What's up, folks? You know what's up. It's time for you to meet the latest Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader of Christine Minji Chang.
Who are you?
Christine Minji Chang
What are you?
Female, Korean American, Executive Director of Kollaboration, Cal alum (GO BEARS!), actress, sister, daughter (lets just leave it as relative of all kinds), friend, supporter, crybaby, health nut, aspiring writer/film director
Where are you?
I'm currently in my dining room in my San Francisco apartment drinking a cup of green tea with lemon & honey. In my sweats. The exquisite joy of working from home. :)
Where are you from?
I've lived in the Bay Area my entire life. It's hard to say where I'm from since I spent significant segments of my life in diff parts - Cupertino, Pleasanton, Berkeley, Oakland, and now SF. By George, I've come full circle! Where to next??
What do you do?
I am the new Executive Director of a non-profit called Kollaboration. We're a 13-year-old, 13 city wide organization & movement focused on "empowerment through entertainment." But... how does one empower through entertainment, you ask? Well! We encourage and inspire Asian Americans to pursue artistic careers and change the face of mainstream media by sharing our stories and writing our own history.
Kollaboration is made up of hundreds of volunteer staff members in 13 chapters across North America. We put on live showcases in our local cities and discover new talent who can use Kollaboration as a platform to start their artistic careers &/or inspire others to do the same. We work year-round supporting our grassroots effort that has fueled a growing paradigm shift. We partner with other non-profit orgs to bring the community together and learn about other issues going on in the world and support other grassroots efforts.
So, in summary, I'm blessed to work with some of the greatest people I've ever met, discovering amazing new artists and helping them pursue their dreams while leaving a positive mark in the community and in history. Kollaboration has taught me the true value of working together with an unstoppable positive vibe and goal. We are constantly evolving and I'm here to help organize it and help it grow!
I also recently decided to walk my own talk about pursuing that "unrealistic" artistic dream career, and I started acting this past year. My lifelong dream has always been to be the next Meryl. Those are VERY big words, I know. OH believe me, I know. But you gotta dream big! We shall see. One step at a time. :)
What are you all about?
That's a very loaded question. Hm.
I'm all about creativity, expression, and balance.
Creativity because I believe every person under the sun has something unique and interesting to add to this world. Creativity is what keeps the world evolving and (hopefully) improving. Creativity allows us to reflect and build upon the past and to envision a better future. Creativity inspires people to think outside the box and hopefully out of their comfort zones.
Expression because communication is everything. Communication is the key to understanding. True expression requires authenticity & courage. In the Asian culture I've grown up in, self-expression has been limited and discouraged. There are strict rules and codes of conduct, which are very valuable for establishing structure, but stifle the ability for a person to flourish and thrive. When we're locked inside ourselves, very little to no good can be shared. We as human beings need to express and emote and connect with others in order to grow and find happiness.
Balance because I find beauty in the duality of life. Understanding pain to understand happiness. Having nothing to value everything. Resting well to take effective action. Traveling far to appreciate home. Loving yourself so you can love others. Understanding others to understand yourself. And so on and so forth.
What makes you angry?
Ignorance. Baseless prejudice. Dishonesty. Entitlement. Bullying. The plastic surgery epidemic. People who troll everywhere online because they can hide behind a screen name. Human trafficking. Domestic abuse. The term "legitimate rape." The politicization of family planning and women's health care. The North Korea crisis. Fukushima. Styrofoam. Global warming. High fructose corn syrup. Monsanto. The destruction of nature. Genderism. The shady 1%-ers. The word "San Fran" (k maybe not angry, but it's annoying). People who walk briskly on a busy street and then suddenly stop as if no one's behind them. Cockiness (not the same as confidence). Holding grudges. Road rage. Texting while driving. Drunk driving. Bad parking! Traffic. People who take education and basic privileges for granted. Scammers. Etc.
