Yoshitomo Nara - Lost and Found
I’ve always been drawn to the Japanese pop art genre because of the colorful expression of the artists’ wild imaginations. So when I found out that Yoshitomo Nara’s paintings are on exhibit at LACMA, I knew I had to go see them. It turned out to be a trip to the Lost and Found of Forgotten Childhood Dreams.
Model Minority
Rapper/Activist Jason Chu speaks hope and healing in a broken world, blending high energy performances with thoughtfully crafted lyricism.
Most recently, Jason's work has been presented on the National Mall in Washington DC (In America: Remember) and curated in the LA Dept. of Cultural Affairs virtual exhibition Reimagine Public Art: House and Home.
His music has been heard on Warrior (HBO Max), Snowpiercer (TNT), and Wu Assassins (Netflix). He has shared poetry at the Obama White House, been featured in the Chinese American Museum of LA, and presented at the Getty Center, Flushing Town Hall (with Joe Kye), and the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (with Clairobscur Dance). Jason tours extensively, with hundreds of shows across the US and worldwide.
As an expert on AAPI identity and hip-hop culture, Jason has spoken and led workshops at UPenn, Dragon*Con, NYU, Yale, and beyond. He is a contributor to the St. James Encyclopedia of Hip Hop Culture.
Follow Jason at @jasonchumusic everywhere.
How to Report a Hate Crime?
Esther Lim is a proud 2nd generation Korean-American who created booklets on How to Report a Hate Crime in 10 different languages for the LA and Orange County, New York City, Greater Bay, Saint Louis, Illinois, and Maine regions. She has printed and distributed over 93,000 physical copies of the booklets and is continuing to expand to more regions and languages.Her sole purpose of creating books on how to report a hate crime was to provide equity and break the concept of having a language barrier just to gain knowledge of resources that were already out there.
She believes there are different aspects in everyone’s lives where we see inequity and even in a small way, we can do something about it.
To find out how you can order copies or help make a financial contribution to distribute more books, go to https://www.hatecrimebook.com.
The Race Epidemic
The Race Epidemic is about another outbreak caused by COVID-19. An epidemic of hate based on race against Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). With a politicized pandemic sweeping through the country and a former President calling it the Chinese Virus, the rise of attacks and hate against AAPIs is not surprising.
Can naming a virus after an innocent ethnic group cause the outbreak of an epidemic of hate? Or is it something hidden deeper within American society? The film takes a close examination of xenophobia and racism against AAPIs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Race Epidemic is a significant film of our times as innocent AAPIs are being attacked and murdered on the streets. It’s time to act. We can no longer be the silent minority. Our voice will not be silenced.
Far East Deep South
FAR EAST DEEP SOUTH follows Charles Chiu and his family as they travel from California to Mississippi to find the grave of Charles’ father, K.C. Lou. Their search leads to stunning revelations about their family, and they get a crash course on the history of Chinese immigrants in the segregated South. Through encounters with local residents and historians, this Chinese American family not only discovers their family’s important role in the Mississippi Delta, but they also learn about the symbiotic relationship between the Black and Chinese communities during the Jim Crow era.
The film provides a window into the struggles of Chinese immigrants in the American South during the late 1800s to mid-1900s and the discrimination they faced. The Chiu family’s history demonstrates how exclusionary immigration laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 separated their family for generations. This deeply moving and unforgettable story offers a poignant and important perspective on race relations, immigration and American identity.
Finding Your Voice
If you think that “finding your voice” is difficult as an AAPI, I understand. For a long time, I didn’t share a lot of my experiences and thoughts. I was afraid that my views would not be accepted and I didn’t want to stand out. I wanted to be liked. The thought “what would they think of me?” was constantly in the back of my mind. Over the years, I found myself staying silent because I didn’t think my opinions mattered. I agreed to other people’s point of views and stifled my own voice. Although I wanted people to like me, I realized that people could only like the real me if I allowed others in. When we find our voice, we find the freedom to get to know more about who we are.
Redistricting LA County
LA County is divided into five supervisorial districts, each represented by an elected supervisor collectively known as the Board of Supervisors (or Board). Following the Decennial or ten-year US Census, boundary lines within the County must be redrawn to ensure the population is divided equally between the five supervisorial districts. This is called redistricting. In the past, the Board appointed 20 commissioners to advise on a redistricting plan. In the end, the Board had the final say on where to draw and adopt the final district lines. However, this year’s redistricting is different.
Distinguished Speaker: Akiko Tagawa
In a safe, socially-distanced Q&A fashion, we will introduce you to a County leader whose work and words of wisdom may inspire you in your career development in the County. In this issue, we introduce you to Akiko Tagawa, Chief Deputy Director, Medical Examiner-Coroner.
Congratulations Eddie!
After nearly a decade of exemplary performance in local government, our President, Eddie Yen has been promoted as the Assistant Executive Officer at the Executive Office of the Board of Supervisors, where he will oversee Technology, Planning, Legislation, the Assessment Appeals Board and Operations. This includes overseeing the Board operations.
The Executive Office manages technology, staffing, procurement and facilities, as well as the publication of information for the LA County Board of Supervisors, various County depts and the public. The office also oversees the Office of Inspector General and other County commissions, such as the Sheriff’s Civilian Oversight Commission, Office of Child Protection, Commission on Disabilities, and the County Equity Oversight Panel.
LACAAEA 2021 Scholarships
LACAAEA recently awarded scholarships totaling $1,500 to three promising young students. This program was started in 2000 to recognize the accomplishment of this organization’s founders and to financially assist members with their children’s higher education.