This year's conference theme is "Redefine," with a wide variety of speakers, panels and workshops dedicated to issues such as Asian American immigrant rights, voting rights, LGBTQ issues, gender roles and dynamics, US militarism abroad, Asian American Studies, gentrification, human trafficking, educational equity, campus politics, pop culture, female body image, and blogging, just to name a handful. Here's a blurb with the conference's mission statement:
The New York City Asian American Student Conference is an annual gathering dedicated to promoting awareness of APA issues and history among college students.To learn more about all the conference details, and to register, go to the website here. Lots of great speakers, panelists and performers, including a keynote from activist Dennis Chin, and entertainment from spoken word artist Regie Cabico, comedian Ed Cho, musicians Taiyo Na and Kevin So. Good times.
This year, we have chosen the theme "Redefine" for our conference. Our theme explores the evolution of the APA community, highlighting its past, present and future.
Through our conference, we hope to bring all our voices - new and old, heard and unheard - into dialogue with each other, while acknowledging the differences and conflicts that are rooted in divergent experiences and shape vast and rich histories. Over the course of the day, we plan to showcase the stories of APA artists, activists, professionals, scholars, and more. We invite you to join us in our celebration and struggle, so that we may not forget our responsibilities to each other, but empower each other to redefine our identities.
NYCAASC's committee is comprised of students from Columbia University, New York University, Hunter College, Baruch College, and Fordham University. As a committee, we strive to reflect the spirit of celebrating and unifying the Asian American voice in all its forms and representations, perpetuating the presence of a vibrant community.
I'll actually be speaking on a panel about APA bloggers, alongside awesome fellow internet voices like Kai Chang (Zuky), Carmen Van Kerckhove (Racialicious), William Lee (Fallout Central), Jenn Fang (Reappropriate), Jen Wang and Diana Nguyen (Disgrasian). It's going to be a fun panel. Hope to see you there!