Tag: cuny

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AABANY Members Support CUNY Citizenship Now Pro Bono Naturalization Clinic

Vishal Chander, Co-Chair of the AABANY Issues Committee, and Jaehee Yoo, AABANY member, volunteer at CUNY Citizenship Now naturalization assistance event.

Vishal Chander, AABANY Board Director and Issues Committee Co-Chair, and AABANY member Jaehee Yoo provided pro bono services at the CUNY Citizenship Now naturalization clinic. The event took place at John Jay College of Criminal Justice on May 18, 2024. The event was covered by Univision New York.

CUNY Citizenship Now! is a project of the City University of New York and is the nation’s largest university-based legal assistance program. The May 18 Spring Drive event is Citizenship Now’s largest. The event provides free application support to New Yorkers who would like to apply to become U.S. citizens.  The May 18 event assisted over 300 people.

Vishal Chander and Jaehee Yoo are members of both AABANY and the New York Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA New York). Vishal Chander, who is co-chair of AABANY’s Issues Committee and co-chair of the AILA New York’s Public Interest Committee, helped to organize AILA involvement. Vishal Chander stated, “Providing pro bono services is a deeply fulfilling part of our role as practicing attorneys.” This is the second year that Vishal Chander has helped to coordinate AILA New York’s involvement with the CUNY Citizenship Now Spring Drive event. Thanks to Vishal and Jaehee for supporting the CUNY Citizenshop Now event.

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An Invitation to Flushing Town Hall’s Happy Birthday Gala

Veronica Y. Tsang, Presenting Sponsor | Queens College, City University of New York, Presenting Sponsor

On Thursday, June 9, 2022 at 6pm, Flushing Town Hall’s Happy Birthday Gala will celebrate the historic building’s 160th birthday. We are thrilled to be honoring NYC Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams, the first Black woman Speaker of the NYC Council, and a proud representative of Queens’ 28th City Council District; and Frank Wu, the first Asian American President of Queens College, City University of New York, for his contributions to the University, Flushing, and larger Queens community.

The evening will consist of cocktails in the gallery, a sit-down dinner in the theater, and live entertainment throughout—all supporting Flushing Town Hall’s mission of providing global arts for a global community. 

LEARN MORE & PURCHASE NOW

For more information or to make your purchase via check, please contact Jessica Peña at [email protected].

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AABANY Board Director Chris Kwok Continues to be Widely Cited on Anti-Asian Violence

On March 16, Chris Kwok, AABANY Board Director, AABANY Issues Committee Chair, and Co-Executive Editor of AABANY’s report on anti-Asian violence, was featured on WGN Radio’s Legal Face-Off podcast. Hosts Tina Martini and Rich Lenkov interviewed Chris and SmithAmundsen Partner Gary Zhao on the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes across the United States. In the podcast, Chris explained that Asian Americans have become the scapegoat of the pandemic due to the increased stress that society has faced during COVID-19, the geo-strategic competition between Asia and America, and the discovery of the first COVID-19 cases in Wuhan, China. From the police to the public at large, Chris stated that we must hold perpetrators of anti-Asian violence accountable for both the harm and fear it engenders. Americans, especially district attorneys, must educate themselves on how Asian Americans experience race. At the end of the interview, Chris noted that “sometimes revolutionary change is hard and we need to push towards it.” To listen to the full interview segment on the podcast, click here and go to timestamp 14:16-25:42.

On March 17, The Asian American/Asian Research Institute (AAARI) at The City University of New York (CUNY) quoted Chris in its statement against anti-Asian hate. AAARI echoed Chris’s assertion that charging pandemic-related violence against Asian Americans as hate crimes “would have sent a signal that this was unacceptable and that if you were going to target Asian Americans, there would be consequences.” To read AAARI’s full statement, click here.

On March 18, MetroFocus interviewed Chris following the Atlanta spa shootings that claimed the lives of eight people, six of whom were Asian women. Chris criticized the way in which law enforcement and the media have deracialized this tragedy by framing it as a product of sexual addiction rather than the historic fetishization of Asian women. That the shootings have not been charged as hate crimes also reinforces Chris’s belief that Asians, as “honorary whites,” face the burden of proving that they have experienced discrimination. Chris hopes that the Atlanta shootings will continue to serve as a “moment of reckoning” for Asian Americans nationwide to share their experiences with race, challenge the divisive model minority myth, and build a more harmonious multiracial society. To listen to the full interview on PBS, click here.

On March 19, Medill Reports Chicago published an audio clip in which Chris described how recent acts of anti-Asian violence have led him to fear for his own safety and the safety of his family. Speaking of his wife, Chris said, “I’d like for her to go about daily life without fear of harrassment and discrimination and that she be a full citizen without having to prove herself in any way.” To read the article and listen to the full audio clip, click here.

Also on March 19, the Daily Mail invoked the AABANY report’s finding that the ongoing surge in anti-Asian attacks has not elicited a corresponding increase in prosecutions. The article quoted Chris’s assertion that “we don’t know a single prosecution, either on the criminal side or civil resolution. It’s difficult to tell people that you exist. We’ll continue to do that until that’s no longer needed.” To read the full article, click here. 

On March 26, Chris was interviewed by Yuntong Man from The Pulse on Radio Television Hong Kong in a segment on anti-Asian violence and racism in the United States. Chris stated that Asian Americans are not usually seen as subjects of racism and hate crimes, and because of this, there needs to be a “whole degree of education that the district attorneys in America at any level need to have.” Prosecutors and local government need to be accountable and demonstrate that it is not okay to commit acts of anti-Asian violence. To view the full interview segment, click here.

Here are some news stories that have quoted Chris Kwok from other interviews:

“Son of Atlanta Shooting Victim Calls Accused Shooter’s ‘Sex Addiction’ Claim ‘Bull****’” By Inside Edition Staff, March 19, 2021, Inside Edition, https://www.insideedition.com/son-of-atlanta-shooting-victim-calls-accused-shooters-sex-addiction-claim-bull-65606 

“Will Asian Americans ever be accepted as Americans?” By Kara Schroeder, March 19, 2021, China Daily, http://epaper.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202103/19/WS6053f0a0a31099a234354c6d.html 

“Meghan McCain retracts defense of Donald Trump calling COVID ‘the China Virus’” By Brian Niemietz, March 22, 2021, New York Daily News, https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-maghan-mccain-donald-trump-john-oliver-sorry-china-virus-20210322-nrxuq6afhbemnbigg7j2rd2dt4-story.html 

“Anti-Asian Hate Crime Crosses Racial and Ethnic Lines” By Masood Farivar, March 24, 2021, Voice of America, https://www.voanews.com/usa/anti-asian-hate-crime-crosses-racial-and-ethnic-lines 

“Lawmakers Want To Reform Hate Crime Laws. Will That Actually Ease Attacks On Asian Community?” By Anna Lucente Sterling, March 29, 2021, Spectrum News NY 1, https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2021/03/29/lawmakers-want-to-reform-hate-crime-laws–will-that-actually-ease-attacks-on-asian-community- 

Here are some news stories that have mentioned AABANY’s report:

“Arrested suspect in US spa killing spree ‘said he wanted to eliminate his sex addiction’” By An Wentzel, March 18, 2021, Daily Maverick, https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-03-18-arrested-suspect-in-us-spa-killing-spree-said-he-wanted-to-eliminate-his-sex-addiction/ 

“Resources to Support Asian Communities in New York City and Beyond” By ALL ARTS STAFF, March 18, 2021, ALL ARTS, https://allarts.org/2021/03/resources-to-support-asian-artists-communities-new-york-city-and-beyond/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20210322 

“A Tipping Point for Asian American Lawyers?” By Vivia Chen, March 19, 2021, Bloomberg Law, https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/a-tipping-point-for-asian-american-lawyers 

“Queens College President Confronts Violence Against Asian Americans” March 19, 2021, The Brian Lehrer Show, https://www.wnyc.org/story/queens-college-president-confronts-violence-against-asian-americans/ 

“急増するアジア系米国住民への差別や犯罪。在米日本人に聞く「今」” March 24, 2021, Yahoo Japan, https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2a8e18a07b2b766f143f4559860073e9dc3e1fbd 

“Anti-Asia Marak di Amerika, Kecemburuan Ekonomi Penyebabnya?” By Bogordaily.net, March 24, 2021, Bogordaily.net, https://bogordaily.net/2021/03/anti-asia-marak-di-amerika-kecemburuan-ekonomi-penyebabnya/ 

“Second thoughts about being an Asian American” By Nikkie Salgado, March 25, 2021, MercatorNet, https://mercatornet.com/second-thoughts-about-being-an-asian-american/71082/ 

Please also take a look at previous blog posts from February 19, March 1, March 8, and March 15 highlighting news stories about our report. If you have come across a news report or article about our report that is not listed above, please let us know at [email protected].

More public awareness about our report and the rise in anti-Asian violence is needed. Please share our report widely. If you have ideas or thoughts about how we can combat anti-Asian violence, please share them with us at [email protected].

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Model Minority vs Covid-19: Education through Crisis, For Asians in America

Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 | Time: 4PM to 5PM

This event will be broadcasted via Facebook Live on the Queens Memory Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/queensmemory.

Covid-19 has sparked an increase in racism against East Asians in America, whether immigrant or native born. However, racism against all groups of Asian descent has been around for much longer, with racist stereotypes and the model minority myth. Join Queens Memory and partners for an online discussion about the current higher educational experience for Asians in America, who are facing the continuously evolving challenge of racism. Also to be discussed is how Asians in America can provide ally-ship and solidarity to other groups that are experiencing racial oppression.

Moderator

  • Frank Wu, President-Designate, Queens College/CUNY

Panel

  • Joyce Moy, Executive Director, AAARI-CUNY
  • Vivian Louie, Director, Asian American Studies Program & Center, Hunter College/CUNY
  • John Chin, Professor, Urban Policy and Planning, Hunter College/CUNY
  • Madhulika Khandelwal, Director, Asian/American Center, Queens College/CUNY
  • Student Representative from the Student Council, Asian/American Center, Queens College/CUNY

Program sponsored by the Queens Memory COVID-19 Project of Queens College and Queens Public Library, Queens College Asian American Center, and Asian American / Asian Research Institute – City University of New York

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Friday Evening Lecture Series: Asian/Asian American Scholars of Education

On Friday, March 8, 2019, AAARI, a CUNY-wide scholarly research and resource center on policies and issues that affect Asians and Asian Americans, is holding a talk, Asian/Asian American Scholars of Education: 21st Century Pedagogies, Perspectives, and Experiences, by Nicholas D. Hartlep & Daisy Ball from 6pm to 8pm, at 25 West 43rd Street, 10th Floor, Room 1000, between 5th & 6th Avenues, Manhattan.

The talk is free and open to the general public. To RSVP for this talk, please visit https://19-03-08hartlep.eventbrite.com. Please be prepared to present proper identification when entering the building lobby. If you are unable to attend the talk, streaming video and audio podcast will be available online the following week.

Nicholas D. Hartlep and Daisy Ball will discuss their book Asian/American Scholars of Education: 21st Century Pedagogies, Perspectives, and Experiences, which shares the knowledge and travails of Asian/American luminaries in the field of education. This unique collection of essays acknowledges the struggle that Asian/American Education scholars have faced when it comes to being regarded as legitimate scholars deserving of endowed or distinguished status.

Books will be available for purchase ($40 each, cash and credit card accepted) and signing after their talk.

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(Re)Invigorating Asian American Studies at CUNY Campuses

The Hunter College Mapping
Asian American New York (MAANY) Consortium
Presents

 (Re)Invigorating Asian American Studies at CUNY Campuses

March 14th (Thurs), 12:30-2:30 pm
Brooklyn College Library, Room 242

Please join us for a lively conversation with current and former directors of Asian American Studies across CUNY campuses. The panelists will share their insights on how to successfully incorporate Asian American Studies at CUNY, and the barriers they face (and are facing) to sustain their respective programs.

GUEST SPEAKERS:

  • Charlotte Brooks, former director of Asian and Asian American Studies at Baruch College
  • Madhulika Khandelwal, current director of Asian/American Center at Queens College
  • Vivian Louie, current director of the Asian American Studies Program & Center at Hunter College

MODERATED BY: Diana Pan, Assistant Professor, Brooklyn College

CO-SPONSORED BY: Brooklyn College — Dean’s Office of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Asian/Asian American Studies Steering Committee, American Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, Haitian Studies Institute, Department of Sociology, Department of Puerto Rican and Latino Studies, Department of Political Science, Department of History, & Coalition of Brooklyn College Radical Asians (COBRA)

Event is open to the public. Guests will need a photo ID to enter the campus, and the library.

RSVP: https://goo.gl/forms/t9iuUz4dNI0CWaw43


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AAARI.info – Asian/Asian American Research Institute

AAARI.info – Asian/Asian American Research Institute

From the Asian American/Asian Research Institute (AAARI) at CUNY:

Friday Evening Lecture Series

Please join the Asian American / Asian Research Institute (AAARI) for a book talk on Incidental Racialization: Performative Assimilation in Law School, by Diana Pan, on Friday, April 20, 2018, from 6pm to 8pm, at 25 West 43rd Street, Room 1000, between 5th & 6th Avenues, Manhattan. This talk is free and open to the general public.

Despite the growing number of Asian American and Latino/a law students, many panethnic students still feel as if they do not belong in this elite microcosm, which reflects the racial inequalities in mainstream American society. While in law school, these students-often from immigrant families, and often the first to go to college-have to fight against racialized and gendered stereotypes. In her book Incidental Racialization, Diana Pan rigorously explores how systemic inequalities are produced and sustained in law schools, and examines their significance in the legal profession and broader U.S. society.

Follow the link in the title for more details.

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KEVIN D. KIM APPOINTED TO CUNY BOARD OF TRUSTEES BY GOVERNOR CUOMO; FIRST PERSON OF KOREAN DESCENT TO SERVE ON CUNY BOARD – CUNY Newswire

KEVIN D. KIM APPOINTED TO CUNY BOARD OF TRUSTEES BY GOVERNOR CUOMO; FIRST PERSON OF KOREAN DESCENT TO SERVE ON CUNY BOARD – CUNY Newswire

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo named Manhattan attorney and small-business owner Kevin D. Kim to the Board of Trustees of The City University of New York effective July 1, 2017. He replaces Wellington Z. Chen, who served from 2000 to 2017.

Congratulations to our AABANY Development Director Kevin Kim on this tremendous honor!

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Asian American Leadership at CUNY and Higher Education

Sponsored by CUNY Diversity Projects Development Fund 

Please join us for a conference on, Asian American Leadership at CUNY and Higher Education, on Friday, May 6, 2016, from 9:30am to 5pm, at the CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue, Concourse Level, Manhattan. This conference is free and open to the general public.

There is a remarkable absence of Asian Americans in the upper ranks of leadership at CUNY,and in higher educationnationwide. AAARI will release the findings of its CUNY Asian American Leadership Initiative Report at this conference, and will address recommendations for outreach and recruitment, as well as development of the student and faculty pipeline for leadership.

This conference will focus on why there is a lack of Asian American leadership, best practices for recruitment and professional development, student leadership, tenure and promotion, as well as the importance of Asian American and Asian Studies in preparing and inspiring the next generation of Asian American Leaders.

Keynote Speaker
Dr. Santa Ono, President, University of Cincinnati

Conference Sessions

  • CUNY Asian American Leadership Initiative Report: Findings, Recommendations and Accountability
  • Trajectory to the Top – Barriers on the Path to the Presidency
  • Best Practices: Government Agencies, Foundations, Corporate Sector and Professional Organizations
    • AABANY’s Issues Committee Co-Chair, Chris Kwok, will be speaking on this panel.
  • Student Leadership
  • Tenure and Promotion: Process and Advice
  • State Of Asian American and Asian Studies at CUNY and Its Importance to Asian American Leadership in Higher Education
  • Foundation for the Future – Working Group Discussions

To RSVP and to view the full program for this conference, please visit www.aaari.info/2016leadership.htm. Please be prepared to present proper identification when entering the building lobby.

See you on May 6th!

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