Asian American Stanford undergrads join Arar at the Asian American Activities Center (A3C) for a lunchtime discussion about career decisions, noon to 1pm. This event is part of the A3C Speaker Series. From the A3C website:

What should I do if I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up? What if I don’t even know what the options are? Should I go to graduate school? And what do I tell my parents if I don’t want to be a doctor? Arar Han, co-editor of the anthology Asian American X: An Intersection of 21st Century Asian American Voices, and now an MBA at the Stanford b-school, will be on hand with several of her classmates to share their experiences and provide constructive feedback on how to handle these tough career path questions.

Arar rings in the new year with a reading on NPR’s “This I Believe” with host Jay Allison. The essay talks about home as a commitment to loved ones–no matter where they are in the world.

This reading follows Arar’s 2005 appearance on NPR’s Tony Cox Show four-part series: “Racial Identity in Multi-Ethnic America”.

Join Arar as she leads a discussion entitled “Real Girls, Real Image” at the Massachusetts Conference for Women, 2:30-3:45pm on Tuesday, 11 December 2007 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. With her will be Jessica Weiner, author of Life Doesn’t Begin Five Pounds from Now, and Courtney Martin, author of Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters: The Frightening New Normalcy of Hating your Body. Please register at the conference website.

The Harvard AAA hosts Arar at their second annual career panel. Arar will again serve as keynote for this event. The panel will run from 7:45pm to 8:45pm in Lamont Forum Room on the second floor of the Lamont Library: Map. Questions? Contact Phoebe: phoebe.zen[at]gmail.com.

Boston-based non-profit Strong Women, Strong Girls has asked Arar to serve on the “Doing Good, Doing Well” panel discussion at its annual conference. The panel will take place at the Boston Harbor Hotel at 1:40- 2:55pm. For more information, please contact Janeen at conference[at]swsg.org.

Arar and John make a joint appearance at Ball State! The Asian American Student Association will host, for an event titled “You might as well do what you want!” beginning at 5pm. For more information, contact Tiffany at tnwashington[at]bsu.edu.

ASPIRE’s annual Asian American Women in Leadership Conference is at Simmons College this year. Please register at http://www.girlsaspire.org/conference/

Arar will serve on panel IIB: “Gearing up for leadership in the real world,” 2-3pm.

UVA’s Kappa Delta Phi Asian American interest sorority will host Arar for a talk on Asian American women’s leadership development the evening of 20 April 2006. Please email Hanna Kang at hk3z[at]cms.mail.virginia.edu for more information.

Arar is back in the classroom lecturing on Asian American identity in Prof. Belle Liang’s Adolescent Psychology survey course at Boston College 4:30-6:30pm. For more information or to sit in, please contact arar[at]asianamericanx.com.

Arar will deliver the keynote address on young Asian Americans’ career outlook at the Harvard-Radcliffe Asian American Association (AAA) career day event: 1-2:30pm in the Ticknor Lounge, Harvard Yard. She will also serve as a panelist on the business track. Please contact AAA’s Shang Chen at schen[at]fas.harvard.edu for more information.

Too often, Asian American students are simply held up as “model minorities"–students who perform well in school and don’t rock the boat socially or behaviorally. Recent studies in Asian American adolescent psychology demonstrate some of the limits of this understanding, providing educators a look into the underlying psyche of these so-called “model minority” students. However, there has been little color commentary to accompany this nascent body of research.

ASPIRE invites you to an event focusing on the experiences of Asian American students in school (K-12) from an autoethnographic standpoint. In this workshop with Arar Han, co-editor of Asian American X: an intersection of 21st century Asian American voices, you can engage in a dialogue with educators and young adult Asian Americans about the real experiences of Asian Americans as they go about their K-12 schooling. The discussion will be anchored by the experiences outlined by two contributors to Asian American X (readings provided online), and will focus on the following questions:

1. What are some salient factors in the school experiences of these Asian American students?
2. How do these students process these experiences in college and as young adults?
3. As educators, what should we take away from these testimonials? How can we transfer these learnings into the classroom, to counseling relationships, or even to administrative settings?

For more information, please visit:
http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/info@girlsaspire.org/asianamericanx

It has come to our attention that AAX is backordered at amazon.com and bn.com. The press has alerted us that a second edition–essentially the same as the first edition, but with updated editor bios–is in the process of being printed. If you are seeking a paperback copy of AAX immediately as a holiday gift, the press is offering a 30% discount at http://www.press.umich.edu/special/aax.html. The copies, originally $19.95, are available during the holiday season for $13.96.

We apologize for the overruns, and hope you will purchase your copy at the press website.

Happy Holidays, and thanks for supporting AAX!

ASPIRE and Arar launch the first in a series of workshops on Asian American women and identity. From the ASPIRE Evite:

The New York Times recently reviewed a book called Top of the Class: How Asian Parents Raise High Achievers and How You Can Too. The Kim sisters are obviously happy with the famed ‘Asian’ strictness their parents imposed on their upbringing. But is this really the whole story of growing up Asian American? Being grateful for your parents is one thing, but are the Kims truly happy with all aspects of how they were raised?

More importantly: Are YOU happy and at peace with how you were raised? Do you support the Kim sisters in their quest to ‘Asianize’ parenting? Do you object? Why? As Asian Americans, what aspects of our growing up have been similar? What have been different? What does it mean to grow up Asian American? Come to a workshop discussion led by Asian American X co-editor Arar Han on 12 November, 1-3pm at the Gillette Meeting Room, 43rd floor at the Prudential.

For more details and for mandatory RSVP (security clearance in the Pru), please visit http://www.evite.com/info@girlsaspire.org/identity
For additional inquiries, please contact ASPIRE President Amy Wang: ameemee[at]gmail.com

Northeastern University’s new Asian American Center is featuring Asian American X as the inaugural pick in its book club. Arar and contributors Mai Anh Huynh and Jeremiah Torres will be on hand to speak with book club members about their experiences during the formation of the book. Much of the evening will be reserved for an in-depth Q&A session.

For location and event details, please visit: http://www.aac.neu.edu/programs/bookclub.html
For inquiries about attending, please contact AA Center Director Andrew Shen: a.shen[at]neu.edu

Professor Belle Liang will host Arar as a guest lecturer on adolescent Asian American identity in her course, Adolescent Psychology. 4:30-6:30pm This event is open to Boston College students enrolled in this course. For a special invitation, please contact Arar: arar[at]asianamericanx.com

Join Cupertino’s Asian American Parent Association and the Citizens of Cupertino Cross-Cultural Consortium as they host Arar and John in a discussion on “Identity and Social Issues Facing Asian American Students.” Cupertino Town Hall, 10800 Torre Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014, 7-9pm.

San Jose Mercury News Announcement

Event description from promotional flyer:

Our local school districts have done an excellent job preparing our children academically for college. What about other issues that our children may face:
* Race/identity issues
* Stereotyping
* How family expectations can create unexpected stressful situations

How can Asian American students best leverage their strengths and experiences to pursue their career paths as motivated and productive adults? How can our schools, our community, and most importantly, parents, help? Join John and Arar as they present samples of experiences described in their book and propose a critical discussion of how parents can support and encourage their Asian American children

For more information, contact Fari Aberg 408-285-7332 or Jeff Moe 408-253-6403.

“How can an organization such as the Rotary successfully integrate diverse Americans into its membership?”

In their ongoing effort to help build bridges of dialogue within and between diverse communities, Arar and John will draw from clips in Asian American X, strategies for organization-building as featured in the Harvard Business Review, and their own experiences, in a presentation to the Cupertino Rotary 1-1:30pm.

Open to Rotarians and their guests only.

Arar will partner with career coach and former Polaroid executive Judy Shen-Filerman in a workshop called Daily Decision Points for Professional Asian Americans: Responses to Stereotyping Seen in Asian American X and Our Daily Lives for ASPIRE, an Asian American girls’/women’s nonprofit organization. Workshop will run from 1pm-3pm in Digitas, floor 18 of the Prudential Tower. Description from the ASPIRE website:

Asian American professionals find that their new white-collar workplaces can be something less than culturally sensitive. As work collides with racial stereotyping, we find ourselves challenged not only by deadlines, spreadsheets, and conference calls, but also by queries like “What are you?” and “Aren’t you (Asians) good at math?” For Asian American women, the experience can spill into the social scene, as the cute coworker down the hall loosens up during happy hour and confesses: “I’ve always loved Asian women.”

How do we respond to the words while also addressing the assumptions beneath - the racial/gendered stereotyping? How do we do so without becoming the telltale Angry Asian American? Come listen to how other Asian Americans respond and bring your own experiences to enrich the discussion. All Asian Americans are stereotyped…and it’s time to figure out how to push back firmly and effectively in our workspace.

http://www.girlsaspire.org
http://www.shen-filerman.com

NPR’s Tony Cox news show ran a series on identity issues 3-6 January featuring Richard Rodriguez, best known for Hunger of Memory; Debra Dickerson, author of The End of Blackness; Russell Means, Lakota activist, writer, and actor on The Last of the Mohicans; and Arar. Topics ranged from whether race matters and how, what the different races share and don’t share, and interracial relationships–among others.

If you missed the broadcasts, check out the series at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4257450.

The clips are also linked from http://www.angryasianman.com.

Let us know what you think!

Join Arar, and contributors Jeremiah Torres, Mai Anh Huynh and Shiuan Butler for an Asian American X reading at Simmons, 1-2:30pm. Location TBA. For more information, try Sammee at choco_bannana_parfait_e_e[at]yahoo.com.

The Midwest Asian American Students Union (MAASU) has invited Arar and John to its Spring Conference at the University of Michigan. Some 800 students are expected to attend this gathering, and Arar and John are busily preparing to host their workshop, Asian American X–marking our ground as Americans, for this exciting event. Please see MAASU’s website for organizational details and conference info: http://www.maasu.org. They will be in the Workshop 1 and 2 slots, from 11am-12pm, then 12pm-1pm.

View this event here: http://frontrow.bc.edu/program/han

Boston College will host Arar as the keynote speaker to kick off the university’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month festivities. This year’s theme is “Identity through art.” Dinner will be served at 6pm in Gasson 100. For invitations and information, please contact Siu at luiesu[at]bc.edu. http://www.bc.edu/offices/ahana/ahanaact/apahm/

BC Heights coverage of the event

MSU has arranged for Arar to be the keynote speaker at Lansing Community College’s Asian Pacific American Forum, a conference for 500 local high school students. Arar will also present a workshop on daily activism and another on topics within Asian American X. For more information, please contact Van at Khanhvan[at]msu.edu. Check out: http://www.lcc.edu/multicultural/

MSU will host Arar for an event as part of the university’s Asia and the Diaspora: Traditions and Trajectories Lecture Series. The talk, titled “Searching for Identity: Asian American X,” takes place at 4pm, 303 International Center. http://www.isp.msu.edu/asianstudies/spring05events/Arar%20Han.pdf Please contact Van for more details: Khanhvan[at]msu.edu

New York University’s Asian Pacific American Youth Alliance has invited Arar and John to moderate their Educators’ Roundtable at 1:15pm to 3:15pm at the 12th annual gathering of youth professionals to “discuss the challenges of collective identity as Asian Americans and individual ethnic identities.” This year’s theme is “Asian American Youth: Passions Uncensored.” We are honored to speak to the audience of parents, educators, and youth workers at Silver Center, 100 Washington Square East. Contact Sheelagh Cabalda for more details. sheelagh.cabalda[at]nyu.edu

Arar will be the featured speaker at the Dartmouth College Pan Asian Council’s semiannual dinner. Over ten Asian and Asian American organizations will cosponsor this event, titled “Wrapped in Silk: The SECOND GENERATION Asian American,” which is expected to draw 100+ people who will engage in a discussion about Asian American identity. After this 6-7:30pm event at Collis Commonground, Arar will give an interview to Main Street, the Dartmouth magazine devoted to Asian American issues. Please contact Assistant Dean and Advisor to Asian and Asian American students Nora Yasumura for more information: nora.yasumura[at]dartmouth.edu.

Thanks to Asian Student Union President Mark Villegas, Arar will travel to Gainesville to present Asian American X at ASU’s inaugural meeting of the semester, and also to congratulate ASU members on a significant achievement west of California: a bona fide Asian American Studies program! Contributor Francine Di will also be on hand…hopefully to read an excerpt from her piece, “The Jazzian Singer.” Reitz Union 275 at 6pm. For more information, please contact Mark at mrk904[at]aol.com.

Professor Grace Talusan, who is teaching Asian American X this term and next, has invited Arar and one contributor (Shiuan Butler) to give a book talk in her class as part of Tufts University’s Asian American Heritage Month event lineup. 5:30pm in Room 316 at Tisch Library.

Arar will be presenting a workshop on exploring Asian American racial identity based on excerpts from Asian American X. This is a closed session for members of UGBC and ALC only. For more information, contact UGBC President Grace Simmons at simmongr[at]bc.edu.

From Brown’s Asian American History Month calendar:
“Asian American X: Activism and Identity through Written Word,” a discussion of activism, experience, and identity with Arar Han and John Hsu, editors of this new collection of 21st century Asian American voices. Co-sponsored by AASA, Visions, and the AAHM Steering Committee. 7 pm, Brown Bookstore. In attendance will be contributor Jessica Kawamura (event head).

Arar will be doing a reading with contributor Shiuan Butler and one guest reader at 6:30pm. For more information, contact Susan Chinsen at Borders: 617-557-7188. Hope to see you there!

NAASCon is at University of Southern California this year, and Arar and John have been selected to present a workshop on alternative methods of activism called “Our shot at activism: Creating and publishing Asian American X“! We are in the track 7 - workshop 4 slot from 3:40 to 4:30pm. Contributor Margot Seeto will also be presenting a workshop on her experiences as an activist at Wellesley College. With a bit of luck, maybe she will swing by to read an excerpt from her story, “Caught Between Cultures…” Check out http://usc2004.naascon.org/ for conference information.

We’ve received our first press coverage of Asian American X! The Harvard Crimson’s Marie E. Burks writes: “…the book’s genius lies in its variety. Asian American X is not about a quintessential Asian American experience; it is about unique voices that speak to the diversity within the category.” See the full text at: http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=503774.

From 4:30-5:30 in Adams Lower Common Room, Harvard’s Asian American Association will host John and contributors Felix Poon, Shiuan Butler and Uyen-Khanh Quang-Dang in a discussion on AAX. For more information, contact John at john[at]asianamericanx.com.

Arar and John have been confirmed as panelists at this conference in Boston. For panel description, please check out http://hcs.harvard.edu/~hrcsa/BASIC/panels.htm. The panel will run from 1:50-3:05 at MIT and will feature contributors Felix Poon, Shiuan Butler, and Uyen-Khanh Quang-Dang.