Clark County Historical Museum Presents: “Martha’s Pantry: Serving Clark County Since 1986" (Photo) -07/19/25

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sammuel Hawkins
Outreach & Public Programs Manager
Clark County Historical Museum
Outreach@cchmuseum.org | 360-993-5679

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Clark County Historical Museum Presents: “Martha’s Pantry: Serving Clark County Since 1986”

An Evening with Vicki Smith, Retired Lt. Colonel and Nonprofit Leader

 

Vancouver, WA — On Thursday, August 7, 2025, the Clark County Historical Museum (CCHM) invites the community to a powerful evening exploring the history, growth, and continued impact of one of Clark County’s most compassionate service organizations—Martha’s Pantry.

 

Presented by Vicki Smith, retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Colonel and longtime Executive Director of Martha’s Pantry, this event will take place at the Clark County Historical Museum (1511 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660). Doors open at 6:00 PM, and the talk begins at 7:00 PM. Admission is free for CCHM members and $5 for non-members.

 

Founded at the height of the AIDS crisis in 1986, Martha’s Pantry began as a grassroots response to urgent need—neighbors distributing food from the trunks of their cars. Over the past four decades, and under Vicki Smith’s 20+ years of leadership, the organization has evolved into a critical support hub, serving over 100 families each month. Services now include:

• Food pantry staples with client choice menus

• Personal hygiene and toiletry items

• Donated clothing through Michele’s Closet

• Pet food and cleaning supplies

Smith’s presentation will offer an intimate look at the organization’s journey from humble beginnings to a 3,000-square-foot facility—and the broader story of how a community can come together to support dignity, survival, and hope.

About the Presenter

Vicki Smith has spent her life in service—from military leadership to frontline community support. As the Executive Director of Martha’s Pantry, a mission of MCC of the Gentle Shepherd Church, she has shepherded the all-volunteer organization through decades of growth, transforming it into one of the region’s most impactful nonprofits.

This event is part of the Clark County Historical Museum’s ongoing public programming series highlighting the people and organizations that shape our region’s history and resilience.

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For more information, visit www.cchmuseum.org or contact Outreach@cchmuseum.org.

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Update (wrong Date Listed) Clark County Historical Museum Presents Free Public Talk On Hong Kong-Singapore Cinema During The Cold War (Photo) -07/15/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

VANCOUVER, WA — July 8, 2025

 

*PLEASE NOTE, THE EVENT IS ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 2. THE ORIGINAL RELEASE HAD THIS DATE LISTED AS A FRIDAY

 

The Clark County Historical Museum invites the public to a fascinating afternoon talk, “Hong Kong Cinema and Singapore—The Cinematic Connection between Two Cities during the Cold War Era (1950–1965),” on Saturday, August 2 at 2:00 p.m. at the museum (1511 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660). This program is free and open to the public.

 

Presented by scholar and filmmaker Dr. Grace Yan-yan Mak (麥欣恩), the talk will explore how geopolitical shifts in the 1950s redefined the landscape of Chinese-language cinema. With China increasingly isolated during the early Cold War period, Hong Kong emerged as a new cinematic hub, replacing Shanghai and expanding its cultural reach across Asia.

 

As British colonies, Hong Kong and Singapore were linked not only through political structures but also through a shared identity as part of the “overseas Chinese” world. This relationship was vividly imagined on screen, with Hong Kong films depicting Singapore and Malaya with familial warmth and symbolic closeness. Dr. Mak will delve into this “cinematic cultural ring,” which connected the two cities through shared audiences, institutions, and artistic visions.

 

Drawing from her extensive research and film analysis, Dr. Mak will examine key works by MP&GI (Cathay) and Kong Ngee Studio, exploring how Singapore and Malaya were represented in Hong Kong films, how this network evolved and eventually frayed, and how these portrayals helped shape Hong Kong’s cinematic identity during the Cold War.

 

About the Speaker:
Grace Yan-yan Mak (麥欣恩) is a Hong Kong–born scholar, writer, and filmmaker currently serving on the board of the Northwest China Council. She holds a Ph.D. in Chinese Studies from the National University of Singapore, with a research focus on Chinese-language cinema and modern Chinese literature. Dr. Mak co-founded Banyan Tree Movies and has taught at universities in Hong Kong and South Korea. Her academic and creative work includes over twenty scholarly articles, several screenplays, and the novel Black Box of Dreams. She is a former apprentice to acclaimed Hong Kong director Tsui Hark and a member of the Hong Kong Film Critics Society.

 

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For more information about this event or the museum’s programming, visit www.cchmuseum.org or contact Sammuel Hawkins at outreach@cchmuseum.org.