On April 17th and April 18th, 2026, George Mason University’s Institute for Immigration Research (IIR) hosted a two-day working symposium, Leaving and Belonging: Making an Impact on Immigration and Displacement through Arts, Culture, and Storytelling. The symposium convened scholars, students, artists, community organizers, leaders of nonprofits and NGOs, legal professionals, and medical practitioners working at the intersection of arts and migration. Scholarly presentations and thoughtful discussions were interwoven with music-making, poetry, collage, and other creative practices, reinforcing the symposium’s commitment to integrating critical inquiry with artistic expression. Featuring over 60 presenters, the symposium was open to the public and welcomed broad university and community engagement.
The symposium officially launches the IIR’s new strength in arts, culture, and storytelling, which complements its longtime focus on the gathering and dissemination of quantitative data about immigrant contributions to the United States. The enthusiastic response to the symposium indicates that the IIR’s new initiative fills a much needed gap.
The symposium offered a space for people working on arts and migration to share their work, build networks, exchange best practices, and strengthen one another’s efforts.
As one participant noted:
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to take part in the inaugural convening of such a powerful and transformative space for artists, storytellers, and practitioners, both as a presenter and an attendee. I left feeling empowered, inspired, and deeply encouraged by the sessions I attended over the two days.”
Another attendee highlighted:
“The opportunity to meet and talk with people working across sectors was really great and led to a lot of unexpected connections and resonances. I was also in awe all weekend of the logistics.”
The symposium explored a wide range of themes centered on the role of storytelling and the arts in movement and belonging, policymaking, shaping public opinion, and creating spaces for more nuanced narratives about migration. Through panels and workshops, the discussions examined how creative practices can foster connection, preserve memory, and sustain identity across borders. Workshops offered hands-on activities that focused on how individuals and communities rebuild belonging through everyday practices such as food, gardening, faith, and economic life. Participants reflected on the role of storytelling in public and institutional spaces, from museums to digital media, and as a means of challenging dominant narratives and generating new ones.
A particularly powerful aspect of the symposium was the presence of participants whose contributions were informed not only by professional expertise but by their own lived experiences of migration, displacement, and resettlement. This combination grounded the conversations in both scholarship and personal experience, creating a rich and deeply engaged dialogue.
A keynote event, co-sponsored by the Middle East Institute’s (MEI) Arts and Culture Center, featured presentations and live performances by artists Omar Offendum and Yasmine Elhady, whose work spans spoken word, music, and comedy. They were joined in conversation by Cara Mertes, a multiple award-winning independent media leader and Founding Executive Director of the International Resource for Impact & Storytelling (IRIS), and Monna Kashfi, Emmy Award–winning Vice President of Content and Communications at Welcome.US, a national nonprofit that mobilizes Americans to support and welcome refugees and newcomers. The conversation was moderated by Lyne Sneige, Senior Director of MEI’s Arts and Culture Center.
