For this conference, attendees will be teamed with other space-farers lead by trained space rangers (small group leaders). They’ll guide you through our wide range of workshops in three phases: Fuel for Thought, Discover Your Abilities, and Activate the Engine. You’ll be charting your own paths through each phase and after each workshop, you’ll touch base with your team to process what you’ve learned and share your own experiences with other attendees. Here are the workshops to look forward to!
FUEL FOR THOUGHT
The mission begins with “Fuel For Thought,” where space cadets will get pumped about their identity as they learn about what it means to be Taiwanese American. They will also learn about why their identity is important and how it can be used to fuel their everyday lives.
James Ong | Cranes Among Chickens: The Chronicles of an Immigrant Family As children of immigrants, many Taiwanese Americans form their identities through a process of self-discovery. Dr. James Ong, an author and a practicing cardiologist, will explore the concept of Taiwanese American identity by sharing his personal journey in writing his family memoir, Cranes Among Chickens: The Chronicles of an Immigrant Family. Cranes Among Chickens is a memoir with tales of immigrants and pioneers, of ambition and rebellion, of three generations spanning one century, two continents, five countries, and three wars. His family saga mirrors a tumultuous period in history as Taiwan transitioned from an untamed 19th century backwater to a 20th century economic powerhouse.
Michi Fu | When "I Love You" isn't enough: Learning Your Love Language* Dr. Michi Fu is a well-known mental health therapist in California. She has worked in a variety of settings, including community mental health centers, college counseling centers, hospital clinics, and HMO clinics. Her research on AAPI groups has been recognized and many doctoral students seek her mentorship. Dr. Fu actively supports the AAPI communities by serving on the API Domestic Violence Task Force and the Asian American Psychological Association. She also volunteers for the North American Taiwanese Women's Association and Cold Tofu, the nation’s premier Asian American comedy improv and sketch group. We are excited to host Dr. Fu to speak with our attendees on the importance of mental health and the challenges specifically faced by the Asian American communities.
Karin Wang | Advancing Justice: the Asian American History* In the 1960s, Asians in America, inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, forged a new identity as Asian Americans in their struggle to recognize their human rights. Since then, Karin Wang is the Vice President of Programs and Communications at Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles, overseeing Advancing Justice - LA’s programs, pro bono, and communications work. Wang has been active in local, state, and national organizations that seek to improve the legal system for immigrants and low-income communities.
Discover your abilities
The next stage is to “Discover Your Abilities.” Space cadets will discover how their identities can overlap with their personal unique strengths. They will also learn how they can use this combination to explore new grounds, or galaxies, while setting themselves apart as outstanding leaders and individuals.
Iris Jong/Angie Wang | Zines About Ourselves: DIY Publishing, Memory, and Experience Reflect on your experiences and memories and transpose them into magazine form! Angie and Iris will take you through the steps of folding, filling, and adorning your very own mini magazine. Creative abilities totally not required. Angie and Iris are both semi-seasoned zinesters / comics artists / illustrators. They've exhibited together at L.A. Zinefest, Queer Punkfest, and Inland Empire Zinefest, and also co-founded Comic Arts Los Angeles.
Priscilla Liang | Songwriting 101: Tapping Into the Music of the Heart Spend an hour unlocking your songwriting potential. In this workshop, we will cover the basics of songwriting but also allow time for each participant to begin their songwriting journey. Priska is a singer/songwriter from Los Angeles, CA who has been writing music and performing since the age of 16.
Jenny Yang | The Art of Storytelling* Comedian Jenny Yang knows how to tell a good story, and she actually honed her storytelling skills while working in politics.Through her public affairs work, she used storytelling to engage community members and help them find how their narratives are shaped by politics. Now she continues her commentary in a more lighter setting, while keeping her work grounded. Jenny Yang will teach and challenge you tell your own story which you can use to engage other people in your organizations.
ACTIVATE THE ENGINE
Now that the space cadets have a solid foundation and understanding of their identity and their personal strengths, it is time to “Activate the Engine”! Before our space cadets “return back on earth”, they will need to activate their fiery and passionate energy, sparking them to take initiative and apply the things they have learned to their respective communities and beyond!
Jonathan Wang/May Lin | Where is Taiwanese America? Finding Ourselves within Asian America* Taiwanese Americans are among the wealthiest and most educated Asian immigrants in the United States. As recent immigrants, many Taiwanese Americans are navigating a world after pan-Asian coalitions secured civil liberties for us in the 1960s Asian American movement. How do we as Taiwanese Americans inherit this legacy and how do we fit into these coalitions for social justice? Jonathan Wang is the Assistant Director for the Asian Pacific American Student Services (APASS) cultural center at USC and May Lin has a Masters in Asian American Studies from UCLA and is currently working on the Ph.D in sociology at USC.
Chieh Ting Yeh (FAPA) | Formosan Association for Public Affairs The mission of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) is educational. The organization provides US policy makers, the media, scholars and the general public with information on issues related to Taiwan. FAPA informs and updates Members of Congress and their staff on Taiwanese issues. Chieh-Ting Yeh of the FAPA is also a co-founder of Ketagalan Media, which is a media platform that brings more Taiwan news and commentary to the English speaking audience.
Career Panel | Navigating the Bamboo Ceiling: Taiwanese American Career Panel* This panel hosts Taiwanese Americans in a diverse range of careers, from business to engineering. Join us as we discuss how we navigate our identities in our careers and find opportunities utilizing the resources available to us.
*Some workshop titles are subject to change. Workshop facilitators have been secured; however, the workshop programs are still being finalized.