Events

Events

Main Events | Workshops | Guest Bios

Main Events Friday, March 7th

Screening of "Second Class Veterans" 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm | Wilder 101
(2002) Director: Donald Young
During WWII, President Roosevelt ordered Filipinos to fight on behalf of the United States. Of the 200,000 Filipinos who enlisted, more than half of them were killed in the historic battles of Bataan and Corregidor. In 1946, Congress stripped the soldiers of previously promised military benefits and recognition. For nearly 60 years, the veterans have waited for those promises to be honored. Thousands have come to the United States in hopes of equity or return of the benefits; many live alone and in poverty. Since 1992, Rick Rocamora has photographed the vets, helping to educate the American public about the history and lives of the ex-soldiers. One of the featured veterans is Magdaleno Duenas, an 87-year-old war hero who lives alone in San Francisco's tough Tenderloin district. Rocamora has developed a close bond with Mr. Duenas and many of the other vets he has photographed. This film also shows the struggle for equity by the veterans and the Filipino community.

Banquet and Keynote Speaker 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm | Root Room
Christine Chen, Executive Director, Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote)
Christine Chen will introduce the conference's underlying theme that awareness is the root of revolution. It is not that enough that we be up to date with current happenings; we must keep working to have our voices heard in both national and local politics. In light of the fact that 2008 is a very crucial Presidential election year, we also want to encourage the Conference attendees to vote, as this is a critical example of activism. By the end of the conference, we hope that the attendees will have been empowered and inspired to go and work for social, economic, and political change.

Tickets cost: $3 for students, $5 for general admission and at the door, available at Wilder Desk.

Saturday, March 8th

The Awkward Turtle: Asian Americans in the Education Access and Equity Debate 10:00 am - 11:00 am | Wilder 101
      Oiyan Poon, PhD Candidate in Race & Ethnic Studies in Education, UCLA
Oiyan Poon will address controversial questions regarding the presence of Asian Americans at institutions of higher learning due to affirmative action. Does a critical mass of Asian American college students at a given campus effectively end anti-Asian sentiment? Which ethnic communities within Asian America are represented or overlooked in the admissions process? How does affirmative action and access to financial aid affect the admission of Asian Americans in higher educational institutions?

Workshop on Hate Crimes on College Campuses 11:10 am - 12:10 pm | King 101
      Ron Katsuyama, Midwest District Governor, Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
Hate crimes are motivated by prejudice and bigotry. These crimes pose a unique danger to society because, while they often result in an attack on an individual, they can affect the fundamental rights and emotional well-being of entire communities by making them feel vulnerable and isolated. Hate crimes cause tensions, which may erupt into violence between members of different ethnic, religious or racial groups. This workshop will present the ways in which students can identify and confront hate incidents. Mr. Katsuyama will also provide examples of political barriers involved in the reporting and handling of hate crimes.

Conference Meet and Greet Lunch 12:10 pm - 1:30 pm | Third World House Lounge
Come for the chance to get acquainted with students from Oberlin College and other colleges in the Midwest and to speak with Conference discussion leaders, panelists, lecturers, and workshop facilitators.

Ticket cost: $3, available at Wilder Desk.

Panel on Sustaining Ethnic Communities 1:45 pm - 3:15 pm Wilder 115
Panelists: Arnab Mukherjea, Program Director, Health Career Connection
               Marlan Maralit, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
               Charu Gupta, The Cleveland Free Times
Moderator: Shelley Lee, Assistant Professor of History and Comparative American Studies, Oberlin College

The panel's focus is the sustainability of Asian American communities (such as Chinatowns, Koreatowns, etc.) analyzed through the standpoints of immigration, labor, housing and healthcare. How are Asian American communities being threatened today? Which policies can be enacted to stop it, and what can we do to help? The issue of immigration will serve as the foundation in talking about the intersections of labor, housing, and healthcare. Panelists Arnab Mukherjea, Marlan Maralit, Charu Gupta, and Professor Shelley Lee will also tie into their discussion the ways in which gender, sexuality, race, and class complicate these four issues. The panel will initiate a dialogue on the activism that has come before us, the activism that is ongoing, and the activism that could be done.

Discussion on Violence Against Women 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm | Wilder 101
      Purvi Shah, Sakhi for South Asian Women
Purvi Shah, Executive Director of Sakhi for South Asian Women, will discuss Sakhi's integrated and community approach to ending violence against women. Sakhi, a non-profit organization based in New York City, supports South Asian survivors of domestic violence while mobilizing community and institutional change. What are the types of challenges Sakhi faces in effectively running an organization that deals with such a sensitive issue? How does Sakhi promote and maintain a safe space for abused women in light of the silenced topic of domestic violence? How can YOU work to build a stronger community? This discussion will focus on how we can all work to create change and end violence together.

Blue Scholars Concert Performance 10:00pm - 1:00am | Sco
      featuring SPARK
Blue Scholars are just as much rooted in community as they are in music. Their experiences in the world of academia provide an intellectual dimension to their craft, while their backgrounds as second-generation sons of working-class immigrants keep the music grounded. Less sloganeering and more storytelling, the current state of Blue Scholars showcases a more focused Geologic and a polished of academia provide an intellectual dimension to their craft, while their backgrounds as second-generation sons of working-class immigrants keep the music grounded. Less sloganeering and more storytelling, the current state of Blue Scholars showcases a more focused Geologic and a polished Sabzi coming into their own as a premier DJ-emcee duo.

Tickets cost $5, available at Wilder Desk.

Workshops Sunday, March 9th
(Please note: workshops are only open to current students)

Mobilizing Communities Workshop 10:00 am - 11:00 am | Wilder 112
      Mai Dang, Community Organizer, Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corporation (MQVN CDC) and National Alliance of Vietnamese American Service Agencied (NAVASA)
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina was responsible for leaving the homes of thousands of people devastated throughout the Southeastern United States and for taking the lives of almost two thousand people in New Orleans alone. Even though this event was undeniably devastating, the people in New Orleans waited for days before the government stepped in to help. Mai Dang will facilitate a workshop on the work she has done and is currently working on in response to the lack of aid the government has provided for predominantly African American, Latino American, and Vietnamese American communities located in New Orleans East, which is an area that has been ignored by the city is known for high crime and has become the city's dumping ground (literally meaning landfills, and illegal dumping into wetlands).

Oberlin Asian American Student Activism 11:10 am - 12:10 pm | Wilder 115
      Rashne Limki '05, Masters and PhD candidate in Ethnic Studies, UC San Diego;
      Daniel Domaguin '06, Masters candidate in Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Since the 1970s, Asian Americans at Oberlin College have been working to empower their communities through social and political activism. In this workshop, alumni Rashne Limki '05 and Daniel Domaguin '06 will present a historical backdrop to the ongoing commitment of Oberlin's students, faculty and staff, and administration to the study of racial and ethnic relations, particularly Asian American Studies. They will offer techniques and insight into effectively navigating through collegiate systems and policies to bring voice to our communities' histories and contemporary experiences.

Guest Bios
Christine Chen currently serves as the executive director Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote). a national nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that encourages and promotes civic participation of Asian Pacific Islander Americans in the electoral and public policy processes at the national, state and local levels. Chen is well-known by activists across the county. Her track record in building coalitions and working at the grassroots and national levels established her as one of the strongest voices in the APIA community. She has more than ten years of experience in organizing and advocating on issues such as immigration, hate crimes, affirmative action, census, racial profiling, voting rights, election reform, and various derogatory and racist media incidents. Her role as a trusted coalition builder has her effectively building relationships with key Congressional offices including the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, federal agencies, and the administration. Currently she is serving on the Kennedy Center Community Advisory Board, Demos Board of Trustees, the National Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans, and the advisory board for the Progressive Majority Racial Justice Campaign.

Oiyan A. Poon played a critical role in founding the UC AAPI Policy Multi-campus Research Program (MRP) as a Graduate Assistant. The UC AAPI Policy MRP serves as a bridge linking UC researchers to community organizations, the media, and elected officials and their staff. She served as the first Director of APA Student Affairs at George Mason University and the first Student Affairs Officer in Asian American Studies at UC Davis. Most recently she served as President of the UC Student Association, which serves as the official voice of the 214,000+ students in the UC system. Currently, she is a Ph.D. Candidate at UCLA in Race & Ethnic Studies in Education with a concentration in Asian American Studies. Her research interests include Critical Race Theory, Asian American Education and Policy, and Critical Pedagogy in Asian American communities.

Ronald M. Katsuyama received his Ph.D. in 1977 from Vanderbilt University and joined the faculty in 1973. Originally from San Francisco, Ron moved to the Dayton area in 1973 after receiving his B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University. He is currently a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of Dayton, and takes on additional responsibilities through his consulting work and as a community volunteer. His research includes evaluation of character education programs across the country, and Ohio anti-tobacco, drug treatment, urban renewal, and prejudice reduction programs. He serves as President of the Asian American Council, Dayton, OH, and the Kettering, OH, Board of Community Relations, is on the Board of Governors of the Japanese American National Museum, and is Chair of the Federation Against Intolerance and Racism (FAIR), a Hate Crimes Task Force. The latter work was recognized by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, which awarded him Certificates of Recognition in 2002 and 2003.

Arnab Mukherjea is a graduate of the School of Public Health at the University of California at Berkeley, with a Masters Degree in Public Health (Health and Social Behavior) and is currently the Co-Chair of the Executive Board of Directors of the South Asian Public Health Association (SAPHA) and the voluntary organizational head of their San Francisco affiliate. SAPHA is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of South Asians nationally and globally through increased research, culturally-competent and community-based outreach, education, and intervention, as well as advocacy. He is also the Program Director of Health Career Connection, a national organization committed to increasing underrepresented minorities in the health professions by providing practical exposure and career preparation through internships and workshops.

Marlan Sanchez Maralit has made the Metro Washington DC area home for the last 25 years where he has worked as a community organizer, labor organizer and educator. Through his work as an organizer he has engaged a diverse group of constiuents from Asian American youth in the DC area, to health care workers in Los Angeles, and Child Care Providers around the country. He currently works at the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) recruiting and training the next generation of organizers. AFSCME is one of the largest and fastest growing union for workers in the public sector with over 1.4 million members nationwide. He cites his training with the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) in 1996 as a critical time in his development as an activist and organizer.

Charu Gupta is a staff writer at the Cleveland Free Times, where she writes about race, criminal justice and election reform. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, and wrote for daily newspapers before coming to Cleveland. Her work has received awards from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, and appeared in national magazines like Colorlines and The Progressive.

Purvi Shah serves as Executive Director at Sakhi for South Asian Women. Purvi, who presents routinely on Sakhi's 18 years of work to build community awareness and change attitudes which perpetuate violence, has been a featured speaker at national women's conferences, government convenings, and policy panels. Purvi provides the oversight, management, and leadership in developing the strategic focus of Sakhi's programs and operations. This includes our direct services and support, community engagement and education activities, fundraising, and general operations. She began working with Sakhi in 1996 as an active volunteer in the Literacy Committee. Purvi earned her Masters in English from Rutgers University and her first book of poetry, Terrain Tracks (New Rivers Press 2006), won a Many Voices Project prize.

Jenny C. Lares is the Asian/Pacific American Community Coordinator at Oberlin College. She has been involved with the National Asian American Student Conference (NAASCon) as the Programming Chair and organized the 2nd national conference at Northwestern University in November 2006. She is also a current member and former College Liaison for the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF)-DC Chapter. Jenny is a 2006 graduate from the University of Maryland. In her spare time, she writes poetry and has performed at FIND and the APIA Spoken Word & Poetry Summits, and recently released her first chapbook, (re)genesis.

Blue Scholars: With equal attention paid to the stage and the studio, Emcee Geologic and DJ/producer Sabzi bring an innovative yet familiar sound distinguishable from what's currently blasted on MTV or BET. Prior to the duo's formation, Geo made local rounds as a battle emcee and spoken-word performer, while Sabzi honed his skills as a classical and jazz-trained pianist while coming up in the indie ska and punk scene. This unlikely partnership set the precedent for what distinguishes the group from the vast sea of independent hip-hop artists - the ability to strike a balance between worlds usually seen distant from one another. Poetic lyricism with beats you can dance to; Marxist theory with Baha'i spirituality with musical influences ranging from Thelonius Monk and Aphex Twin to Marvin Gaye and J Dilla.

Blue Scholars are just as much rooted in community as they are in music. Their experiences in the world of academia provide an intellectual dimension to their craft, while their backgrounds as second-generation sons of working-class immigrants keep the music grounded. Less sloganeering and more storytelling, the current state of Blue Scholars showcases a more focused Geologic and a polished Sabzi coming into their own as a premier DJ-emcee duo.

Daniel Domaguin '06 is a Master's of Social Work student at the University of Michigan, majoring in Interpersonal Practice with Children & Youth. His field interests include child abuse/neglect/abandonment; youth of color in residential treatment; race, ethnicity and indigeneity in social work practice; and the effects of intergenerational (specifically colonial) trauma. Daniel has been involved in student of color and Asian American activism since his days as an Obie, with specific interest in critical consciousness surrounding the (in)visibility and (mis)placement of the "P" in "APA." He is originally from south San Diego, CA.

Rashné Limki is a second-year graduate student in Ethnic Studies at the University of California, San Diego. She is currently engaged in a race against time to complete her master's thesis on violence and the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan. She is a proud Oberlin alum (class of '05) and an even prouder ex-A/PA Community Coordinator at the MRC (2005-2006). She has been described by Daniel R. Domaguin and Cheska C. J. Tolentino as "a happy pink bunny with cutie wutie wittle bunny ears."