TEAter-Totter: Human Betweens with Artist Jung Ran Bae - YouTube

Jung Ran Bae, the artist who made a very similar art installation which inspired my prose poetry piece, “Poignant Truth, Precarious You (and preparing for the Sriracha Apocalypse)” at Asian American Women Artists Association EATING CULTURES: Literary Sriracha - A Spicy Mix of Poetry, Mini-Memoirs, and Flash Fiction last May in San Francisco.




TEAter-Totter: Human Betweens with Artist Jung Ran Bae - YouTube

Basketball Federation Refuses to Rule on Turban Ban - NBC News.com

My article at NBCNews.com Asian America on FIBA non-decision on religious headgear:

"It is a shame that FIBA has decided to let bureaucracy stand in the way of religious freedom,” said Sona Simran Kaur, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) Communications Director, after the International Basketball Federation declined to make a decision at its Central Board meeting about players wearing religious headgear, deciding instead to defer to further study.

Basketball Federation Refuses to Rule on Turban Ban - NBC News.com

Data Shows Duality of Asian America: High Income, High Poverty - NBC News.com

Karthick Ramakrishnan breaks down the data in my article for NBCNews Asian America:

“On the one hand, you have high-skill immigrants and their children who are doing very well in terms of income. At the same time, we also have many others, particularly refugee populations and many Pacific Islander communities, that continue to struggle in terms of poverty.”

Data Shows Duality of Asian America: High Income, High Poverty - NBC News.com

South Asian Street Style: Artist Photographs Fashionable Aunties - NBC News.com

What else is there to say but...

“South Asian aunties rock to their own beat.”

(My article for NBCNews Asian America on Meera Sethi's street fashion photography project, "UppingtheAunty.")

South Asian Street Style: Artist Photographs Fashionable Aunties - NBC News.com

Historic Sam Kee Laundry Building Damaged in Napa Earthquake - NBC News.com

My article at NBCNews Asian America. Check out the photo on the landing page to see what the building looks like now, post earthquake.

“It's a memorable part of California history when Chinese immigrants faced virulent discrimination and were denied a livelihood,” said Margaret Fung, Executive Director of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), “Kee stood up for his rights and successfully challenged the town's discriminatory ordinance creating a ‘laundry-free’ zone in 1887."

Historic Sam Kee Laundry Building Damaged in Napa Earthquake - NBC News.com

Coconut, Vinegar, and a Whole Lotta Pork: An Introduction to Filipino Cuisine | Serious Eats

Serious research needed here

Coconut, Vinegar, and a Whole Lotta Pork: An Introduction to Filipino Cuisine | Serious Eats

Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce Women's Leadership Conference Women Who Lead: Emerging Cultural Successes

Coming up in November with the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC):

Women's Leadership Conference
Women Who Lead: Emerging Cultural Successes

Event Sponsors:
DTE Energry and General Motors Company, LLC

APACC's premier Women's Leadership Conference is a half day of inspiration and empowerment designed with ALL Women in Mind.

Thursday, November 13, 2014
1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Networking, Break-Out Sessions, Panels, and a Keynote Address
Dr. Betty Chu
Cheif Medical Officer, Henry Ford Hospital

Inn at St. John's
4405 5 Mile Road
Plymouth Township, MI 48170

Tickets:
Member Rate/Strategic Partners* - $30.00
Future Member Rate - $40.00

Sponsorship and Underwriting Opportunites Availiable
For more information click here
*Strategic Partners call APACC for the discount code

Location: The Inn at St. John's 44045 5 Mile Road, Plymouth Township, MI 48170

For more information:
Contact: Sarah Lalone
Phone: 248-430-5855
Email: Sarah@apacc.net

Register for this event: APACC Women's Leadership Conference "Women Who Lead: Emerging Cultural Successes"

Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce - Event Details

Detroit Asian Youth Project Celebrates 10 years of Mentorship - NBC News.com

Congratulations DAY (Detroit Asian Youth) Project on your 10 Year Anniversary Celebration today! 

“The program was started in response to questions being raised at the 20-year anniversary of the Vincent Chin incident,” said Detroit Asian Youth (DAY) Project co-founder and coordinator Soh Suzuki, referring to the beating death of a Chinese American man in a Detroit suburb in 1982. “Where has the Asian American community in Detroit gone? What does it mean to organize Asian Americans in Detroit today?”

Detroit Asian Youth Project Celebrates 10 years of Mentorship - NBC News.com

Reading Friday night at Brewed Awakenings

I'm reading some new material tomorrow, Friday 8/22/14, at 7 pm, at Brewed Awakenings Cafe in Saline if you are interested. I wrote an email last week but forgot to send it. 

7025 E Michigan Ave, Saline, MI 48176

Seattle's Mikado Theater Outrage Turned Into Arts Opportunity - NBC News.com

My article on the Race and the Arts forum post Seattle Mikado:

“You have artistic freedom, but the audience can also tell you what they think of it," said panelist Roger Tang of the Asian American Theater Review. "If you do a half-ass job directing, you will hear about it. And you should.”

Seattle's Mikado Theater Outrage Turned Into Arts Opportunity - NBC News.com

Alice Wong Sets Out to Chronicle Disability History - NBC News.com

My article in NBCNews Asian America

“The motto of the Disability Visibility Project is really simple,” says founder and Project Coordinator Alice Wong. “‘Recording disability history, one story at a time'”

Alice Wong Sets Out to Chronicle Disability History - NBC News.com

Nina McConigley's Book 'Cowboys and East Indians' Wins PEN Award - NBC News.com

My interview with hapa writer and author of "Cowboys and East Indians" Nina McConigley for NBCNews Asian America with shoutouts to Ravi Shankar May-lee Chai Bich Minh Nguyen We Need Diverse Books #weneeddiversebooks. Now raise your hand if you were in 4H too...

“Nina's short stories embody the complex, richly textured and unexpected stories of being an outsider in the wildness of the American west and her compelling collection ‘Cowboys and East Indians’ is impossible to put down,” said Asian-American poet and editor of Drunken Boat, Ravi Shankar.

Nina McConigley's Book 'Cowboys and East Indians' Wins PEN Award - NBC News.com

Detroit Vincent Chin mural caught in the crossfire of a turf war

The Detroit Vincent Chin mural is caught in the crossfire of a turf war.

Previous media articles:

Popular Detroit artist defaces tribute to Asian American icon Vincent Chin | Motor City Muckraker

Muckraker: Well-Known Local Artist Defaces Vincent Chin Mural On Grand River  –  Deadline Detroit

Update: Chin Mural 'Defacing ... Saddens All Of Us,' Sponsoring Group Says –  Deadline Detroit

Statement from Grand River Creative Corridor:

Defacing of Vincent Chin Memorial mural in Detroit's Grand River Creative Corridor

Earlier this year we contacted international street artist Andrew Pisacane also known as "GAIA" about creating a mural in the Grand River Creative Corridor (GRCC) in Detroit, Michigan. We were attracted to GAIA's talent and his ability to create large scale murals that shed light on deep-rooted civil rights history. GAIA suggested doing memorial mural of Vincent Chin and provided an in depth history of his life and eventual death. Below outlines the series of events from the organization, creation, defacing, and removal of the Vincent Chin Memorial Mural:

May 2014- Details of the mural were organized and confirmed. GAIA requested that we make contact with Vincent Chin's family to approve and provide their blessing of the mural. We were led to the "American Citizens for Justice", "a nonprofit 501c3 organization serving the Asian Pacific American (APA) communities of Michigan and fighting for the civil rights of all Americans. It was founded in 1983 after the baseball beating death of Vincent Chin." Details and imagery were sorted out then mutually approved. Artist travel itinerary, accommodations, supplies, equipment and mural location were confirmed.

June 18, 2014- GAIA arrived to Detroit.

June 19, 2014- GAIA met building owner, created conversation, and building owner gave his blessing. The building owner respected the idea of a memorial mural and related to the challenges Vincent Chin faced. GAIA met Detroit graffiti artist SINTEX, who had previously had a mural on the wall. (All of the GRCC walls rotate artists every 1-3 years. Several other walls have been successfully rotate without any conflict.) GAIA explained his mural concept and SINTEX gave his blessing by saying "I've had my mural on the wall for a couple years now and now it's yours".

June 19- June 23, 2014- GAIA created the Vincent Chin Memorial Mural.

June 23, 2014- GAIA departed Detroit.

August 6, 2014- Over 100 Girl Scouts visited and toured the GRCC and were educated on the history of Vincent Chin. (see attached photo)

August 9, 2014 at 6:37am- Derek Weaver, founder and curator of the GRCC, received a text message from Detroit graffiti artist "SINTEX" that stated "The mural in the parking lot got hit..looks like justo...blk buff line all thru it..signature justo ..or justd". Derek living only 15 minutes, away drove to the mural to find that the black paint was still wet and dripping. Derek decided to try and save the mural and washed 90 percent of the black paint off with a water hose. From there, several Detroit artists offered to help fix the mural and plans were scheduled to do so.

August 11, 2014- SINTEX told Derek that the wall needed to be repainted. Derek then explained the plans to restore the mural. SINTEX expressed frustration and disapproval.

August 12, 2014- Derek received a phone call in the late afternoon from SINTEX demanding he purchase a 5 gallon of black paint to cover the mural. SINTEX stated that he spoke with the building owner and received his permission to repaint the wall. Derek told SINTEX not to repaint the wall until Derek had an opportunity to speak with the owner directly and reminded him that the wall was scheduled to be fixed.

August 13, 2014 at 7:35am- Derek received a text message from another artist that said "Omg 1/4 of the gaia mural is buffed". Derek arrived shortly thereafter and discovered that SINTEX had “buffed” the mural overnight. SINTEX accepted responsibility via Facebook posts/messages.

August 14 to Present- Several claims and threats have been made by SINTEX via Facebook, Instagram, in-person, and Phone/Text. SINTEX removed and painted over the remaining wall and started painting his own mural. He made several mentions that it was his wall and Detroit is a “No Fly Zone” and GAIA never had the right to paint it.

RESOLUTION

The Grand River Creative Corridor and the 4731 Arts Incubator will no longer support SINTEX financially or personally, his art, housing, or work space.

ABOUT SINTEX

SINTEX currently resides in the 4731 Art Incubator, located within the Grand River Creative Corridor. SINTEX was one of the lead artists in the early-age of the GRCC and painted 4 or 5 murals. SINTEX was provided a 6,000 square foot loft free of charged for 2 years. Recently, the City of Detroit inspected the loft and deemed it unsafe and uninhabitable for residential use. SINTEX was given notice in May of 2014 that his occupancy would be ending. SINTEX has made no indications of moving out of the loft.

ABOUT GAIA

GAIA is an international street artist based in Baltimore Maryland. He was invited to participate in the Grand River Creative Corridor and agreed to donate the mural to the community. GAIA visited Detroit at the end of 2013 to create a mural inside well-known Detroit business man Dan Gilbert’s parking garage. The mural was painted inside the “Z Garage” and organized by Matt Eaton of the Library Street Collective. GAIA has also participated in many other mural projects including Miami’s “Wynwood Walls”, Atlanta’s “Living Walls”, and GAIA also organizes a mural project in Baltimore called “Open Walls”. (GAIA’s full statement can be found at http://instagram.com/gaiastreetart)

STATEMENT FROM GRCC FOUNDER & CURATOR- DEREK WEAVER

“Public art is for anyone and everyone. It’s not restricted to the elite or confined inside the walls of an institution. It’s not about fighting over walls, murals, or creating conflict. It’s about creating a dialogue with the community…creating emotion, energy and positivity. The defacing of the recent Vincent Chin mural saddens all of us and is an indicator that the community in Detroit has some work to do. It shows that the “No Fly Zone” mentality still exists today and hinders the growth and the resurgence of the great city of Detroit. Our sincerest apologies to Vincent Chin, his family, the Asian American Center for Justice, and GAIA. We are happy we were able to provide the local community dialogue and enlightenment on the death of Vincent Chin during the short time the mural was up. We look forward to creating many more beautiful murals that help the community move forward.” -Derek Weaver

ABOUT THE GRAND RIVER CREATIVE CORRIDOR (GRCC)

The Grand River Creative Corridor, also known as “GRCC", is an art corridor and neighborhood revitalization project concentrated on Grand River Avenue between on a half-mile stretch just outside downtown Detroit, Michigan. Founded on July 15, 2012 by Derek Weaver, the project features over 100 murals on 15 buildings; an outdoor fine-art gallery at a bus stop; free-standing art installations; a cleanup of overgrown vegetation, trash, and vandalism; and an economic stimulus project for local businesses. The project involves over 100 local and international volunteer-artists and is an ongoing effort to transform Detroit’s infamous Grand River Avenue into a creative hub that attracts: tourists, artists, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors alike.

How to Write a Short Story: Advice from Kurt Vonnegut | Aerogramme Writers' StudioHow to Write a Short Story: Advice from Kurt Vonnegut

How to Write a Short Story: Advice from Kurt Vonnegut | Aerogramme Writers' StudioHow to Write a Short Story: Advice from Kurt Vonnegut

Writer 'Rages' Against Events in Ferguson with Twitter Poetry - NBC News.com

Check out Sugi Ganeshananthan's Rage in response to events in Ferguson, Gaza, Sri Lanka. my article for NBCNews Asian America, "Your rage looks just like that other rage! Do they know each other?"

Writer 'Rages' Against Events in Ferguson with Twitter Poetry - NBC News.com

In the World Journal 世界新聞網-北美華文新聞、華商資訊 - 密州安娜堡中校 迎春摸彩喜洋洋

in the World Journal at Chinese New Year's time... My folks will be so proud!

世界新聞網-北美華文新聞、華商資訊 - 密州安娜堡中校 迎春摸彩喜洋洋

After a Hawaii Storm, a Moment in the Sun: A Rural Area Will Cast a Close Race’s Last Votes - NYTimes.com

Great articles on post-hurricane voting in Puna district of Hawaii's Big Island. Voting postponed because of the storm, but not enough. Only 1500 out of 8200 voters turn out, Hanabusa loses by a difference of 200 votes from Puna district (1769 overall).

After a Hawaii Storm, a Moment in the Sun: A Rural Area Will Cast a Close Race’s Last Votes - NYTimes.com

Voting in Puna Hawaii Tribune-Herald | Photos

Schatz finishes race for Senate ahead of Hanabusa - Hawaii News - Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Puna helps Schatz defeat Hanabusa | Hawaii Tribune-Herald

Media AsianAmerican Community #AAJA14 | Video | C-SPAN.org

Love this! Covering the Asian American community at Asian American Journalists Association 2014 #AAJA14 #AAJA2014 convention with all my friends, Angry Asian Man Phil Yu, Emil Amok Guillermo AALDEF, Gil Asakawa Nikkei View, plus future friends Hansi Lo Wang NPR CodeSwitch, Ernabel Demillo CUNY-TV Asian American Life, Shefali S.Kulkarni Global Nation.

Shout out to NBCNews Asian American (52:00 mark) and Karthik Ramakrishnan (57:00 mark) AAPIData.com and AAPIVoices.com. Hurrah for data!

http://www.c-span.org/video/?321020-2/media-asianamerican-community …

Media AsianAmerican Community | Video | C-SPAN.org

Camp Aims to Connect Youth with Radical South Asian History - NBC News.com

My article in NBCNews.com Asian America re BASS, ECSS, CDYR:

“We’re creating the camp we wish we had had when we were their age,” said California-based organizer and writer Tanzila Ahmed, “with access to all the South Asian American history we wish we had known.”

Camp Aims to Connect Youth with Radical South Asian History - NBC News.com

Stephanie Chang Is Poised to Make Political History in Michigan - NBC News.com

Congratulations Stephanie Chang on winning the primary! My article on NBCNews

“Our campaign was really focused on connecting with residents individually," said Chang. "I personally knocked on all the primary voters' doors twice! One resident joked with me that I had been over to his house more than his family members and another even jokingly referenced during her sermon at church that I had been by her house too many times!”

Stephanie Chang Is Poised to Make Political History in Michigan - NBC News.com

Digital Media Mavens Launch Consulting Firm for Asian Americans - NBC News.com

My article at NBCNews on The Brain Trust:

“We looked around at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte,” said Olivia Chow, a co-founder of The Brain Trust who once led social media for the Democratic National Convention, “And our community was thinly represented.”

Digital Media Mavens Launch Consulting Firm for Asian Americans - NBC News.com

Kristina Wong is Trolling SketchFactor - NBC News.com

Kristina Wong is Trolling SketchFactor and it's beautiful. My article at NBCNews:

“Stay clear of the Whole Foods on Fairfax!” warns performance artist and comedian Kristina Wong, who is filing a series of sarcastic SketchFactor reports to make her point. “Because you don't know crazy riot until you've seen its shoppers find out that they are out of quinoa!”

SketchFactor App Responds to Accusations of Racism - NBC News.com

MAPAAC Town Hall Meeting re Healthy Michigan Plan

Just received this from the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission re Healthy Michigan Plan, fyi:

Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission to Host Town Hall on Expanded Medicaid Program and Immigration Initiatives

Detroit – On Sunday, August 17, 2014 the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPAAC), the Healthy Asian American Project and the Vietnamese American Association of Michigan will host a town hall meeting on the Healthy Michigan Plan – a state of Michigan program to provide low-cost health care benefits to Michigan residents.  The event will be held at Our Lady of Grace Church, 26256 Ryan Road, Warren from 2 to 4 pm.A translator will be available to provide the information in Vietnamese.  A question and answer period will follow the presentation. “As part of MAPAAC’s work to educate the Asian Pacific community on state programs and initiatives, we are pleased to host these town halls in native languages so attendees can learn about more about opportunities available to Michigan residents,” said Jamie Hsu, MAPAAC Chair. Individuals are eligible for the Healthy Michigan Plan if they:·         Are age 19-64 years
·         Have income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level* ($16,000 for a single person or $33,000 for a family of four)
·         Do not qualify for or are not enrolled in Medicare
·         Do not qualify for or are not enrolled in other Medicaid programs
·         Are not pregnant at the time of application
·         Are residents of the State of Michigan
 In addition to Healthy Michigan program, attendees will learn about Upwardly Global, a training program to help skilled immigrants, refugees and asylees rebuild their professional careers, and the Michigan EB-5 Regional Center, offering a visa program designed to facilitate foreign investments in new, job-creating commercial enterprises. If you would like to attend and need accommodations to do so, please call 586-713-8261. MAPAAC was established to advance the full and equal participation of Asian and Pacific Americans in the building of a greater Michigan. The Commission, made up of 21 individuals appointed by the Governor, advises the Governor and state legislature on policy matters and serves Michigan’s Asian and Pacific American population by promoting their development and welfare and recognizing their achievements. Each member of the Commission has a specific interest or expertise in Asian or Pacific American concerns.

Ileto family remembers Joseph Ileto, slain 15 years ago

Remembering Joseph Ileto 15 years later:

Joseph Ileto, Ismael’s older brother, died Aug. 10, 1999 after being shot by Buford O. Furrow Jr., who had opened fire on five people at the Jewish Community Center in Granada Hills before encountering Ileto, who was working as a mail carrier in Chatsworth.

Ileto family remembers Joseph Ileto, slain 15 years ago

Smithsonian Center Launches Asian and Pacific American Online Book Club - NBC News.com

My article at NBCNews.com Asian America about the Smithsonian BookDragon Online Book Club:

"I love to read, especially Asian American authors. But do you know the feeling of finishing a great Asian American novel and wishing you could turn to someone and talk about it?" asks freelance writer Grace Hwang Lynch on her blog HapaMama.com.

Smithsonian Center Launches Asian and Pacific American Online Book Club - NBC News.com

Documenting Forty Years of Hmong History in America - NBC News.com

My article at NBC News Asian America on Hmongstory40 project

“Where does Hmong history exist?” asks the Hmongstory 40 commercial, “Can you find it at the library? Is it truly correctly written in history books? Hmong history is alive in each family’s story. Each of you holds a piece of our history.”

Documenting Forty Years of Hmong History in America - NBC News.com

Asian-American Groups At Odds Over Net Neutrality Debate - NBC News.com

My article at NBCNews.com on net neutrality:

“There's a strong human and civil rights case for strong protections of internet rights,” said 18MillionRising's New Media Director Cayden Mak. His group begana campaign to encourage OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates and theJapanese American Citizens League (JACL) to reverse their stand, “Trusting the free market on this is an exercise in folly, at best.”

Asian-American Groups At Odds Over Net Neutrality Debate - NBC News.com

Writing Therapy Helps Chinese-Speaking Breast Cancer Survivors - NBC News.com

I knew it! I've seen amazing things come out of my writing classes. Now there's empirical evidence. I should start marketing my writing classes at the hospital (if anyone knows anyone there :). My article at NBC News:

Lu’s new study, recently published in Health Psychology, found that regular, expressive writing about one’s deepest fears, emotions, and the benefits of a cancer diagnosis has both short-term and long-term physical and psychological health benefits for Chinese-speaking breast cancer survivors, including decreased fatigue, fewer intrusive thoughts, reduced post-traumatic stress, and increased quality of life.

Key to these results, said Lu, is the writing instruction. Study participants were asked to write for twenty minutes a week for three weeks based on different prompts. Participants reported that they revealed emotions and experiences in their writing that they had not previously told others.

Writing Therapy Helps Chinese-Speaking Breast Cancer Survivors - NBC : News.com

The Untold Story: Japanese-Americans' WWII Internment in Hawaii - NBC News.com

My article at NBCNews.com Asian America

The tours are a result of a recent study, authorized by Congress, of 17 internment sites in Hawaii. The report made several recommendations for historic preservation, including officially incorporating Honouliuli Internment Camp on Oahu into the National Park System as a National Historic Site or National Monument.

The Untold Story: Japanese-Americans' WWII Internment in Hawaii - NBC News.com

Spamalot

gotta love Hawaii...