From Asian American Studies Center and Program at Hunter College: “Arts and Activism: Reflections from Curtis Chin and Bino Realuyo” on October 20th

Between the AIDS crisis, attacks on the National Endowment for the
Arts, and the Miss Saigon controversy, artists and activists in the
early ’90s needed to find new ways to build solidarity and counter
invisibility. Founded in 1991, the Asian American Writers Workshop
(AAWW) was a product of these times.

Join a discussion with two of the organization’s co-founders – Curtis
Chin, award-winning writer and documentary filmmaker, and
acclaimed novelist Bino Realuyo – and learn how the AAWW built the
foundation from its roots. The discussion will be moderated by
Vivian Louie, Director of the Asian American Studies Center and
Program at Hunter College and Professor of Urban Policy and
Planning.

RSVP WITH THE LINK BELOW
bit.ly/aas1020
Co-sponsored by Hunter College’s English Dept., Sociology Dept., and
The Urban Policy & Planning Dept.

“Can” Film Screening at Cellar 58 on Tuesday, April 29 by New York Women in Film & Television

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Please join us for this special screening of “Can” (amongourkin.org) on Tue. April 29 sponsored by New York Women in Film and Television (nywift.org), followed by a Q&A with the producer/director Pearl J. Park and a networking get together at a local restaurant Cellar 58, 58 Second Avenue (at 3rd Street), New York, NY.

Shot over a three-and-a-half-year period, “Can" provides a window into the inner dynamics of one Vietnamese-American family and their conflicts as the immigrant parents deal with the mental illness of their American raised son Can. The protagonist of this film, Can, is one of the few Asian Americans speaking publicly about living with depression and bipolar disorder, defying cultural norms. Bringing attention to a national behavioral health disparity, this real-life narrative allows viewers to examine critically social and systemic factors that affect Asian American families with mental illness.

For more information, go to http://nywift.org/article.aspx?id=4929

NYWIFT Member Screening Series: Can
Date/Time: Tuesday, Apr. 29, 20147:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Venue: Cellar 58, 58 Second Avenue (at 3rd Street), New York, NY
Pricing: $10 general admission
$6 for NYWIFT members
$8 for students, seniors, Women Make Movies, DCTV, IFP, Center for
Communications, Shooting People, IDA members
Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the screening at the Anthology Box office. Cash Only-No credit cards at the box office.
Box Office Location: Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Avenue at 2nd Street, New York, NY 10003; (212) 505-5181

“The Search for General Tso” at the Tribeca Film Festival

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The Search for General Tso
 is a feature-length documentary exploring Chinese American food through the story of an iconic sweet and spicy chicken dish. A collaboration between filmmaker Ian Cheney (King Corn, The City Dark) and author Jennifer 8. Lee (The Fortune Cookie Chronicles), the film whisks viewers on a lively journey through Chinatowns and Chinese restaurants from New Orleans to Shanghai. The film is an appetizing tale of cultural adaptation and culinary conquest.
Premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival at shows April 20, 21, and 24. For the trailer and ticket information:

http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/53208ae0c07f5df7d2000729-search-for-general-tso

Tickets on sale now!
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Media Advisory: “Documented” Film Screening at the Museum of the Moving Image on Thursday, April 17 – Immigrant Heritage Week

Define American, New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Museum of the Moving Image to Host NYC Premiere of Jose Antonio Vargas’ “Documented” for Immigrant Heritage Week
Local leaders and community to celebrate the launch of New York City’s Immigrant Heritage Week with NYC premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist Jose Antonio Vargas’ Film, “Documented”
(Astoria, NY) – Define American, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Museum of the Moving Image will host local leaders and the local immigrant community for the NYC premiere of Jose Antonio Vargas’ film “Documented” to celebrate Immigrant Heritage Week on Thursday, April 17th, 2014 at 7:00pm at Museum of the Moving Image.
About “Documented”: 
Vargas began working on the documentary shortly before “outing” himself as undocumented in a groundbreaking June 2011 New York Times Magazine essay, “My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant.” Sent here from the Philippines at age 12 by his mother to live with his grandparents – naturalized citizens – in Mountain View, CA, Vargas found out he was undocumented when he was 16. “Documented” follows Jose as he travels around the country, speaking to people across America and sharing his personal experience in order to spark an honest dialogue about immigration and the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the US today. The film also explores his relationship with his mom – whom he hasn’t seen in person in over 20 years.
CNN Films acquired the North American broadcast rights to “Documented” in November 2013, before its international premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam and following its world premiere at the AFI Docs festival in Washington, D.C. in June 2013.
“Documented” is a project of Define American, and executive producers include Sean Parker, Matthew HIltzik, Liz Simons, Scott Budnick, Janet Yang and Kevin Iwashina. “Documented” is the inaugural film by Apo Anak Productions, created by Vargas in honor of his grandparents and mother. In Tagalog, Vargas’ native language, “apo” means grandchild and “anak” means “child.” For more information, please visit: documentedthefilm.com.
Following the film, writer and director Vargas, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Nisha Agarwal and other panelists will join a panel discussion about the power of culture in shaping how people talk about immigration and immigration reform, and what that means for the NYC community.
WHO: Jose Antonio Vargas, Writer and Director, “Documented”, panelist
Nisha Agarwal, Commissioner, NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs panelist
Melissa Mark-Viverito, City Council Speaker, welcoming remarks
*(Additional panelists to be announced)
WHAT: NYC Premiere Screening and Panel Discussion of Jose Antonio Vargas’ Film, “Documented” for New York City’s Immigrant Heritage Week
WHERE: Museum of the Moving Image
36-01 35th Avenue
Astoria, New York
WHEN: Screening: 7:00 PM ET
Panel Discussion: 8:30 PM ET
NOTE: Tickets: $12 public (with discounts for students, seniors, and children) | Free for Museum members. Advance tickets will be available online at http://movingimage.us or by phone at (718) 777-6800.

AABANY TO RECEIVE 2013 NEW YORK STATE CONFERENCE OF BAR LEADERS INNOVATION AWARD FOR “IVA: THE MYTH OF TOKYO ROSE” PROGRAM

PRESS RELEASE

NEW YORK – January 27, 2014 – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) is proud to announce that it will receive a 2013 Bar Leaders Innovation Award for its Asian Pacific American Heritage Month production, “Iva: The Myth of Tokyo Rose.”  The award bestowed by the New York State Conference of Bar Leaders Executive Council of the New York State Bar Association recognizes bar associations that introduce new programs, ideas and methodologies that benefit its members and the community at large.  AABANY’s “Tokyo Rose” program was evaluated based on its ingenuity and creativity, effect on the bar and general public, and its overall quality.

“Iva: The Myth of Tokyo Rose,” which was co-produced by AABANY and the Asian American Arts Alliance (the “Alliance”), tells the story of Iva Toguri, a Japanese American citizen, who was accused of treason during World War II.  Original court transcripts were edited and compiled under the leadership of the Honorable Denny Chin and Kathy Hirata Chin.  This material was then adapted by playwright Soriya Chum and culminated in a production addressing issues concerning race, civil rights, prosecutorial abuse and social injustice.  “Tokyo Rose” was directed by Soriya Chum and Elena Chang and performed on stage at the Asia Society in New York City on May 16-17, 2013.  Following the performances, talkbacks were held with esteemed speakers and guests, including the Honorable Denny Chin (U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit), Kathy Hirata Chin (Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP), Gurjot Kaur (Sikh Coalition), Andrea Louie (the Alliance), Yang Chen (AABANY), Rehana Mirza (Ma-Yi Theater’s Writer’s Lab) and Eileen Rivera (Leviathan Lab).

The New York State Conference of Bar Leaders will honor AABANY along with its sister bar associations for their innovative programs at the Annual Breakfast for Bar Leaders to be held at the Hilton New York Midtown on Friday, January 31, 2014.  “On behalf of AABANY, we thank the New York State Conference of Bar Leaders for this prestigious award and recognizing our continuing efforts to produce programs that address significant legal issues and social matters of importance to our members and the Asian Pacific American community as a whole,” said Mike Huang, AABANY’s President. 

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The Asian American Bar Association of New York was formed in 1989 as a not-for-profit corporation to represent the interests of New York Asian American attorneys, judges, law professors, legal professionals, paralegals and law students.  The mission of AABANY is to improve the study and practice of law, and the fair administration of justice for all by ensuring the meaningful participation of Asian Americans in the legal profession.

A performance review of “Iva: The Myth of Tokyo Rose,” is available at http://blog.asianinny.com/films/iva-the-myth-of-tokyo-rose/

Apex for Youth: Volunteer to be a Role Model for Youth this Fall!

Volunteer to be a Role Model for Youth this Fall!

Make a difference in the lives of underserved children in our community. 

Volunteer now or tell your friends about these opportunities to help.

Educational Programs

Reading to Children (10 Needed Now!) – Read to 1st & 2nd graders to grow their love of reading and improve their English skills.  Meets on Saturdays in Lower Manhattan from 10:30am – 12:30pm

Tutors for Math & English (20 Needed Now!) – Help 4th graders get into middle school by tutoring them for their statewide English and Math exams.  Meets on Saturdays in Lower Manhattan from 10am – 12pm.  

SAT Prep Teachers (10 Needed) – Help students get into college with a higher SAT score!  Meets 1.5 hours on Saturdays in Lower Manhattan from 10am – 11:30am or 11:30am – 1pm

Arts, Theater & Basketball

Art Mentors (10 Needed) Mentor children who have been affected by domestic violence through digital art therapy.  Meets on Saturdays from 10am-3pm from Oct. – Jun.   Mandarin language volunteers needed.

Theater Instructors (20 Needed Now!) – Direct 3rd – 5th graders who speak English as a second language to perform in a theater production and improve their English skills.  Meets on Saturdays in Elmhurst Queens from 12-3pm or in Lower Manhattan from 10-12pm.  

Basketball Coaches (10 Needed) – Coach elementary school students and teach them the game of basketball.  Meets on Saturdays in Lower Manhattan from 10:30am – 1:30pm or 12pm – 2pm.

Mentoring

One-on-One Mentors (20 Needed) – Mentor a 13-18 year old student to provide guidance and introduce him or her to new experiences.  Meet with mentees twice a month.

To volunteer, contact us at [email protected] or 212-748-1225 ex.105

No prior experience necessary.  Volunteers can sign up as a sub if they cannot attend all the sessions.

NYCCC Lunar New Year Celebration

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Arts & Crafts, Music, Dance, and Culture:

Lunar New Year Festival 2013

INTO THE BOROUGHS: SPRING CELEBRATION

Date: Saturday and Sunday, February 2 – 3, February 9 – 10, and February 16 – 17, 2013

Place: Children’s Museum of the Arts, Children’s Museum of Manhattan (Manhattan), Queens Theatre (Queens), and Brooklyn Millennium High School (Brooklyn)

Fees: FREE for Feb 9th & 10th; Family Festival at Children’s Museum of Manhattan and Children’s Museum of the Arts are free with museum admission

(New York, NY) New York Chinese Cultural Center (NYCCC) is staging a 3-weekend Chinese culture program to celebrate the beginning of spring and welcome the Year of Snake. Lunar New Year is the largest and most important annual festival celebrated by Chinese and Chinese descendants around the world. Followed by a triumphed celebration at the World Financial Center Winter Garden in 2012, NYCCC is bringing its most popular and celebrated program to the boroughs.

This year, to kick off the festival with the family program, on February 2nd & 3rd, NYCCC partners with Children’s Museum of the Arts to present live Chinese traditional music, ribbon, and sword dance, as well as hands-on crafts activities, including Chinese paper cutting, creating dough figurines, and calligraphy writing, that will allow young children and family the up, close & personal experience with Chinese crafts and folk arts. Events are free with admission.

As the day proceeding toward the Chinese New Year, on the following Saturday and Sunday, February 9th & 10th, the festival will step in to the boroughs with its main performance at the Queens Theatre and Brooklyn Millennium High School. The 2-day festival will start with 60 minutes hands-on arts & crafts activities include paper cutting, dough figurines, and calligraphy in the lobby, followed by a 70 minutes stage performance. The performances include traditional Chinese sword, ribbon, folk dance, and Peking Opera featuring the living Peking Opera legend, Qi Shu-fang; as well the modern Chinese rock band, Hsu-nami, known for its daring integration of the rock sound with the Chinese classical music instrument: Erhu. Click here to find out more information on artists.  

Also on February 16th & 17th, Chinese Ink Brush Painting workshop and young Chinese dancers performing in traditional costumes will take place at Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Registration for the workshop is one hour before each program and tickets for performance are distributed beginning one hour before each performance. Both events are free with admission.

The New York Chinese Cultural Center has produced annual Lunar New Year Festivals for 25 consecutive years to sold-out audiences. It’s the most popular and most see program for Chinese New Year celebration in New York City. By partnering with local cultural institutions such as Queens Theatre and Children Museum of the Arts, NYCCC is able to bring the celebrated program to different boroughs.    

Read more details here.