JEANNIE W. SALOMON
Founder & Executive Director
Jeannie Salomon is the driving force behind the creation of the first-ever AAPI History Museum in the United States, a groundbreaking initiative ensuring that AAPI voices and histories are no longer overlooked. With a deep passion for historic preservation and community empowerment, she has transformed a long-standing gap in representation into a powerful movement for awareness, education, and change.
In 2024, under Jeannie’s leadership, the AAPI Mobile History Museum was launched, bringing history directly to communities across Rhode Island. Through four successful tours, the Mobile Museum sparked statewide conversations about the often-forgotten role of AAPI communities in American history. Its impact was undeniable—raising awareness, breaking stereotypes, and ensuring that AAPI stories were recognized as an essential part of the nation’s past. With the generous support of the Mellon Foundation, Jeannie secured funding to establish a permanent brick-and-mortar AAPI History Museum even before launching the Mobile Museum. While carefully evaluating bids to find the right builder, she ensured that the space would be constructed with both integrity and prudence – a fitting reflection of Rhode Island’s own history as a place of thoughtful governance and inclusion. Now, after months of planning and evaluation, the museum is about to open— in March 2025! As the first-ever AAPI History Museum in the United States, this space will spotlight foundational AAPI narratives, untold stories, and Rhode Island’s unique place in AAPI history—including Providence’s Chinatown and its legacy as the first Southeast Asian refugee resettlement site. This historic opening marks not just the realization of Jeannie’s vision but a milestone for AAPI representation nationwide. Soon, visitors will walk through doors that stand as a testament to resilience, identity, and the power of storytelling.
SETHA PHONGSAVAN
Acting Museum Manager
Setha Phongsavan is a Rhode Island-born visual storyteller who turns empty rooms into narrative landscapes, preserving AAPI history through film, design, and archival work. The son of Lao refugees who resettled in the U.S. after the Southeast Asian wars, he brings a personal lens to stories of displacement, resilience, and identity.
While building sets on Academy Award-winning productions, he honed the craft of storytelling through space—shaping themes, time periods, and cultural language with intention. His work blends logistics, community engagement, and a deep commitment to detail and authenticity. With degrees in Psychology and Philosophy, he applies Jungian and Girardian frameworks to explore intergenerational memory and collective trauma. Inspired by his father’s role in Air America during the Secret War in Laos, he is driven by the enduring mystery of unspoken histories.
Starting as a volunteer with the AAPI History Museum’s Mobile Museum, he became a core creative force—leading exhibit design, writing, and construction. Now Acting Museum Manager, he develops strategic initiatives and expansion programs to connect history to action—building bridges to carry the weight of unheard voices.
GABI NIEVES
Graphic Designer
Gabi Nieves is a graphic designer and illustrator with over three years of experience creating compelling and functional visual designs. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design from Johnson & Wales University in Fall 2024.
Gabi is proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and other industry-standard design tools. Her specialties include visual brand development, print design, editorial layout, packaging design, wayfinding and environmental graphics, marketing communications, and illustration. Passionate about impactful storytelling through design, she brings creativity and clarity to every project she works on.
Working with Cultural Society and the AAPI History Museum has been an exciting and invaluable experience. As a recent graduate of Johnson & Wales University, Gabi is incredibly grateful to Director Jeannie Salomon for the opportunity to jump-start her career. The dedication and passion behind the museum’s work are truly inspiring, and Gabi is proud to contribute her design skills to a mission that positively impacts individuals and communities. She encourages others to visit and support the AAPI History Museum to explore AAPI culture and engage with its powerful storytelling.