In the Heart

The Asian American Writers’ Workshop was founded in 1991 by four friends, who shared a passion and energy for uplifting and developing Asian American literature. Publishing literature from the Asian diaspora has been at the heart of the Workshop’s mission since the organization’s founding, and as we celebrate thirty years of the AAWW, we are taking the time to look back to where it all started, convening talented editors and writers to discuss the Workshop’s long history of publishing Asian American writers.

We’ll be joined by Marina Budhos, who will share reflections on working with Meena Alexander; Curtis Chin and Barbara Tran, who will speak to the founding of the Workshop, and the very first issues of the Asian Pacific American Journal; Monique Truong, Rajini Srikanth, Sunaina Maira, and Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, who will discuss the anthologies published by the Workshop, and their experience bringing those anthologies to life; Lisa Ko, Tina Chang, and Andrea Louie, who will discuss the transitional period between print publications, our newsletter, and magazine; Eileen Tabios, who will discuss the Workshop’s support of Asian American poetics; and writer and former Open City Fellow Tammy Kim, who will discuss the connection between the Workshop’s fellowships and editorial projects.

The title of this event is drawn from the inaugural issue of The Asian Pacific American Journal, which was titled “In the Heart,” drawing inspiration from America Is In the Heart, by Carlos Bulosan.

In commemoration of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop’s 30th anniversary, AAWW at 30 will explore the values and ideas that lie at the heart of the Workshop’s mission. From the complexities of representation to the need for an artistic home to interrogating our editorial and archival legacies, this series of events will serve not only as a retrospective of our rich and layered history, but also as a resounding call to envision our future.