"My City Was a Sparkling Jewel: Voices of Newcomer Youth from Afghanistan" Coming to Mill City Museum

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (July 10, 2025) – A free exhibit, My City was a Sparkling Jewel: Voices of Newcomer Youth from Afghanistan, is coming to Mill City Museum this summer. Sharing diverse journeys of thirty Afghan youth, highlighting resilience, culture, and dreams, the exhibit will be located in the museum’s free Mill Commons area. This exhibition was produced in collaboration between Edison High School, South High School, LEAP High School, Green Card Voices, funders and many community partners.

First-person accounts from 30 storytellers between the ages of 16 and 21 years old are featured through short bios, illustrated portraits, and audio recordings. Visitors are invited into the lives of these remarkable young storytellers as they reflect on their journey to the United States.

Inspired by the book of the same title, the exhibit brings voices from various ethnic groups, including Pashtun, Hazara, Pashai, Tajik, and others, illustrating the rich cultural fabric of Afghanistan and the multifaceted experiences of migration. These stories bring a deeply human perspective to the ongoing global refugee experience.

To kick off the exhibit, Mill City Museum will host a free Opening Night Celebration on Saturday, July 19 at 6 pm. The event will feature a free halal dinner, exhibit viewing, reflections from three storytellers featured in the exhibit, and facilitated storytelling circles.

The exhibit is made possible through funding provided by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

About the Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves, and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs, and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories, and connects people with history.