Calling all Stanford alumni: you are eligible to apply to a new A3C role. Only Stanford alumni can apply!
Read moreAsian American Theme Dorm 50th Anniversary (10/23)
Fall 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Asian American Theme Dorm. Some members of the Class of 1975 started their Stanford experience in this dorm. The People’s Tea House also began operations in 1971. Alumni responsible for the origins of the Asian American Theme Dorm (many from the Class of 1971) will be invited to participate. Refreshments will be provided featuring the Peoples' Tea House original menu.
SAPAAC and the Asian American Studies Coalition will also be giving an update on recent progress related to Asian American Studies.
In accordance with the Stanford Reunion policies, this event will require all attendees (including 12+) coming to campus to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Please review the Stanford Reunion FAQ page for more information.
Register here
Date: October 23, 2021 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM PDT
Venue: Wilbur Courtyard near Okada
Location: 560 Wilbur Way, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Excavating Asian American Heritage on Stanford Campus (6/6)
From Stanford News: “A whiteware teacup sherd, a wide-mouthed Chinese brown-glazed stoneware storage jar sherd and a fragment of a reconstructed wine bottle were found at the Arboretum Chinese Labor Quarters.” (Image credit: Megan Victor)
“Asian American Heritage on the Stanford Campus: Excavations at the Arboretum Chinese Laborers Quarters”
A webinar on the preliminary findings and archival research of the Arboretum Chinese Laborers Quarters archaeological site, occupied from the late-1800s to the 1920s. Stanford University’s campus archaeology department (Heritage Services), in collaboration with the Stanford Archaeology Center, conducted investigations at a semi-permanent Chinese workers’ camp on the edge of campus from 2017 to 2020. Excavations at the ACLQ site and associated research shed light on the everyday life of Chinese employees essential to the foundation of Stanford University. There will also be a brief presentation about a related research project on Chinese fisheries in 19th-century California.
Stanford Special Collections
Presentations by: Julie Cain, Megan Rhodes Victor, Garrett Trask, Ryan Kennedy & Marguerite L. De Loney
Comments by: Adrian Arima, Prof. Barb Voss & Dr. Laura Jones, University Archaeologist and Director of Stanford Heritage Services
Date/Time: June 6 at 3 PM
Registration: FREE (Click here to register)
Co-Sponsored by the Stanford Archaeology Center & SAPAAC Stanford Asian Pacific American Alumni Club
Event Materials
Watch the webinar video
Presentations: e-mail Julie Cain (jcain@stanford.edu) for the PDF of presentations. Due to permissions, please do not redistribute the PDF or its images without permissions from Julie.
Subscribe to the archaeology list for future updates by visiting: https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/aclq_archaeology
Our Stories: AAPI Heritage Month & the Stanford Community
It's Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and we wanted to hear from diverse voices around the globe about your experiences being AAPI. The pandemic and recent violence around the country have sparked active discussion about the AAPI experience—and we want to hear what it means to you to be Asian American or Pacific Islander.
In a few lines (or up to two paragraphs) please share your thoughts:
* What does your culture/heritage mean to you (however you want to define it)?
*As someone living in the U.S. or abroad, how does this manifest in your daily life—or how do you wish it would manifest?
*Are there ways you celebrate and preserve your culture/heritage?
Some potential themes to help get you started:
Identity / Pride
Preserving Culture, Heritage or Language
Family Relationships (your parents, grandparents, children)
Fitting in (or not) as an American
Erasure / Invisibility
Anything else you’re interested in sharing!
Your entry could be a reflection about growing up in the United States, your time at Stanford, or your life/career today.
Please share your story here.
Angel Island - A National Historic Landmark with Current Day Relevance (5/22)
Saturdays with SAPAAC Speaker Series 2021
Saturday, May 22, 2021. 9:30-11:00AM PST
Virtual Event
Price: $0 for students, $5 for young alumni, $10 for all other alumni
Please register here.
Join us for this panel discussion with Asian American leaders affiliated with Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF) -- including Stanford alumni Buck Gee and Kathy Ko Chin -- who will highlight historical immigration through Angel Island, the monumental effort to preserve and protect the site, and the importance of remembering the site’s significance in American and Asian American history.
Live Children's Story Time - Awesome Asian Americans: 20 Stars Who Made America Amazing (5/15)
It's about time - rebel girls, rad women, little leaders, and great guys are Asian American too! Readers will enjoy learning about 20 trailblazers who have contributed to our country. All compelling personalities, these unique men and women come from diverse backgrounds and vocations. Immigrants and their children continue to enrich our nation’s culture. Discover important chapters of American history not covered in school textbooks, and the marvelous accomplishments of these groundbreaking pioneers.
Join us for a book talk with authors Oliver Chin, Phil Amara, and illustrator Juan Calle of Awesome Asian Americans: 20 Stars Who Made America Amazing. You will hear about the journey of Asian American rebels, athletes, and celebrities as artist Juan Calle’s 60 dynamic color illustrations bring these fascinating and relevant portraits to life.
Purchase the book in advance here or at your favorite bookstore.
RAFFLE of a FREE 8x10 print from the book for one lucky attendee!
All ages are welcome! Simply add a guest when registering for the event!
Please register here.
The Stories That Shape Us (5/8)
Saturdays with SAPAAC speaker series: This is the second event in the series.
There is no single story for Asian Americans at Stanford and elsewhere. Embedded in these backgrounds are a wealth of personal stories that include trauma, resilience, survival. How do these stories shape who we are now and are we in touch with the invisible threads that connect us to our beginnings?
Read moreTackling the Global Energy & Climate Challenge: Asian American Professionals for the Planet (4/10)
Source: nasa.gov
Climate change, clean energy and sustainable development represent some of the most pressing issues our planet faces today—and Asian American and Pacific Islander professionals are leading the response. Whether in government agencies, the nonprofit sector, or private companies, some of the most creative and passionate voices in this field belong to Stanford alumni.
Read moreOral History Storytelling: Learning about your family history by doing an oral interview (3/20)
Have you always wanted to conduct an oral history with a relative or friend, but aren’t sure where to start? Join historian Natalie Marine-Street (PhD 2016), the manager of the Stanford Historical Society Oral History Program, for an introductory workshop that will get you started.
Read more"Saving Cantonese"—The Story of Cantonese Language Education at Stanford (3/6)
Click to start the video. The event took place on March 6, 2021. (Find the video on YouTube)
What is the importance of Cantonese language in the world today? How did Stanford first come to offer Cantonese education? Why is the administration canceling the language now?
Read more2021 Stanford Alumni Lunar New Year Celebration presented by SAPAAC (2/5 - 2/13)
Stanford Lunar New Year is open to all alumni! Whether it’s your first time celebrating or you've been celebrating your whole life, you are welcome to come as you are, and take part how you wish.
Grab your “festival pass” now, and browse our selection of live events and offerings to be festive at your leisure. Event recordings & more will be on our Stanford Alumni LNY Virtual Scrapbook, where we invite you to add your unique memories, family traditions, & greetings to our alumni community!
Festival Calendar At-A-Glance
Scroll down for more event details and times, and the link to the LNY Virtual Scrapbook.
Click Here to Register for your Festival Pass!
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Fri Feb 5 at 5:00 pm PST (8:00 EST)
Jackie Low's New Year Dumplings Demo!
In this workshop, Jackie Low ‘15 will demonstrate how to prepare and cook a traditional Lunar New Year’s dish - dumplings (vegetarian)! She’ll talk about the significance of foods in the celebration of Lunar New Year and teach people how to prepare, fold, and cook dumplings. You’re welcome to follow along however you would like. (And don’t worry, you have plenty of time to perfect your technique before New Year’s!)
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Sat Feb 6, 3:00 - 4:00 pm PST (6:00-7:00 EST)
Poems and Paintings: Lunar New Year Traditions and Cultures Retrospective
A 60-min time travel to trace the cultural and traditional roots of Lunar New Year through ancient Chinese poems and paintings. Hosted by Dr Tingting Qu, MS '19.
Dr. De-yin Jeng will be introducing two well-known poems related to Chinese New Year and share with all some relevant information about them.
Prof. Ken wei Teh will illustrate 2-3 paintings relevant to Lunar New Year and share a few behind-scene stories of creating these paintings.
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Sat Feb 6, 4:30-5:30 pm PST (7:30-8:30 EST)
Cantonese Social Mixer
A casual social mixer combined with organizers sharing Cantonese culture for the Lunar New Year. All are welcome, especially if you speak or want to learn to speak Cantonese.
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Thu Feb 11, 7:00-8:00 pm PST (10:00-11:00 pm EST)
Star Fruit & Watermelon
You are warmly invited to join us for a bilingual, intergenerational storytelling event to honor the Lunar New Year. Co Tran ‘17, mother Tu-Anh, and grandmother Loc will be sharing two stories from their history - The Star Fruit Tree and How the Watermelon Came to Viet Nam - along with their wishes and manifestations for you as we begin a new year.
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Sat Feb 13 @ 12:00-2:00 pm PST (3:00-5:00 EST)
Festival Finale
Come one, come all! Drop by our virtual street festival to socialize with friends old and new, and get a "taste" of a variety of traditions and special surprises throughout. Breakouts led by fellow alumni will showcase cultural storytelling, musical offerings, and PRIZES that you must be present to win.
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Stanford Alumni LNY Virtual Scrapbook
View & add your own entries! Check back daily for new festive content, greetings and views from Stanford alumni all around the world, and to share your thoughts with our community. Contributing is simple: visit this webpage and use the password to sign in, view, & add messages, photos, links, & more (no separate account setup is required).
Click here to visit the scrapbook!
Password: StanfordLunar
APA Literature Book Club: Know My Name (01/24)
Save the date: SAPAAC Book Club - Know My Name by Chanel Miller
Sunday, January 24, 2021. 4-5:30PM PST
Virtual Event
Price: Free
Please register here.
SAPAAC will host a book club over Zoom on Chanel Miller’s memoir, “Know My Name”. She “gives readers the privilege of knowing her not just as Emily Doe, but as Chanel Miller the writer, the artist, the survivor, the fighter.” (The Wrap). In the memoir, she discusses her Asian American identity in relation to her identity as a woman who’s experienced sexual assault and seeking redress through the legal system. Our book club discussion will center her identity as an Asian American woman and discuss Asian American feminism more broadly.
See this NYT op-ed: Why It Matters That ‘Emily Doe’ in the Brock Turner Case Is Asian-American.
We encourage you to read the book beforehand. But if you’re interested in the topic and don’t get a chance to read/finish the book, you’re still more than welcome to join!
Should 10+ members sign up, we will divide into breakout rooms. If you are interested in co-moderating or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Angela Zhang (’16) at zhangela18@gmail.com.
Pandemic Parenting: Flexing the Asian Parenting Approach (8/11)
Explore various perspectives on parenting children of all ages in the pandemic, views on what constitutes success for students, and tips toward growing relationship dynamics that can bring out the most positive results for everyone involved.
Read moreAPA Literature Book Club: Minor Feelings (6/26)
Minor Feelings Book Club, hosted by Prof. Christine Min Wotipka (AM '99, PhD '01)
Friday, June 26th, 5pm PT
Virtual event via Zoom
Interested in reading and discussing books by APA authors and meeting fellow Stanford alumni? Participate in the first SAPAAC summer reading group!
Our first book discussion will be on Cathy Park Hong’s Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning. Minor Feelings is a book that examines racial consciousness in America through the lens of the Asian American author/poet’s own experiences. It is simultaneously emotionally honest, humorous, provocative, and gripping all at once.
Professor Christine Min Wotipka (AM '99, PhD '01) of the Stanford Graduate School of Education will host the book club. After an initial opening statement, you'll be moved into breakout rooms for further discussion.
Zoom details will be shared with attendees prior to the event.
Questions? Contact Angela Zhang ‘16 (SAPAAC Board) at zhangela18@gmail.com.
SAPAAC Summer Book Clubs (Summer 2020)
Interested in reading and discussing books by APA authors and meeting fellow Stanford alumni? Join a SAPAAC summer book club!
We will also coordinate other book clubs (of 5-10 people) which can get together for online discussion(s) this summer. We’ve selected 6 books to choose from below as a starting point. If you’re interested in participating, pick a book and indicate your availability. A Book Club Leader will reach out to set a time and share a Zoom link.
America is Not the Heart by Elaine Castillo
Amnesty by Aravind Adiga
How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang
Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
The Peculiar Afterlife of Slavery by Caroline H. Yang
We are looking for Book Club Leader to help set up and facilitate discussions. Commitment is light with a requirement of one book discussion. Here’s how it’ll work:
We’ll connect you with your group of 5-10 SAPAAC members
You’ll solidify a time for the group to get together and share a Zoom link.
Prepare questions and facilitate discussion.
If the group is interested, you can continue meeting to discuss other books.
Let SAPAAC know how your discussion went.
The SAPAAC Book Club is not only an avenue for you to discuss APA identity and literature but also for alumni to (re)connect with one another. To that end, we will aim to include alumni across different years and geographic locations to help facilitate new interactions.
To sign up for a book club, please fill out this form by June 20th. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email Angela Zhang at zhangela18@gmail.com.
Please feel free to share with other Stanford alumni! They’ll need to sign up for SAPAAC through the Stanford Alumni Association (free of charge) to receive this newsletter and access the form.
API Alumni Career Panel (5/29)
Hear career advice and industry insights from API Stanford alumni who have worked at Google, Course Hero, and NAAAP.
Read moreFireside Chat with Ludi Lin (5/23)
Fireside chat with Ludi Lin, an actor known for his roles in Power Rangers (2017), Aquaman (2018), and Black Mirror (2019). Lin will share his path to Hollywood, his unique perspective on working in both North America and Asia, and his take on the Asian and Pacific Islander identity in America.
Read moreRacism & Resistance: Roundtable on Asian American Experiences in the Pandemic (5/12)
The United States has witnessed a troubling increase in violence and racist incidents targeting Asians. This special event will bring together scholars and activists to share with the Stanford community the history of discrimination against Asians in the United States; the current challenge of the pandemic; and what we can do about it today
Read moreStanford Preview Screening: “Asian Americans” PBS Documentary Series (5/4)
Monday, May 4, 2020 @ 6:30 PM (PST)
Stanford alumni, current students, faculty and staff are invited to a special preview screening of an episode of the upcoming PBS documentary ASIAN AMERICANS.
We will be screening the fourth episode of the series, featuring Lary Itliong's labor organization, the Vietnam War and its fallout, and the demonstrations for Third World Liberation Front Strikes at San Francisco State University. Following the screening, there will be opportunity for Q&A discussion facilitated by Dr. William Gow and Professor Gordon Chang, who teach Asian American Studies and History at Stanford University.
SAPAAC is proud to partner with Stanford Asian American Studies, Okada House, AASA, and the Asian American Activities Center (A3C) at Stanford to host this event. Please visit http://www.sapaac.org/latest-events to find out about other events this month.
The screening is free of charge and will be available over the internet.
Date: May 4, 2020
Time: 6:30-8 PM PST
Registration:
Alumni can register here
Current students, staff and faculty can register here
About the Film
ASIAN AMERICANS is a five-hour film series that will chronicle the contributions and challenges of Asian Americans, the fastest-growing ethnic group in America. The documentary examines the significant role of Asian Americans in shaping American history and identity, from the first wave of Asian immigrants in the 1850s, and identity politics during the social and cultural turmoil of the twentieth century, to modern refugee crises in a globally connected world. Personal histories and new academic research will cast a fresh lens on U.S. history and the role Asian Americans have played in it. The full series will be screening May 11-12 nationally on PBS.
Please contact Clara Luu claraluu -at- alumni.stanford.edu and Kevin Hsu khsu -at- alumni.stanford.edu if you have any questions.
Lunar New Year Events (Feb 2020)
Join SAPAAC chapters from across the country to celebrate the Year of the Rat! Enjoy dim sum and meet your fellow Stanford alumni as we ring in the Lunar New Year.
Read more