Mai Yang Thor, one of the curators of "Cloth as Community," at the opening reception of the new exhibit (Photo courtesy of Thuy Do) |
Project HMONG, a university program supporting Southeast Asian students, began project planning in 2019 with curation from Pachia Lucy Vang and Mai Yang Thor at Hmong Youth & Parents United. The opening reception showcased ornate clothes with a fashion show and corresponding photos. The exhibit includes colorful and ornate story cloths that depict daily life, such as the harvest season, or folklore about Yer and the Tiger. The beautiful collections of Southeast Asian history and fashion are digitized on the Library’s Digital Collections site for accessibility by both the public and researchers globally.
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The California State Library & California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs announced their Ethnic Media Outreach Grants |
During the 2022-2023 fiscal year, $5 million in grant funding is available for ethnic media outlets serving communities that are historically vulnerable to hate incidents and hate crimes because of their ethnic, racial, religious, gender/gender expression, sexual orientation, or other identities. An ethnic media collaborative is an existing organization or entity, often non-profit, that provides support (capacity building, content creation, fellowships/internships, and other tools/resources) to multiple ethnic media outlets or the ethnic media sector in general. Grant awards range from $40,000 to $400,000 and applications must be submitted by noon PT on Monday, March 13. Find more information here.
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Join SEARAC's CA team on our state-level advocacy |
This month, SEARAC’s CA Team met with 9 state legislative offices, the AAPI Legislative Caucus, and CA Commission on APIA Affairs to share our priorities in data equity, education, health/mental health, and immigrant/refugee rights. We also continue meeting with county health departments to understand current challenges in disaggregating data for additional API populations as outlined by AB 1726. If you are interested in joining our state-level advocacy, email Andrew C. Lee, SEARAC's CA Policy Manager, at andrew@searac.org.
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Summer study abroad opportunity in Cambodia |
After being canceled for three years due to COVID-19, the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s eight-week intensive language and culture program in Phnom Penh is back! Students and educators are invited to apply by March 31 for this unique and immersive study abroad opportunity. The program will run from June 12 to Aug 4. Fellowships and course credit are available! Apply here or email Chhany Sak-Humphry at sak@hawaii.edu for more information.
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Ethnic Studies Engagement Session: Vietnamese American Refugee Model Curriculum in CA |
On March 15, SEARAC will host a series of engagement sessions in collaboration with the Orange County Department of Education to develop a model curriculum for the Vietnamese American Refugee Experience. The projects will include authentic voices and perspectives for authentic engagement across the state. This project will be created as a collection of lesson plans, primary source documents, planning resources, teaching strategies, and professional development activities to assist educators in teaching about the Vietnamese American refugee experience. Please register to be a part of this project and share your story!
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SEARAC reacts to State of the Union address |
This month, President Biden presented his State of the Union address, through which he shared his vision to rebuild and restore the country. We are encouraged by the President’s ongoing actions to combat anti-Asian hate, as well as his commitment to holistic health and to improve education. However, we ask this administration to boldly reimagine who gets included in the ‘backbone of America’ and restore humanity to our immigration system. SEARAC remains committed to working with the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure that Southeast Asian American communities – and all communities – can thrive.
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Welcome our new team member! |
SEARAC is excited to welcome Andrew C. Lee as our new California Policy Manager. For our staff blog, Andrew reflected on the history we carry in our every day. He shared, “It’s obvious to say, but always bewildering to sit with the undeniable fact that we carry history with us in the ordinary life of every day. There is gray and hope and loss and resilience and pain, and if you’re quiet, you might hear the whispers of what’s still unspoken.”
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We’re hiring our first-ever artist-in-residence! |
SEARAC is accepting requests for proposals (RFPs) for our first-ever artist-in-residence to support our advocacy work in the areas of education, along with immigration and health. We seek proposals from artists engaged in graphic art design and digital illustration, as well as multidisciplinary artists. SEARAC particularly welcomes proposals from artists and creatives who identify as being part of the Southeast Asian American community to submit proposals. Proposals must be received by March 1st for consideration.
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Applications are now open for SEARAC’s 2023 Leadership & Advocacy Training! |
Applications for SEARAC's Leadership & Advocacy Training are now live. After three years of virtual programming, LAT is returning to Washington, DC for a three-day training program that will take place from July 11 to 13. Participants will learn and build community alongside a cohort of other emerging Southeast Asian American advocates to grow their understanding of core federal policies that impact the SEAA community and build valuable advocacy skills. Learn more here and apply by March 26.
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diaCRITICS call for submissions on New Years celebration
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In the spirit of celebrating creative works from SEA and SEA diaspora, diaCRITICS is now accepting art submissions for their SEA New Year Series. DiaCritics accepts works in any form of media or genre are welcomed, so long as they can be published on the diaCRITICS website. diaCRITICS publishes primarily in English and welcomes pieces in other languages if there is an English translation. diaCRITICS offers an honorarium of $75 per prose piece or interview and $50 per poem. Send submissions to: diacritics.submit@gmail.com by March 20 at 11:59 PM PT.
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Study on Asian Americans and family dynamics |
Researchers from the Yale School of Public Health are conducting a study to better understand the relationship between Asian American family structure, family dynamics, and individual mental wellbeing. They are surveying Asian American adults between the ages 18-25 years using an anonymous and confidential Qualtrics survey that should take about 30 minutes. Participants will have the opportunity to enter a raffle for one of five $100 gift cards in exchange for their participation. If you have questions, email monica.chen@yale.edu.
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Tell SEARAC your health, education, and/or immigration story |
Our stories are our strength. Southeast Asian American communities have shared histories and experiences that form the basis for SEARAC’s advocacy work. We center our community members’ stories of accessing healthcare and education, navigating the immigration system, caring for older adults and loved ones, and expressing our joy through food, music, art, and culture. It is through these stories that we make powerful, lasting change.
SEARAC wants to hear from you! If you have a story about your family’s refugee journey, your experiences with our policy priority areas (health, education, and/or immigration), or your engagement with SEARAC at our summits and training programs, fill out this form and we may use your story in our advocacy on Capitol Hill.
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SEARAC is a national civil rights organization that empowers Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese American communities to create a socially just and equitable society. As representatives of the largest refugee community ever resettled in the United States, SEARAC stands together with other refugee communities, communities of color, and social justice movements in pursuit of social equity.
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