District of Pupusas follows two food entrepreneurs in DC, both refugees of the civil war in El Salvador: Chef Benjamín Velásquez and Haydee Vanegas. Food is a universal language, serving as an entryway for culture. For Salvadorans—the largest immigrant group in the nation’s capital—that food is the pupusa: handmade corn tortillas, often filled with cheese, beans, or pork.
“When Salvadorans came to DC, we opened restaurants, delis, and carry outs, and we wove ourselves into the city’s daily life.”
Join us for the premiere of District of Pupusas, a short documentary funded in part by our Community Culture & Heritage Grant and a participant in our partner program with DC/DOX, DC[FRAMEWORKS]: A Work-In-Progress Screening Series. After the screening, historian Ana Patricia Rodríguez moderates a conversation with filmmakers Valeria Massarelli and Alexandra Colón-Amil. At the end of the seated program, we will have more time for conversation while enjoying pupusas.
THE DETAILS 6:00 Screening of District of Pupusas 6:30 Q&A with filmmakers 7:00 Pupusas and community conversation
Our programs are free and open to all. If you’re able, please consider making a voluntary donation to help offset the operational costs of this program and make future programs possible. We’re grateful for your support!
DC History Center and HumanitiesDC announced a plan to merge! We’re excited about what this next chapter will make possible for our city and for the people and communities we work with. Come celebrate with us at an upcoming event!
Co-Director Valeria Massarelli
Co-Director Alexandra Colón-Amil
Moderator Ana Patricia Rodríguez
