By Linda Alvarado-Arce
From April 24 through April 26, 2025, the Glass Pavilion was the location for the Belonging at TMA event. This event was packed with artists, poets, writers, the Detroit Institute of Arts was in attendance, TMAA volunteers were helping with the check-in, and the community came out to hear “change makers exploring the future of inclusion in museums and cultural spaces” (https://toledomuseum.org).
This event brought “national and international experts together to share insights, strategies, and innovations,” that according to the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) would ADVANCE: Forward-Thinking Strategies for Belonging in Museums, and shared lessons learned and pathways forward. One of the forward thinkers in attendance and whom I was able to catch up with during lunch was Roberto Bedoya (in the photos). Roberto is a recipient of the United States Artist 2021. He is a writer, poet, grant writer, and the former Cultural Affairs Manager for the City of Oakland in California. In Oakland, according to the TMA website, Roberto is known as the “Godfather of Belonging.” His essays have “reframed the discussion on exclusionary practices in cultural decision-making policies” (Reference: TMA website). Roberto was raised in Tucson, Arizona, and later moved outside of Oakland, CA. In an interview with him, he told me stories of his 95-year-old mother, about how his mother knew Cesar Chavez, and how he lost his Spanish language at a very young age.
For more information about the museum, to see a schedule of events, or to visit the family center, which is free for kids to make things, play, read a book, or meet new friends, visit: https://toledomuseum.org.