This year again, all Valley Talks will be presented in a hybrid format, meaning guests have the option to attend the presentation in person at the Museum or virtually through Zoom. In checkout, make sure to select the correct ticketing option that reflects how you would like to attend the presentation.
The Museum of Work & Culture, a Rhode Island Historical Society Museum, will host its annual Valley Talks series featuring six free lectures celebrating the Blackstone Valley's history, continuing Sunday, January 25 at 1:30 pm.
The Heart of Wattayai by Vimala Phongsavanh is an exhibit of photographs and family keepsakes that traces one family’s story of loss, strength, and migration—from a village in Laos to the mill towns of Rhode Island. Centered on Phongsavanh’s grandmother, Khamhoth, the exhibit honors her quiet courage through war, displacement, and rebuilding a new life in America. It also uplifts the collective resilience of Woonsocket’s immigrant families and confronts a history often forgotten: the Secret War in Laos. Join Phongsavanh as she discusses the exhibit, which will be on display in the Museum’s Landmark Medical Center changing gallery from January 9 to February 28.
Vimala Phongsavanh is a lifelong organizer and proud resident of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. She currently serves as Managing Director of Coalition Mobilization at the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD). Vimala began her career organizing in Boston’s Chinatown and Rhode Island’s Southeast Asian communities. With over 15 years of experience in organizing and policy advocacy, she has led winning campaigns on reproductive freedom, voting rights, data equity, and statewide ballot initiatives. A former elected school committee member and chairwoman in Woonsocket, Vimala now serves as chair of the Laotian American National Alliance (LANA). She holds a BA in Political Science from Providence College and an MPA from the University of Rhode Island.
The Museum’s 2026 Valley Talks series is presented by the Museum of Work & Culture Preservation Foundation and the RI AFL-CIO.
The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state's oldest and only statewide historical organization, is dedicated to honoring, interpreting and sharing Rhode Island's past to enrich the present and inspire the future. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st -century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center and the Aldrich House.
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