The Hyphenite's Social Calendar: Asian American Super Heroes

Two book talks at the A/P/A Institute:

Tuesday February 10 -- NYC

Stanley Hayami, Nisei Son
With Editor Joanne Oppenheim

Stanley Hayami was a 16-year-old prisoner in Heart Mountain when he began documenting his thoughts and hopes for a "United Nations on Earth." Soon after, he was drafted into the 442nd RCT. Joanne Oppenheim's book Stanley Hayami, Nisei Son: His Diary, Letters & Story from American Concentration Camp to Battlefield 1941-1945 is a compilation of Stanley's recently found letters and drawings, and includes interviews with friends, family and fellow soldiers.

Tuesday, February 10, 6 to 8 pm
A/P/A Institute at NYU
41-51 E 11th Street, 7th Floor
FREE
RSVP by Friday to apa.rsvp (at) nyu (dot) edu

Thursday February 12th -- NYC

How Does It Feel to Be A Problem?
With author Moustafa Bayoumi

Bayoumi's book How Does It Feel To Be A Problem?: Being Young and Arab in America presents the lives of seven twenty-somethings living in Brooklyn, home to the largest number of Arab Americans in the United States. Through their stories, the book addresses issues of government surveillance and detentions, workplace discrimination, threats of vigilante violence, and disappearance of friends and family.

Thursday, February 12, 6 to 8 pm
A/P/A Institute at NYU
41-51 E 11th Street, 7th Floor
FREE
RSVP by Friday to apa.rsvp (at) nyu (dot) edu

OPPORTUNITIES

Tuesday February 10th -- Seattle

Asian Community Leadership Program

For folks in Seattle, I encourage you to apply to the 2009 Asian Community Leadership Foundation's (ACLF) Community Leadership Program, which as been going strong on its 10th year. The program admits a small cohort each year to build public service and social change skills, complete a community project, and plug members into a network of local API activists and leaders. As an alum, I definitely recommend the program -- which I found invaluable for its mentoring, friendships, and coalition-building within the API community. Applications can be downloaded here, and are due on Saturday, March 14.

If you'd like more details, ACLF is holding an information session this coming Tuesday.

Seattle Public Library -- Columbia City Branch, Meeting Room
4721 Rainier Ave South Seattle, WA
6 to 8 pm
RSVP to aclfnw [at] aclfnorthwest.org

History Channel Immigration Documentary

Flicker Flacker Films is in production for Naturalized, a feature-length documentary about immigration for The History Channel. The film's objective isto provide accurate and diverse representations of immigrant experiences to a large audience. They're looking for personal stories from immigrants who are: on active military duty with a green card, involved in a romance challenged by immigration status, an asylum seeker, or a green card holder.

Although "the film is apolitical and does not focus on policy," any media that portrays immigrants in a humanistic light can go a long way towards influencing public opinion. This is extremely important as the immigration rights field gears up again to push Comprehensive Immigration Reform and a path to legalization through the federal legislature. Also, API stories are often overlooked in the wider immigration discourse -- so let's get our voices heard!

The production company has a crew based in New York, Miami, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Fort Bragg, but can travel to any location, including internationally. Anybody interested should email naturalized (at) live (dot) com

Categories: