Immigration Research is hosting a two-day working symposium focused on immigration, displacement, and belonging, with a particular emphasis on how arts, culture, and storytelling can be effectively used to build community, shift public attitudes, and inform immigration-related policy in the United States. The goal of this symposium is to think together, share best practices, identify challenges and gaps, and develop strategies for impactful work at the intersection of immigration and arts.

The symposium, which includes individual presentations, panel discussions, films, workshops, art displays, and performances, will be held at Lecture Hall, Fairfax Campus, George Mason University, April 17 and 18, 2026. It is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

A keynote performance/conversation, Stories of Belonging: Immigration, Art and Community, will take place on Friday, April 17, between 7:00–8:30pm. This panel brings together artists, cultural producers, community builders, and media specialists whose work centers the lived experiences of immigrants and refugees. Through storytelling, performance, and advocacy, the conversation explores how creative expression can reshape narratives of migration, cultivate a sense of belonging, and challenge dominant portrayals of displacement.