News | Devon Akmon

George Takei and Bothaina Kamel Visit the AANM

March 10, 2012 News

I love finishing the work week on a positive note. Yesterday, in addition to hosting students from the University of Michigan’s graduate program in Museum Studies, the AANM received a pair of prominent visitors. First, a dear friend of the AANM brought Bothaina Kamel – Egyptian television anchor, activist, and politician – to the museum for a tour. Kamel, a celebrity in her homeland, is the first woman to run for the presidency of Egypt. She was pleased with herRead More

Travelogue: Beirut, Lebanon

February 17, 2012 Adventure

I just finished a four-day trip to Beirut, Lebanon for work. It was such an intense experience. My family immigrated from Lebanon about 100 years ago and this was my first time visiting the “homeland.” So, you can imagine my excitement leading up to the trip. This excitement grew tenfold during the plane’s descent into the city, which offered stunning views of snowcapped mountains and a beautiful Mediterranean shoreline. Despite the short stay, I explored and experienced many great thingsRead More

“Little Syria” featured on PRI’s The World

January 21, 2012 News

The AANM’s Little Syria project is picking up steam. We’re wrapping up the RFP process with exhibit designers, our curatorial staff is conducting research and collecting objects for the forthcoming exhibit, and the media is covering the story. We’re off to a good start. Be sure to like the Little Syria Exhibit

Travelogue: Houston, Texas

November 6, 2011 Adventure

I just returned from a 48-hour trip to Houston. Although I had little time to explore the sprawling city, it was nice to see the sun, to feel its warmth, and to get a glimpse of this southern metropolis. Trying to figure out public transportation was too confusing and time consuming, so I logged some serious mileage ambulating around town. I was a little startled by what I discovered. For being the largest city in Texas, and the fourth largestRead More

Cultural Sensitivity in Museum Stewardship Presentation

November 5, 2011 News

Greetings to those visiting from the Registrars Committee of the American Association of Museums’ (RC-AAM) fourth International Registrars Symposium (IRS 2011). I’ve uploaded my presentation below. If you wish to continue the discussion from the conference, please contact me at dakmon[at]accesscommunity[dot]org. Thanks for visiting. Cultural Sensitivity in Museum Stewardship View more presentations from Devon Akmon

Under The Radar

October 5, 2011 News

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Tom Daldin, host of public television’s Under The Radar (UTR). I love his show, which spotlights great places and things happening around Michigan. This particular episode focused on Dearborn. Thanks for including the Arab American National Museum! Check it out!

Footage from the Inka Trail

July 21, 2011 Adventure

I just finished editing some footage we shot with the GoPro during our four-day hike along the Inka Trail into Machu Picchu. Enjoy.

Amazing Places: Floyd’s Pelican Bar

June 22, 2011 Adventure

Situated on a sandbar off the southern coast of Jamaica, Floyd’s Pelican Bar is simply paradise. We visited Delroy “Floyd” Forbes’ bar back in 2005 while staying at Jake’s Island Outpost in Treasure Beach. It was our honeymoon and we were in pursuit of adventure. So, we hooked up with a local fisherman for a tour of the Black River. The fisherman introduced us to Floyd’s, which is located nearby in the Parottee Bay. We sipped cold Red Stripes, ateRead More

Travelogue | Pisac, Peru

May 28, 2011 Adventure

After spending a couple of days in Lima, we departed for Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We decided to spend the first couple of days in Pisac, a small village approximately 30km from Cusco. Pisac is best known for its markets that feature Andean handicrafts. Our primary reason for staying in the village was to begin acclimatizing to the higher elevation. On average, the altitude of Lima is 433 ft. Cusco’s elevation is approximately 10800 ft. That’sRead More

Travelogue | Lima, Peru

May 26, 2011 Adventure

We just returned from a two-week vacation to Peru. The trip was filled with adventures and enlightening experiences. I’ve arrived home feeling energized and refreshed. The first two days of our trip were spent in Barranco, a suburb of Lima. Barranco is a sleepy and somewhat bohemian area of the sprawling capital city. We stayed at a great B&B called Second Home Peru. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Second Home Peru was once home to the notedRead More