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Apply for the Summer Activist Training (SAT) 2010!

To all my Californians and beyond, apply for the Summer Activist Training program taking place in the Los Angeles area on July 8-11, 2010. Deadline application is Friday, May 21!

Summer Activist Training is a dooope dope weekend intensive program that develops strong leaders for the community. They equip participants with the critical knowledge, skills and resources for community organizing and direct action campaigns to create real social change. When I was in LA, I was a program participant in 2007, and then a co-coordinator in 2008; I DEFINITELY recommend the program. You go through a weekend of workshops, connect with forward-thinking individuals and go deep into the community connecting with multi-ethnic, multi-cultural organizations working on issues from immigration, environmental justice and more. Spaces like SAT are so critical to the continuous growth and development of our communities by building new leadership. We gota keep spreading the seeds!! And let’s be real, ever since Obama came up, now everybody wants to be a community organizer. Being down with the movement has never been cooler.

Sponsoring organizations include:
- Chinese Progressive Association – SGV
- Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance
- Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress
- Pilipino Workers Center
- South Asian Network
- Southeast Asian Community Alliance
- Thai Community Development Center

Letter from the Committee:

The annual Summer Activist Training program (SAT) seeks your help to identify and recruit candidates for this year’s training. SAT was founded in 1993 to provide young Asian Pacific Islander Americans an opportunity to learn valuable skills in community organizing and direct action campaigns. This program brings together like-minded APIAs to help create a community of young activists and organizers, many of whom go onto work in various community-based organizations and unions. This year’s training will take place July 8-11, 2010. If you know of young Asian Pacific Islanders with an interest in community organizing and social justice, who plan to be in the LA area or can make a trip of it, please encourage them to apply!

Summer Activist Training (sat) has been working with young leaders for years to build solidarity and equip them with information and the know-how to further their work toward positive social change and justice. The sponsoring organizations seek to build a network of young organizers and activists in the greater Asian and Pacific Islander community with skills in outreach, organizing, and direct-action campaigns.

Now in its 17th year, SAT provides an introduction to a wide range of experience in mobilizing people, coalition-building, raising public awareness, and addressing issues impacting oppressed and disempowered communities. sat and graduates of the program continue to make a mark on the APIA community; many alumni have gone on to work in various community-based organizations and unions. We hope you will help us recruit the next generation of APIA movement leaders.

To find out more and the online application, click here.

Homecoming Party & Official Art Exhibit Celebration

Damn, I am one lucky girl. And that’s only because I got amazing people in my life. I was just cruising through my Facebook when I came across this Facebook invite and discovered that the homie DJ Marlon Fuentes is throwing me a party this weekend in LA!! At KRESS:

I know what you’re thinking. What the hell?? right? I was thinking the same. I never considered LA my home. I will always rep East Coast til the day I die. But home is also where the heart is. And damn, I got a lota love for LA. I never thought I’d say it, but homecoming feels right.

Maaaaddd amped to see all my West Coast peeps. If you’re in LA, come through! Facebook info here. XOXO.

+ + + Check out Marlon Fuentes of Jakkmode:

One of L.A. rising stars. Known for his sophisticated party rocking abilities and exquisite choices. His list of past events ranges from world class clubs to massive music festivals like the Jazz and Reggae Festival at UCLA w/ Erykah Badu, DeLaSoul, People Under the Stairs, The Clipse, Azymuth, Busta Rhymes, The Game, Airto and Los Amigos Invisibles,. Loves dance music, food and fat bottom girls.

Going Going, Back Back, to CALI CALI

It’s true, I’m gearing up for my trip back to the City of Angels this week and I
CAN’T
BE
MORE
AMPED!!

It will be my first time back since I graduated and moved all my accumulated junk of 4 years back to the Bean!! I love being back on the East Coast, and can’t see myself living in LA ever again. But damn, I didn’t realize I would miss Cali this much.

Aside from partying all day and all night, I WILL be out there handling some bidness. Peep game:

1) Solo Exhibition at the Kerckhoff Gallery of UC Los Angeles

Flyer design by Michelle Chu

Yezzir, it’s my Alma Mater!! The UCLA Cultural Affairs Commission has purchased a collection of my printed works. This is the first permanent collection purchased by the commission and my first collection of art sold to an institution. So now it’s like my artwork has a permanent home in the 310 area code. I am heeeella honored to be a part of this historical unveiling. Check it out if you’re in the area.

Based on the UCLA campus, Cultural Affairs Commission organizes some of the biggest events in the Los Angeles county. Click below to get up to date:

2) SPEAK UP! Event at Cal Poly Pomona

Flyers designed by Trinkel de la Paz of GAS Creative.

I am sooooo excited to be part of this event. Just look at how flyyy the flyers are!! Speak Up! is a series of events to raise awareness on Asian American issues and empower members of all communities to unite in solidarity, speak up against injustices and actively organize to challenge oppressive systems.

It’s rare to see strong, bold, empowering images of Asian Americans in the media. That’s why I love these flyers. It’s redefining the mainstream construct and fiercely assertive. There isn’t necessarily a lack of leadership—just a lack of visibility. I’m honored to be connecting with some amazing leaders, activists and organizers this week at the event.

I’ll be at Speak Up! doing a workshop on the Model Minority Myth. If you’ve been keeping up with some West Coast higher ed politics, there’s been a surge of racial tension between communities of color on different campuses. It’s important to remember that the Model Minority Myth was created back in the 1960’s as a tool of oppression to manipulate and divide communities of color; I’ll be revisiting the theory of the Model Minority Myth and connect it with current racial conflicts so that we can rise above the bullshit and progress forward.

+ + For more information on the event and what I’ll be doing there, click here.

+ + To watch a dope promo video for the event, click here.

3) Workshop with Rare Diamonds at Pomona College

I’ll be doing a workshop with a women of color collective, Rare Diamonds. The workshop will focus on the various ISM’s (sexism, racism, classism, etc.) and understanding the intersectionality of these existences as women of color in American society. More details and flyer to come!

I’ll keep y’all posted over the next few days as I gear up to leave Wednesday. Enjoy the weather. Thank you for reading.

SacredSpace 2010 Conference: Media Justice

People in the Boston area, check out this event about Women of Color addressing Media Justice and building sustainable creative spaces outside of the mainstream:

Click here or the image above for website and registration info. It’s FREE!!

“This conference would address the concepts of Women of Color using current media
tools to build websites, blogs, podcasts, etc to address issues that
are essentially “blacked” out of mainstream/corporate media.
The conference would delve deeper into the idea of sacred space and the
benefits/problems with exclusiveness. Is it seperatism if WOC build
spaces that offer full visibility?

Does sacred space allow room for the “Hidden Transcript” to grow?

What is the Hidden Transcript?

Finally, is the idea or reality of sacred space merely a modern day
underground railroad for mainstream visibility for the issues of media
justice, literacy and consumption as these topics relate to women of
color? “

In the Realm of the Buddha!

I’m in Washington D.C. enjoying the premature summer weather. I kicked it off with my girl Simone last night and her man DJ EyeAm spinning the bidness!! I’m looking up current exhibitions at museums to see which one I should hit up today and I came across this jaw-droppin’ WOOOOORDDD!?!?!?!:

Inspiration for my previously mentioned Phoenix > Chickenhead Project?? I love it when the universe throws me signs to let me know I’m heading in a somewhat “right” direction in this life. I can barely keep up with what’s going half the time.

Lunch at a vegan joint, In the Realm of the Buddha exhibit, off to my performance tonight at Almaz, then NYC first thing Sunday morning. Hello young world I love you.

Me on the Mic: Sulu Series NYC

Ladies & gents & everyone in between, I am so amped to announce my first performance of the decade happening this weekend in New York City at the Bowery Poetry Club. As I’m quietly booking away shows for the upcoming months, I couldn’t imagine a BETTER way to jump start my season than with a getaway this weekend to the Big Apple. There will be some ill homies in the house, so if you’re in town def come out. And let’s get cruuunnkk!!!! (After my set of course).

Big ups to the iLL-homie Drizzletron for the dope line up and the dope flyer.

A Yasumasa Yonehara (YONE) Original!!

It’s true. I GOT A YASUMASA YONEHARA ORIGINAL!! Check here:

This is my homie Square. He’s one of the illest artists around. And I mean that with absolutely no homie bias. NONE!! He’s one of Boston’s best–ASK SOMEBODY!

Anyways, in this photo we were chilling at some Puma x DJ Hero shindig last night (DJ Hero puts me to sleep). The photo is taken by world renowned Japanese photographer, Yasumasa Yonehara a.k.a. YONE! He’s in town from Tokyo for his art show this Friday (Ask somebody!). YONE takes super sexy photos of hot girls. His philosophy is MAKE LOVE NOT WAR. Literally. Before you judge the raunchiness, take a moment to think about Japan’s terribly suppressed sex culture (they got blow up sex doll shops, pay-by-the-hour…..). What does the term “American/Imperialist Aggression” mean in the context of war? When someone becomes “sexually frustrated”, what happens? They BLOW UP! All puns intended, yadidameeeean! I’m still processing my feelings on it. Judge for yourself: Yasumasa Yonehara

The photo above was taken with the camera below. FUJI INSTAX! CALLING ALL SANTAS, hollaaaa:

New Sunday Buzz & Solo Exhibition @ UCLA

Oooooooooo it’s been an exciting week since my last Sunday Confessional…which will now be called Sunday Buzz, because Confession has such a nefarious connotation, and like a wise graffiti buddy once said, “YOU NEVER WANT TO INCRIMINATE YOURSELF!”

Plus, Buzz is better because I’ll be yapping about all things good with me. YEEEEEEEA.

I’ve been scrubbing toilets and evacuating the dust bunnies all day in preparation for my Auntie’s arrival tonight from Vietnam!! Yup, this will be the first relative from the motherland to visit the U.S.A. since my pops fled the country 30 years ago after the Fall of Saigon. Inspired by my Auntie’s visit and my parents’ Refugee State of Mind, I will be dedicating two blog posts this week on my family’s history.

I’m letting you know what kinda posts to expect before they even go up!

BLOGGY POSTS THIS WEEK:

Monday: The Refugee Romeo & Juliet Story
Read about the tragic and fated events that led to me being born.

Tuesday: When Globalization Gets Personal
This shit ain’t all fun and gravy when the theoretical becomes real. Half of my family is Vietnam ballin’. The other half is getting robbed, and plain fucked by global politics. Get an inside perspective on my family’s story as the epitome of globalization.

Wednesday: Figure 8s & Elephants
I’ll be unveiling a never before seen painting (from Summer 2009)!! Inspired by the balance I’m perpetually striving for in my life and Babar. I’m excited for this one.

Thursday: L.A. Throwback
The importance of friendship & mentorship.

Friday: Damn, I really don’t know yet. TBD

DISCLAIMER: All of this is subject to change or be rearranged at anytime! But I WILL get them all to you.

GOOD NEWS!! MY FIRST SOLO EXHIBITION (UNcurated by me):

I’m heeeella excited to announce that the UC Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Commission (CAC) is doing an entire solo exhibition on my artwork! So if you’re in the Los Angeles area, def check it out. This is my first solo show conceived & curated by someone OTHER THAN MYSELF (say haaay!). It is also CAC’s FIRST permanent art collection, which is exciting for all of us. This is one of the reasons why I love creating visual artwork; it is a product that can be transported and shared in real life with real people anywhere in the world no matter where I AM in the world. It is most definitely a part of the dream. Thank you to Joanne Danganan and Margarita Rozenbaoum for making this really happen. (I didn’t get to come up with the exhibit title but that’s okay).

The Kia Soul Collective is coming to ME!

meet The Soul Collective…featuring one of my all-time favorites, JANELLE MONAE!!!

KIA got together a gang of cool artists to do a gang of cool things, like put on FREE CONCERTS!! check out the BEANTOWN LINE-UP:

buuuck yea! the perks of being the new MISS LIT at this joint. all access baby. honestly, can’t front…never heard of these bands before. but HEY! anything miss monae related is COOL BY ASSOCIATION! (oh dang, she’s powerful…) plus, its goin down where i work. we got the GREENEST building in the city. the only PLATINUM certified LEED around town. check out our sexy angles: