ConversAAtions

We Will Be Heard: Cultivating Community During COVID-19

Friday, May 15, 2020
12 – 1:30PM

In response to the growing displays of racism and violence against Asian and Asian American communities during COVID-19, the Asian American Arts Alliance (A4) presents We Will Be Heard: Cultivating Community During COVID-19, a series of virtual story circles for members of the community to come together and share stories, knowledge, resources, and support for one another during this time.

Creative writer and cultural organizer Huiying B. Chan will use a racial equity lens to facilitate story circles where participants are invited to share their lived experiences, fears, and hopes during COVID-19. Each session will be 90 minutes. In keeping with A4’s practice of bringing together our community, the series aims to create a safe and brave space for participants to share lived experiences towards collective healing.

In a story circle, as each person takes turns to share a story, a richer and more complex collective story emerges. This practice is often used in creating original performance and in community storytelling and listening projects. Each story circle will be guided by a designated facilitator to ensure equal space and attention. Each of the three sessions will hold space for up to 24 participants and each story circle will connect up to 8 individuals. Each session is designed with its own unique theme. Please review the dates and topics below to select the story circle that best fits your interests on Eventbrite.

The series is free and open to the public. RSVP is required to attend. We’ll send the Zoom meeting link to all registered attendees.

A4 will host three story circles:

  • Monday, May 4, 6:30pm: Addressing Anti-Asian Racism
    Story circle centering anti-Asian racism, specifically held for Asian American womxn, non-binary, and trans people. This session specifically holds space to share experiences of racism, fear, and discomfort experienced with the recent rise in anti-Asian racism. We will also share practical tools, resources, and knowledge on addressing instances of racism and building solidarity. As Asian American womxn, non-binary, and trans people face disproportionate instances of hate and increased fear during this time, this circle is only open to those who self-identify as trans, non-binary, or womxn.

  • Thursday, May 14, 6:30pm: Addressing Anti-Asian Racism
    Story circle centering anti-Asian racism, open to all. This session specifically holds space to share experiences of racism, fear, and discomfort experienced with the recent rise of anti-Asian racism. We will also share practical tools, resources, and knowledge on addressing instances of racism and building solidarity. This session is open to all.

  • Friday, May 15, 12pm: Open Story Sharing
    General storytelling related to COVID-19, open to all. This session holds space to share stories and experiences during COVID-19. These can include any stories that you would like to share, including financial stress, mental health, grief, etc. This session is open to all.

About Huiying B. Chan
Huiying B. Chan is a creative writer, cultural organizer, and facilitator from New York City. Their work centers race, migration, intergenerational and ancestral resilience, and love. They work as a researcher for education justice at the NYU Metro Center. After hours, they facilitate creative writing workshops to cultivate radical imagination towards liberation. Huiying has received writing fellowships and awards from the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, VONA/Voices, and The Poetry Foundation. They received a B.A. in Ethnic Studies and Education from Wellesley College where they were the first to graduate with an Ethnic Studies major since the college’s inception. They do this work for their community and queer and trans ancestors and descendants to come.

Organized by

Ting Y. Lin

Contact

tlin@aaartsalliance.org