LA’s most influential cultural institutions are joining forces to welcome Little Amal, the internationally celebrated 12-foot-tall puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl, who will be arriving in Los Angeles as part of her epic 6,000-mile journey across the United States.
Amal’s visit to Los Angeles is part of Amal Walks Across America, a nationwide journey spanning more than 35 cities and towns, 100 events, and 300+ partners over two months. Little Amal has traveled through Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Ukraine, Poland, the Netherlands, and most recently through the five boroughs of New York City.
Amal walks for the hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced people of all ages roaming the world in search of safety, half of whom are children. When she walks, Amal brings people together.
Schedule of free live events for Amal’s visit to Los Angeles:
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31
TBA
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1
Off to School
UCLA Community School
7:45am
Amal walks to school with LA kids and families. They are surrounded by beautiful poppy flowers made by the students as a symbol of peace and resilience.
Amal’s Ofrenda
El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
3pm
Amal is welcomed to El Pueblo, the historic birthplace of LA. She is surrounded by the vivid colors and sounds of Dรญa de Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead.
In the Silence
Pasadena City Hall
5pm
Amal meets a group of deaf children. Through this encounter, we understand that words arenโt everything and a lot can be said within the silence. Sometimes the loudest truths have no sound.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Looking for Home
7th Street / Skid Row, Arts District, DTLA
1pm
As Amal walks through the urban core of Los Angeles, she witnesses how the arts can help us build a human connection with compassion in the face of societal struggles and challenges.
On the Pier
Santa Monica Pier
5pm
Amal is dazzled by the lights of the Santa Monica pier. As the sun sets in the horizon, she is blessed by the music and dance of Hฤlau Hula Keali`i O Nฤlani.
Buena Vida
The Music Center
6:30pm
Amal continues her journey and joins in a moment of reflection and celebration for those who have made crossings. In a land of dreamers, she creates a new wish for herself and her family.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Queen of the Monarchs
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
10:30am
Visionary director and choreographer Debbie Allen creates a kaleidoscope of swirling monarch butterflies, echoing Amalโs migration journey. This event celebrates resilience and new beginnings with a powerful dance, music and spoken-word performance.
After Los Angeles, Amal heads to San Diego. To see the rest of Amal’s journey, visit walkwithamal.org/events.
