# Event Details - **Event Name**: Ampersand: The Story Behind the Story - **Event Start and End Date**: Sun, 29 Mar, 2026 at 04:00 pm – Sun, 29 Mar, 2026 at 05:30 pm - **Event Description**: A shared inquiry about identity, community, and the power of the “&.”About this EventJoin Dawn LaRochelle, Hedva Rokach, and Melissa Yaverbaum for an intimate conversation about The Ampersand Project — the photography exhibition There Is Always an & and the companion book Faces & Facets of Jewish Life in Maine.What happens after the photographs are taken, the book is printed, and the exhibition opens? This guided conversation will explore how Ampersand came to be, what it revealed along the way, and how it continues to shape conversations about Jewish life, belonging, and complexity. The panelists will reflect on process and discovery, personal takeaways, and the questions the project continues to raise.Facilitated by Dawn LaRochelle, Executive Director of the Maine Jewish Museum and co-creator of the Ampersand Project, who will also join the conversation as a panelist, the evening invites audiences into the story behind the stories — and into a shared inquiry about identity, community, and the power of the “&.”Registration is free but required.Registration information coming soon!About the PanelistsDawn LaRochelle is the Executive Director of the Maine Jewish Museum and a co-creator of the Ampersand Project. A cultural connector and community builder, she is known for creating spaces that welcome complexity and invite people to belong without needing to simplify who they are.Hedva Rokach is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed Israeli photographer and visual storyteller whose work centers on intimate, relational portraiture. As the artist behind the Ampersand Project, she documented Jewish life across Maine, creating images that honor multiplicity, contradiction, and lived experience.Melissa Yaverbaum is a Jewish educator, facilitator, and museum professional with extensive experience in interpretive planning and public engagement. Her background in museum education informs her work creating reflective, inclusive spaces that invite dialogue, nuance, and connection across difference. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/portland/ampersand-the-story-behind-the-story/100001981586198663 - **Event Categories**: exhibitions, art, photography - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Portland - **state**: ME - **country**: United States - **location**: Maine Jewish Museum - **lat**: 43.6625101 - **long**: -70.2529776 - **full address**: Maine Jewish Museum, 267 Congress Street, Portland, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Ampersand: The Story Behind the Story - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/91985eef1fa2239946677c5aced4a944672f1f336e4209e4f2bf26f861f19dac-rimg-w1200-h1815-dc1c0f1e-gmir.jpg?v=1769500243 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Ampersand: The Story Behind the Story being held? - **A:** Ampersand: The Story Behind the Story takes place on Sun, 29 Mar, 2026 at 04:00 pm to Sun, 29 Mar, 2026 at 05:30 pm at Maine Jewish Museum, 267 Congress Street, Portland, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Ampersand: The Story Behind the Story? - **A:** Ampersand: The Story Behind the Story is organized by Maine Jewish Museum. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Ampersand: The Story Behind the Story is ideal for art lovers, trade professionals, collectors, and exhibition enthusiasts exploring the latest in their field. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Portland, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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