On Heroes, Heroines, and Beijing Drum Songs by Frances Kai-Hwa Wang

My article at the Unversity of Michigan Confucius Institute:

We know we are in the right place when Professor Joseph Lam complements the audience’s good taste to be here at this “Beijing Drum Songs” (Jingyun dagu) concert at Rackham Auditorium sponsored by the Confucius Institute and not at “that other concert” at Hill Auditorium tonight (he did not name the artist, but I had heard it was some musician of Chinese descent named Yo-Yo…Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble). We feel very hardcore as he promises us that this concert is going to be much more traditional.

I am not sure what to expect—storytelling, Chinese instruments, drums, drumsongs?

On Heroes, Heroines, and Beijing Drum Songs by Frances Kai-Hwa Wang

Video Jeff Yang's Keynote, "ASIAN AMERICA 2013: Trends and Transformations."

Thanks Jeff Yang for being keynote at Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce 12th Annual Dinner. Here's his video, "ASIAN AMERICA 2013: Trends and Transformations." http://www.apacc.net/


APACC Home

Young Citizen of the Year: Andy Hsiao has passion for creative fundraising

Congratulations Andy Hsiao on being named Ann Arbor Young Citizen of the Year! We have known him since he was two years old at University of Michigan Children's Center and Ann Arbor Chinese Center of Michigan (密西根安娜堡中文學校), hanging upside down on the railings and having monstrous joint birthday parties. It's been an honor watching Andy (and his sibs Emily and Kevin) grow up to be the amazing young people that they are. Kudos to parents extraordinaire (from whom I learn everything) Jimmy Hsiao and Kaori Ohara!

Young Citizen of the Year: Andy Hsiao has passion for creative fundraising

제프 양, "아시안계 미국인 바잉파워 급성장 중" [미시간 한인포털 미시간 교차로 & 주간 미시간]

Thanks Jeff Yang keynote speaker and Jane Kang MC at Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC) Annual Dinner May 18 at MGM Grand Detroit, as covered in Michigan Korean Weekly by Tack Yong Kim

http://www.michigankoreans.com/news.php?code&mode=view&num=7202&page

제프 양, "아시안계 미국인 바잉파워 급성장 중" [미시간 한인포털 미시간 교차로 & 주간 미시간]

Writing With Soul - Advice - The Chronicle of Higher Education

"Often when I'm reading academic work not only do I feel like there's no soul, I feel like it's not even written by humans. Or for humans." LOL. Yes!

Writing With Soul - Advice - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Speakers, Performers and Panelists | V3 Digital Media Conference presented by AAJA-LA

So excited to be on the Activism Panel at V3 Asian American Digital Media Conference with the coolest activists in Asian American Digital Media today! Tanzila Ahmed, Phil Yu, Jenn Pae, Lisa Lee, wow!

Speakers, Performers and Panelists | V3 Digital Media Conference presented by AAJA-LA

Very cool to meet poet Shizue Seigel

Very cool to meet poet Shizue Seigel at Navigating the Undercurrents Poetry Reading curated by May-lee Chai at SOMArts in San Francisco with AAWAA who writes: "It was a pleasure to read with Frances Kai-Hwa Wang at the AAWAA poetry reading. Thanksk to Mai-Lee Chai, she came out from Michigan to join us. I want to see more of her. She is sharp, funny and poignant—an astute observer of Asian American women's issues. Check her out at http://www.franceskaihwawang.com/."

Check out her work at http://shizueseigel.com! (She took this photo that I stole)

Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner May 18, 2013

Thanks to my good friends Jeff Yang and Jane Park for joining us at Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner as keynote speaker and master of ceremonies, respectively, at MGM Grand Detroit May 18, 2013.

Jeff Yang's amazing keynote, "ASIAN AMERICA 2013: Trends and Transformation"
LINK TO PRESENTATION:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/447793/ASIAN%20AMERICA%202013%20APACC%20PRESENTATION.ppt

and his Wall Street Journal Online column, "Tao Jones": blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/tag/tao-jones/

Jeff Yang keynote speaker at Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce's Annual Dinner

Looking forward to seeing my good friend Jeff Yang coming out to Detroit today to be the keynote speaker at Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce's Annual Dinner, speaking on "ASIAN AMERICA 2013: Trends and Transformation," May 15 at the MGM Grand Detroit!

Congratulations Tamiko Wong

Congratulations to Tamiko Wong, the new Executive Director of Oakland Asian Community Center (OACC)! Photograph courtesy of Sandra Siharath.

Poetry reading: Navigating the undercurrents - a set on Flickr

Great photos from May-lee Chai's curated Navigating the Undercurrents poetry reading at SOMArts in San Francisco Wednesday.

Poetry reading: Navigating the undercurrents - a set on Flickr

Today! Poetry Reading: Navigating the underCurrents — SOMArts

Today! Poetry Reading: Navigating the underCurrents — SOMArts

What: Poetry Reading: Navigating the underCurrents
When: Wednesday, May 15, 7–8:30pm
Where: 934 Brannan St. (between 8th & 9th), San Francisco
How Much: Free admission.

I'll be reading “Tsundere Pride or You are so prickly!” 

Inspired by this artwork by Stella Zheng
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aawaa_sf/8464387958/in/set-72157632897798189/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aawaa_sf/8463285677/in/set-72157632897798189/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aawaa_sf/8463281277/in/set-72157632897798189/

Just got this note back from curator May-lee Chai:

AWESOME poem, Frances!

Love how you explore the search for the beloved, the need for prickly armor, and yes, yes, yes, you even managed to bring in the Boston terror suspects and their shifting media spotlight.

You've nailed the underCurrents with this one. Can't wait to hear you read it!

Hope to see y'all there!

Poetry Reading: Navigating the underCurrents — SOMArts

"Navigating the Undercurrents" Poetry Reading in SF Chronicle

So excited to see this in today's San Francisco Chronicle about tomorrow's "Navigating the Undercurrents" Poetry Reading!

#TYMom from 18 Million Rising

from our friends at 18 Million Rising:

Happy Mothers' Day

Happy Mothers' Day from M. Their true selves revealed...

Council of Asian Pacific Americans' Splendor of the East

Excited to be invited to the Council of Asian Pacific Americans' Splendor of the East VIP reception--Everyone is here! And amazing food! Beautiful performances.

CAPA

Michigan Chinese Schools State Finals Speech Contest

Coaching the Chinese School kids tonight in final preparations for the Michigan Chinese Schools State Finals Speech Contest...our Mothers' Day weekend tradition.

V3con: Engaging AAPI online activism

Very excited to be invited to speak at the V3 Asian American Pacific Islander Digital Media Conference on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in Little Tokyo/Los Angeles.

The Topic: Engaging AAPI online activism

Check out this beyond-amazing proposed panel! I can't believe they put me here! I want to be in the audience for this group!

Jennifer Pae
Lisa Lee
Phil Yu
Taz Ahmed
Frances Kai-Hwa Wang

Tentative workshop description: Asian Americans are a growing power, but what makes a successful campaign tick? How can activists energize Asian Americans to take action on their issues? Hear from AAPI leaders who have harnessed the power of the Internet.

More information at v3con.com.

NEW URL! Hurrah for Franceskaihwawang.com!

At long last my url is fixed! Hurrah Hurray! This blog is now at the slightly more manageable

www.franceskaihwawang.com

Instead of the much longer, much more unwieldy blogspot url. All the old links should still work.

Thanks to the great folks at Logic Solutions! (I'm sure it took them like two minutes to figure it out, but for me the difference is huge).

Race, Beauty and Racism | HapaMamaHapaMama

Thanks for the shout out Grace Hwang Lynch and InCultureParent Magazine! Interesting update: I initially wrote this when Hao Hao (now all but 17) was in kindergarten, and this article has been reprinted widely in the past few years. Then last month, Little Brother, who is now in third grade, asked me, "What does it mean when people pull their eyes back like this? Why do they do that? What should I do?" And so the conversation continues... http://hapamama.com/2013/05/06/race-beauty-and-racism/

Race, Beauty and Racism | HapaMamaHapaMama

Poetry Reading: Navigating the underCurrents, May 15 — SOMArts

Writing for May-lee Chai today. Hope to see you all at Navigating the underCurrents, Wednesday, May 15, 7–8:30pm, at SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St. (between 8th & 9th), SAN FRANCISCO! :) http://www.somarts.org/undercurrentspoetry/

My favorite line so far: "at night i dream the rhythm of your breath," (it originally started out, "at night i dream of your breath," which wasn't quite right, lol)

Poetry Reading: Navigating the underCurrents, May 15 — SOMArts

InCultureParent | Preparing our Children for Racism — Part 1

Inculture Parent's Stephanie Meade writes, "Within only a few hours, your article has become the 3rd most popular this month!" (Couldn't have anything to do with her tagging my good friend Angry Asian Man, could it? :)

Interesting update: I initially wrote this when Hao Hao was in kindergarten, and this article has been reprinted widely in the past few years. Just last month, Little Brother, who is now in third grade, asked me, "What does it mean when people pull their eyes back like this? Why do they do that? What should I do?" And so the conversation continues...

InCultureParent | Preparing our Children for Racism — Part 1

First Early-Bird V3con Registrants 2013: Eric Ignacio | V3 Digital Media Conference presented by AAJA-LA

Ha ha! Eric Ignacio blames me! But I thought I blamed him?

"My first time attending was when it was called the Banana 2 conference. I was a freelance cameraman who was hired to shoot interviews for a Banana 2 video segment. I really enjoyed what I was hearing and seeing so I decided to register as an attendee for 2012. I had a lot of fun so I thought I’d register for 2013 (with a push from Frances Kai-Hwa Wang. Haha)."

Funny that Nelson Wong, Eric Ignacio, and I all ended up as early-early bird registrants for v3con!

First Early-Bird V3con Registrants 2013: Eric Ignacio | V3 Digital Media Conference presented by AAJA-LA

Grand Opening of Pangborn Design Collection

Congratulations Dominic Pangborn on the Grand Opening of Pangborn Design Collection at Michigan Design Center today in Troy!

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month at the Smithsonian

Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month at the Smithsonian. 

http://buff.ly/10UPv55