Food & traditionA Princeton family story
The recipe that crossed an ocean
A handwritten recipe becomes a bridge between a grandmother’s kitchen and a new generation growing up in Princeton.
Share a storyA youth-led community archive
Every place has stories.
These are ours.
Celebrating the traditions, memories, and cultural identities of Princeton residents through storytelling and art.
40.3573° NPrinceton, New Jersey74.6672° W
The exchange
A living portrait of the people who make Princeton home.
Every story in this ARCHIVE comes from someone in our community—a family tradition, a migration journey, a holiday recipe, a meaningful photograph, or a memory passed down through generations.
You’ll find these voices here and at Cultural Pathway Stations across town, each connecting our everyday places to the lives and histories around them.
The digital archive
Stories from our community
Memories, objects, recipes, photographs, and experiences shared by Princeton residents. The archive is just beginning.
Food & tradition
Family archiveA story of memory
Photographs we carry
An old album opens into a conversation about the places we leave, the people we remember, and the stories we choose to pass on.
Share a story
CelebrationA community tradition
A celebration in the street
Color, music, and a familiar yearly gathering turn public space into a place of belonging.
Share a story01 The first stories are being collected now. Your voice can help open the archive.
Across town
Find a Cultural Pathway Station
Small public displays bring local stories into libraries, cafés, community centers, and other places woven into daily life.
- 01Princeton Public LibraryWitherspoon Street
- 02Arts Council of PrincetonPaul Robeson Center
- 03Princeton High SchoolMoore Street
- 04Community ParkCommunity Park North
- 05Downtown PrincetonNassau Street
Each station includes a story excerpt, artwork, and a QR code linking back to the full archive.
About the project
Built by young people.
Shaped by a whole town.
The Princeton Cultural Exchange is a youth-led community initiative that collects and shares cultural stories from residents across Princeton.
Founded through the ONE Project, it aims to create a growing record of Princeton’s cultural diversity—one that is accessible, welcoming, and shaped directly by the voices of the people who live here.
The project is led by Nicola Schmidt, an incoming junior at Princeton High School, with guidance from mentors and support from community partners.
Contact Nicola
Add your voice
What story would you like Princeton to remember?
Share a memory, family ritual, holiday celebration, migration journey, recipe, object, place, or moment that reflects your heritage and identity.
100+ characters requiredOptional photos or artworkYour choice how the story may be used