Appreciating Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders
May is Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) Heritage Month – a celebration of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
We take this moment to reflect and give appreciation to the leadership, resilience, and bravery of the Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) communities during such a difficult year. We also take this moment to honor the lives who have been affected by senseless acts of hate and discrimination.
In the last year, there have been 3800+ anti-Asian incidents in the U.S. reported and those numbers are higher if you include unreported cases.
We believe it is up to each of us to empower, amplify, and protect AANHPI voices and all who have been impacted by systemic inequalities.
When creating Crowdcast, we wanted this platform to not only provide a space for learning and experiencing new perspectives, but also a home for community building, collecting and sharing resources that can contribute to our collective healing.
Connect with AANHPI Community and Culture
Although Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) Heritage Month is coming to a close, you can keep getting to know the AANHPI community.
Below you'll find a list of events focused on the AANHPI community, including political discussions and solidarity work, literary readings, author talks, cooking classes, opportunities to move your body and still your mind, and conversations exploring the complex histories, traditions, struggles, and successes of this diverse community.
Activism & Solidarity Events
Stop Anti-Asian Hate Teach-In!
Join Councilmember Nelsie Yang, the first Hmong-American elected to the St. Paul City Council, Emily Lee, director of San Francisco Rising, Asma Elhuni, movement politics director of Rights & Democracy New Hampshire, Tobita Chow and Sandy Shan from Justice is Global, and Connie Huynh, director of the People's Action Health Care for All campaign and leader with AF3IRM, a transnational feminist organizing collective, and other guests for this special teach-in to stop Anti-AAPI hate.
We will dig in to the origins of Anti-AAPI sentiment from the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 through the Atlanta shootings this March, and focus on how we can take action together so everyone in our communities feels safe.
Live With The 19th: The AAPI Perspective on the Pandemic, Racism and Violence
The rise of anti-AAPI violence across the nation has been harrowing — and its impact on women and the LGBTQ+ community outsized. Join U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Congresswoman Grace Meng of New York and author and consultant Kim Tran to learn the history behind harassment targeting Asian Americans and discuss community-level and policy solutions for curtailing it. This conversation will be moderated by 19th general assignment Reporter Mariel Padilla and feature a special performance of "Gold" by Ella Jay Basco and Ruby Ibarra.
“The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”: AAPI History + Interracial Solidarity Movements
About the Workshop :
Come listen and learn about Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) and interracial solidarity movements.
About the Presenter:
Liz Kleinrock is an anti-bias and anti-racist educator of both children and adults, and creates curriculum for K-12 students, specializing in designing inquiry based units of study. In addition to her work as a classroom teacher, Liz also works with schools and companies throughout the United States to develop workshops for adults that support antibias and antiracist practices that fit the needs of different communities. In 2018, Liz received the Teaching Tolerance Award for Excellence in Teaching, and her lessons on teaching consent and personal boundaries to students have gained international media attention. Liz is proud to share her 2019 TED Talk, “How to teach kids to talk about taboo topics”,, and her first book, Start Here, Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community with Heinemann Publishing.
About the Host:
Britt Hawthorne (she/her) is a nationally recognized anti-racist and anti-bias educator, speaker, and activist. She provides anti-racism workshops and anti-bias training for parents and educators in-person and online. Her anti-oppression work moves the idea of racial justice to reality and practice. Committed to centering and affirming people of the global majority, Britt helps families navigate the world of anti-racist parenting. Through partnering with action-oriented educators, she creates classroom environments that are inclusive and equitable for all learners. In addition to speaking at workshops and conferences, Britt fosters a growing grassroots community of over 85K readers on Instagram, reimagining how educational spaces can create a stronger anti-racist democracy.
Finding My Voice in Racial Justice as an Asian American Woman
About the Workshop :
Listen and learn about Bianca's journey as an Asian American woman in the racial justice space.
About the Presenter:
Bianca Mabute-Louie, MA (she/her/hers) conducts research, creates resources, and facilitates workshops to support individuals and organizations in their pursuit of racial justice. She got her M.A. in Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Sociology at Rice University. Having worked in schools and community organizations for almost 10 years, Bianca has experience providing social services to Asian American communities and teaching Asian American Studies on high school and college levels. As a daughter of Cantonese immigrants, Bianca is especially dedicated to helping Asian Americans embrace their racial/ethnic identities, understand their place in racial politics, and hold their stake in racial justice movements. Her forthcoming doctoral scholarship centers on Asian Americans in the national discourse on race, religion, and politics.
Readings and Book Discussions
More Than Just Chinese Food with Author and Chef Trevor Lui
A self-described 'accidental chef', Trevor Lui spent over 20 years producing thousands of event experiences and as an executive for major entertainment venues and has helped co-create and develop some of Toronto's foremost food brands and restaurants.
Trevor's cookbook, Double Happiness offers feel-good recipes and food stories, shares his journey as a first-generation Canadian, and the experiences that led to him becoming an innovative storyteller through food that will inspire you with each bite and sip.
Trevor will be in conversation with Stephanie Lui-Valentim, marketing guru, relationship cultivator and founder of a purpose-driven talent management agency focused on BIPOC experts in the food & drink industry to discuss the role of Chinese food in North American then and now and how we are all connected through our dining experiences.
Battle of the Books: Asian Stories Matter
For the month of May, staff members Kim & Mike will take part in a friendly book battle featuring books written by authors of Asian descent, to celebrate Asian Heritage Month! Vote to crown your favourite!
Toronto Public Library is the busiest urban public library system in the world. Every year, we have millions of users visiting our branches and taking advantage of our online services.
AAPI Virtual Reading and Fundraiser!
Loyalty is honored to host a virtual reading & fundraiser in support of the AAPI community with a truly incredible line up of authors! This event will be held digitally via Crowdcast. Click here to register for the event with a donation of any amount of your choice. All the funds donated as a ticket will go to Asian Americans Advancing Justice and the profits from book sales of titles linked to the event will go to Red Canary Song and Stop AAPI Hate.
Thank you to all of our participating authors: Jami Attenberg, Cinelle Barnes, Chaya Bhuvaneswar, Nicole Chung, Preeti Chhibber, Kat Chow, Alyssa Cole, Kali Fajardo-Anstine, Mira Jacob, Sarah Kuhn, RO Kwon, Minh Lê, Min Jin Lee, T Kira Madden, Mia Manansala, Alisha Rai, Clint Smith, and Meredith Talusan.
LitFest: Viet Thanh Nguyen
Vietnamese-American novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen joins us live to discuss The Committed, the much-anticipated sequel to his Pulitzer-Prize winning novel The Sympathizer. This newest novel is fierce in tone, capacious, witty, sharp, and deeply researched. The Committed marks not just a sequel to a groundbreaking predecessor, but a sum total accumulation of a life devoted to Vietnamese American history and scholarship. It asks questions central to Vietnamese everywhere—and to our very species: How do we live in the wake of seismic loss and betrayal?
Thien-Kim Lam and Lyssa Kay Adams for HAPPY ENDINGS
Loyalty is sooo excited to celebrate the release of Happy Endings with Thien-Kim Lam and Lyssa Kay Adams!! This event will be held digitally via Crowdcast. Click here to register for the event with a donation of any amount of your choice or you can order the book from our website to be added to the event's registration list. Donations will go to Stop AAPI Hate. There will also be an option to snag the book during the event.
ABOUT THE BOOK
With her debut novel, Thien-Kim Lam serves up a sexy second-chance romance about exes with unfinished business. When working together reignites their passion, will these former flames sizzle or get burned all over again?
Trixie Nguyen is determined to make her sex toy business a success, proving to her traditional Vietnamese parents that she can succeed in a nontraditional career. She's made a fresh start in Washington DC, and her first pop-up event is going well—until she runs into the ex who dumped her. With a Post-it note.
The last person Andre Walker expected to see in his soul food restaurant was the woman he left behind in New Orleans. Their chemistry is still scorching, but he's desperately trying to save his family restaurant from gentrifying developers. The solution? Partnering with his ex to turn Mama Hazel’s into a vibrator pop-up shop for hungry and horny clients.
Thanks to their steamy truce, both businesses start to sizzle and their red-hot desire soon reignites deeper feelings. But when Trixie receives an incredible career opportunity, will pride ruin their second chance at happiness?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Thien-Kim Lam writes stories about Vietnamese characters who smash stereotypes and find their happy endings. A recovering Type-Asian, she guzzles cà phê sữa đá, makes art, and bakes her feelings to stay sane. Thien-Kim is also the founder of Bawdy Bookworms, a subscription box that pairs sexy romances with erotic toys. She’s been featured on NPR, BBC America, and NBC. Connect with her at www.thienkimlam.com
ABOUT THE IN CONVERSATION PARTNER
After a nearly twenty-year career as a journalist, Lyssa Kay Adams's dreams of writing and publishing her own HEAs came true in 2015 with the release of her first novel. Today, she writes full-time from her home in Michigan with a pesky, fluffy K9 assistant named Domino who spends most of his day snoring on her desk (that is, when he's not burying things around the house).
S.K. Ali’s MISFIT IN LOVE Virtual Event: A Henna Party to Celebrate w/ Sabaa Tahir, Samira Ahmed & Aisha Saeed
Loyalty is so excited to welcome S.K. Ali in convo w/ Sabaa Tahir, Samira Ahmed & Aisha Saeed. Join us for this not to be missed Henna Party to celebrate Misfit In Love! This event is free to attend and will be held digitally via Crowdcast. Click here to register for the event. You can also order a copy of Misfit In Love from our website to be automatically added to the registration list, and there will be an option to get the book during the event.
ABOUT THE BOOK
**In this fun and fresh sequel to Saints and Misfits, Janna hopes her brother’s wedding will be the perfect start to her own summer of love, but attractive new arrivals have her more confused than ever.**Janna Yusuf is so excited for the weekend: her brother Muhammad’s getting married, and she’s reuniting with her mom, whom she’s missed the whole summer. And Nuah’s arriving for the weekend too. Sweet, constant Nuah. The last time she saw him, Janna wasn’t ready to reciprocate his feelings for her. But things are different now. She’s finished high school, ready for college…and ready for Nuah. It’s time for Janna’s (carefully planned) summer of love to begin—starting right at the wedding.But it wouldn’t be a wedding if everything went according to plan. Muhammad’s party choices aren’t in line with his fiancée’s taste at all, Janna’s dad is acting strange, and her mom is spending more time with an old friend (and maybe love interest?) than Janna. And Nuah’s treating her differently. Just when things couldn’t get more complicated, two newcomers—the dreamy Haytham and brooding Layth—have Janna more confused than ever about what her misfit heart really wants.
Janna’s summer of love is turning out to be super crowded and painfully unpredictable.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
S. K. Ali is the author of Saints and Misfits, a William C. Morris finalist, winner of the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association Honor Award and Middle East Book Honor Award, and Love from A to Z, a Today show’s Read with Jenna Book Club selection. Both novels were named best YA books of the year by various media including Entertainment Weekly and Kirkus Reviews.
Sabaa Tahir is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the An Ember in the Ashes series, which has been translated into over thirty-five languages. She grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s eighteen-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash, and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks, and all things nerd.
Aisha Saeed is the New York Times bestselling author of books for young people. Her books include the critically acclaimed Amal Unbound and Yes No Maybe So (co-authored by Becky Albertalli), the picture book Bilal Cooks Daal (recipient of the 2019 APALA honor), and Written In The Stars (winner of the California Medal for young people). Her works have received multiple starred reviews and praise from outlets from The New York Times, Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly and have been named among the best books of the year from many different places including Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal, Booklist, and more.
Samira Ahmed is the New York Times bestselling author of Love, Hate & Other Filters; Internment; Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know and the forthcoming Amira & Hamza: The War to Save the Worlds. She was born in Bombay, India, and grew up in Batavia, Illinois, in a house that smelled like fried onions, spices, and potpourri. A graduate of the University of Chicago, Samira has taught high school English in both the suburbs of Chicago and New York City, worked in education non-profits, and spent time on the road for political campaigns. You can find her online at www.samiraahmed.com. Twitter & Instagram: @ sam_aye_ahm
Leo Chan: Once Upon a Time in Chinatown
Toronto not only has some of the most diverse cultures and food in the world, its Chinese community itself is one of the most diverse outside of China, representing many dialects and regions of Mainland China , each with their own distinct approach to cuisine. In this special Asian Heritage Month presentation, celebrated Chef and Professor, Leo Chan, will tell the story of how Chinese food in Toronto became so complex and varied. Starting with Sing Tom's Cafe (founded: 1901), Toronto's first Chinese eatery at the intersection of Bay and Queen to the change in tastes and fashion in favour of smaller diners and Chop Suey houses with limited seating. Finally to the “First Golden Era” when the opening of Nanking in 1947 and Lichee Garden in 1948 changed the profile of Chinese restaurants and was the turning point in the history of Chinese dining. They were the first two of the 'Big Four' upscale restaurants. The other two were Sai Woo opened in 1953 and Kwong Chow in 1959. This period revolutionized Chinese cuisine in Canada.
Cooking Classes
Tantanmen Ramen x ASL Accessible
Tantanmen Ramen
For my Tantanmen Ramen class, I am bringing in ASL interpreter Caroline Blaike, who is a queer, American Sign Language performer, consultant, and interpreter. As a hearing member of the sign language community, it’s her mission to advocate for equal access to art, media, and culture for the Deaf community. For more information on Caroline you can visit carolineblaike.com or follow her on Instagram.
Tantanmen is the Japanese ramen interpretation of a Sichuan Dan Dan noodles - traditionally noodles with ground pork in a spicy sesame sauce. Tantanmen is brothier and less spicy than the Sichuan version, but still embraces a nutty, rich flavor. I will be teaching you how to make an entirely plant based version of tantanmen ramen with the exception of the soy-sauce egg should you choose to make that garnish. There will be suggestions available to accommodate gluten free and meat eaters.
$5 of every purchase will go to support The Deaf Queer Resource Center (DQRC), a national nonprofit that works to support, inform, empower, and bring more visibility to and awareness about marginalized Deaf LGBTQ communities. Join us and spread the word!
Hainan Chicken and Rice
We’re continuing our support for AAPI month with a favorite meal of mine, Hainan Chicken and Rice!
$5 of every purchase goes to support **AAPI Women Lead** - an organization that aims to strengthen the progressive political and social platforms of Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the US through the leadership of self-identified AAPI women and girls.
Most every culture has a comforting chicken and rice dish — this is the kind I grew up on and what reminds me most of home. Some of you might be very familiar with this fragrant poached chicken with ginger-scallion relish while for others, this may be a new exciting dish you’re interested to learn! Hainan chicken and rice is widely popular in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and many other parts of South East Asia.
Kung Pao Chicken
These last few weeks have felt incredibly heavy. Acts of violence, xenophobia, and racism against the AAPI community have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rising violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community since the start of the pandemic is a painful reminder that we must acknowledge the racism that exists and work towards a way to create a safe environment for everyone.
Let’s raise money to Stop AAPI Hate while learning to make Kung Pao Chicken!
Dedicated to the thousands of ordinary men and women working in the food industry in Toronto, Professor Chan walks us through the history of Chinese influence on key parts of Canada’s largest city when regional cuisines of China became more readily accessible, available and mainstream.
Music, Movement and Meditation
Sounds Of Wind: A lecture-concert on Korean Wind Instruments with gamin
Gamin Kang is one of the most well-known performers of gugak (traditional Korean music) residing outside of Korea. She will perform and discuss the place of traditional wind instruments in Korean music. She believes that music is the window to see culture and history and a tool to identify your roots.
For this concert gamin will perform traditional works for piri (double reed Korean oboe), taepyeongso (double-reed horn), and saenghwang (mouth organ), and discuss the place of these traditional instruments in a vibrant new musical world.
About the performer: Gamin Kang, known simply as “gamin,” a distinguished NYC soloist, tours the world performing both traditional Korean music and cross-disciplinary collaborations. Re-inventing new sonorities from ancient, somewhat restrictive, musical systems, gamin has participated in several cultural exchange programs, as Artist-in-Residence at Asian Cultural Council, James Joo-Jin Kim Program in Korean Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and Brandeis University. She has presented lecture/concerts at Harvard and Dartmouth, and at international universities in Paris, Bangkok, and Tashkent. She was featured artist at the Silkroad concert, Seoul, 2018, performing on-stage with Yo-Yo Ma.
gamin has been curating several performances at the Center for Remembering and Sharing, NYC, as part of the CROSSING BOUNDARIES series. She was selected as artist-in-residency at the HERE Arts Center in 2020. Gamin’s Carnegie Hall début as featured soloist with the Nangye Gugak Orchestra of Korea, scheduled for March 27, 2020, was postponed by the covid pandemic until a later date.
For 2021-2022, gamin has been selected as a winner of a 2-year Fellowship of the Jerome Foundation. She plans to continue composing a multi-disciplinary work about crimes committed against women in Asia during WWII.
MOVING THROUGH FEAR AND IGNITING COURAGE: A MEDITATION & MOVEMENT WORKSHOP FOR ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
This webinar is for self-identifying Asian Americans (and all allies) seeking a virtual space to meditate, breathe as a community, and move through emotions of grief, anger, rage, numbness, and all other emotional responses to racial trauma and the ongoing onslaught of racialized violence against Asian American communities.
Come prepared to the webinar with writing utensils, an open mind, comfortable clothing, and ideally a safe and private space where you can meditate in silence and also move your body around freely.
100% of all proceeds will be donated towards AAPI community funds via GoFundMe.
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS
YUMI SAKUGAWA is a second-generation Japanese-Okinawan-American interdisciplinary artist based in Los Angeles and the author of several published books including I THINK I AM IN FRIEND-LOVE WITH YOU, YOUR ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO BECOMING ONE WITH THE UNIVERSE, THE LITTLE BOOK OF LIFE HACKS, and FASHION FORECASTS. Her multimedia installations have been exhibited at the Japanese American National Museum, the Smithsonian Arts & Industries Building, and the Peabody Essex Museum. Sagittarius sun, Aquarius rising, midheaven in Scorpio. Instagram: @YumiSakugawa
JANET LO is a second-generation Chinese-Canadian-American interdisciplinary embodiment storyteller + conscious dance facilitator. With a focus on empowering through sensual pleasure, movement, and dance, she leads workshops with the heartfelt intention of creating and expanding safe spaces for self-exploration within the wellness + healing community. Virgo Sun, Libra Rising. 4/6 Reflector. Instagram: @JGlowGirl
AAPI CENTERED DANCE FROM THE HEART CLASS + HEALING CIRCLE
In light of the recent events around anti-asian hate crime, Janet (@jglowgirl) is offering a healing space for those who may not have the words, but would like to show up and be held in safe space to process through movement.
Janet is a certified facilitator and teacher trainer of Dance From The Heart.
Dance From The Heart is a trauma-informed embodiment modality that centers the heart in practice. We will begin with opening up sacred container to check in and ground and you will be guided through a short meditation. Afterwards, we will move through the elements with music, breath and free-form dance. Creating brave space for the acknowledgement, honoring and release of any emotions, tension, or stress. No dance experience necessary.
The workshop will be lead in English.
♥️
This event is FREE for any self-identifying Asian-Americans/Canadians/any continent) looking for space to heal with gentle guided meditation and movement.
Welcome all non-Asian identifying folks in need or wishing to support. This workshop is Donation-based and Buy One Bring One! No one turned away for lack of funds.
Other Interesting Conversations
Asians and Psychedelics: Transcending the Model Minority
Psychedelics can be important tools to help transcend the model minority stereotype and bring healing to the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. One can easily see the lack of representation of the AAPI community in the psychedelics space, like in many other spaces. The model minority stereotype expects this community to be smart (e.g., good at math), wealthy, hardworking, rule followers, submissive or docile, and self-reliant as they achieve the American dream. While helpful at times, this stereotype also sanitizes the heterogeneous richness of ethnic, national, and cultural identities, overlooking the unique and complex histories, traditions, beliefs and economic struggles of this community. This may add another layer on top of the cultural stigmas and norms that make many in the AAPI community less likely to seek emotional support or help with their mental health, drug use, or trauma.
As attitudes toward mental health and psychedelics shift, it is important for the AAPI community to chime in. In this discussion, the speakers will explore: the future of plant medicine and psychedelic-assisted therapy for the AAPI community; stigmas and barriers and ways to overcome them; integration of eastern spiritual teachings; means to increase visibility; and ways to be in service for the community and the sacred plant medicine space.
Serena Wu is a founding partner of Plant Medicine Law Group LLP, an immigrant and women-owned law firm serving the psychedelic and cannabis space. A litigation attorney, she began her legal career at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in New York City focusing on commercial and securities litigation, regulatory enforcement, and compliance. She is the founder of Women in Psychedelics, an Instagram account that showcases the contributions, voices, and experiences of women in the psychedelic space, and Asian American Pacific Islanders Psychedelics Society, a group dedicated to discussions about psychedelics and mental health in the AAPI community. She volunteers as an advisor to a New York campaign that aims to decriminalize and legalize a therapeutic model for psychedelics. Starting in March, she will be launching quarterly community forums with the AAPI Psychedelics Society. She has a J.D. from Harvard University Law School and a B.A. from University of California, Berkeley.
Grace Cepe (she/her) serves as the Communications Associate for MAPS and volunteers with Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines. She has a B.A. in psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). At UCSC, Grace was a research assistant for the social psychology department’s Sexual and Gender Diversity Laboratory, an instructor’s assistant for the Introduction to Psychology course, and a residential counselor intern for at-risk youth. Before joining MAPS as Community Engagement Associate, Grace volunteered with MAPS and the San Francisco Psychedelic Society and has been an activist with Decriminalize Santa Cruz.Since attending MAPS’ Psychedelic Science Conference in 2017, Grace’s interests in psychedelics evolved from a primary focus on the clinical applications of psychedelics and into Indigenous ways of life and ceremonial uses, human rights, social justice, and increasing inclusivity and diversity in the field of psychedelics. Outside of her psychedelic work, Grace loves getting involved with her community, spending time in nature, hip-hop and salsa dancing, and getting lost in a good book.
Frances Fu is the co-founder of the Center for Political Drug Education and co-facilitator of the Asian American Drug War Healing Circle, which heals drug war trauma in Asian communities through political education, skill-building, and storytelling. She has been doing political drug education work since 2011, rooted in a harm reduction and healing justice praxis. She has worked with intergenerational populations to steward greater awareness of how the War on Drugs and intersecting systems of oppression are related to trauma, mental health, and substance use. Currently, she serves as the Training & Data Coordinator for the Drug Overdose Prevention Education (DOPE Project), a program of the National Harm Reduction Coalition that oversees all of the overdose prevention and naloxone distribution efforts in San Francisco. Prior to that, she worked at the Chinese Progressive Association in SF Chinatown, an organization that organizes, educates, and empowers working-class Chinese immigrant workers, tenants, and families.
Navigating the Ad Industry as AAPI Talent
Join us for a discussion of the specific hurdles and issues that AAPI talent face while navigating a career in advertising and marketing. Our speakers share real anecdotes, real struggles, and real advice so that AAPI students and junior talent (and anyone else who'd like to join!) feel more confident and supported as they begin their careers.
Hosted in collaboration with Haerfest in support of Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes, a platform and line of purpose-driven apparel that helps combat anti-Asian violence.
Our speakers:
Sharon Panelo, VP Group Strategy Director, Social Studio at The Martin Agency
Sharon Panelo is a queer NYC Filipina, radical optimist, fighter of invisibility, and ****VP Group Planning Director leading the Social Studio at The Martin Agency. She teaches Digital Marketing at Parsons Entrepreneur Academy and serves on the board of Cohort One: a fellowship for BIPOC/LGBTQIA+ talent in advertising.
Tim Joo, Co-Founder of Haerfest
Tim Joo is the Co-Founder of Haerfest, a modern accessories company based in NYC. Its mission is to bring together a community of visionaries in motion through the power of products designed to go where you go, so you can build without boundaries.
Melanie Liu, Producer at Arts & Letters Creative Co.
Melanie is a food-lovin’, dog-pettin’, and pun-makin’ type of gal. She currently works as a Producer at Arts and Letters Creative Co. working on Google Hardware. As a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion she co-leads this effort at A&L through the ongoing Everyone Means Everyone initiative. Her role encompasses how at the agency level, she can help start bringing equity to creative within Production. In her spare time, she spends her days cooking and hanging out with her puppy, Archie.
Moderated by Natalie Kim, Founder of We Are Next
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