Photograph by Spencer Wells.Astoria residents gather to watch the sunset before the screening of The Human Family Tree in Astoria Park.
A large crowd of Queens, New York residents gathered in Astoria Park Monday night - picnics in hand - to catch a glimpse of their neighborhood on the big screen at the world premiere screening of the new National Geographic film about the Genographic Project, The Human Family Tree.
Overlooking a beautiful sunset on the New York City skyline, the community came together to find out how the Genographic Project team had traced the genetic lineages of all humanity on a single day on a single street in their neighborhood. A world story made possible using the DNA of Astoria's residents.
Councilman and Genographic Participant Peter Vallone welcomed the residents to their event: "Our ancestors traveled the world, overcame all sorts of hardships and now here we all are, watching this film in Astoria Park. I was part of this project like many of you were, got my DNA swabbed and was here originally when they gave us the results and now I am here tonight at our extended family reunion."
Michelle DeJesus, a PuertoRican American and a local fourth-grade teacher, is featured in the film. She described her experience to the community members: "It is amazing for me to know that I am so connected to every single one of you out there and all the people I never thought I would have a connection to. My indigenous past not only now lives on in culture, language and food but is actually living and breathing in my bloodline, something that I can pass on to my children someday".
"Why did we pick Astoria?" Dr. Spencer Wells asked the audience. "With over 150 languages, Astoria is an amazing melting pot and a microcosm of the world's diversity."
The new film next comes to your own neighborhood this Sunday, August 30 at 9PM ET/PT on the National Geographic Channel.
Did you capture photos of your neighbors at the event? We would love to see and perhaps feature your snap shots...Email genographic@ngs.org. Subject line: Astoria Screening Pix.
