This episode we interview Bill Watanabe, a Japanese American born in a Nevada Internment Camp in the 1940's during World War II. Bill's life commitment has been preserving and promoting Los Angeles' Little Tokyo from the 1950's up until today. It is an enlightening and inspiring story of how ethnic communities can and should preserve their past heritage. By doing so, it acknowledges a history that's been overlooked in the past and should be remembered by all ethnic communities into the future. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aauc/message ..read more

Please join us for a powerful and heartbreaking interview with Arash Azizzada, Co-Founder & Co-Director of the nonprofit "Afghans for a Better Tomorrow". Arash provides us with a unique history and perspective on the almost continuous war that has engulfed Afghanistan for the last 45 years. He details the arduous and dangerous circumstances of both the recently arrived Afghan American asylees, the difficult challenges they face here and the legislative assistance that can render very important and necessary help that Arash convincingly argues as an American obligation unfulfilled. And desp ..read more

With the uncertain times in 2024 and going forward, the best we can do for our AAPI community is to strengthen ourselves through collaboration. According to Cindy Tsai, interim president of Committee 100, we can achieve this by A, appreciating, B, Be Brave in confronting conflicts and C, celebrating each other’s success. Let this ABC be our guide in achieving diversity, unity and equality for our community that we all value. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aauc/message ..read more

Recently, a movement and national debate exists throughout the United States regarding Ethnic Studies and their merit in being taught in K-12 and posts secondary schools. In this episode, we interview 3 University of Washington students, Iris, Tyler, and Frederick, who have studied under the supervision of Professor Connie So. I think you'll agree that their descriptions of the impact and meaning of Ethnic Studies for our country's history and how learning it has impacted their personal lives by providing a justification and perhaps even a necessity as a part of Asian Americans' civic understa ..read more

"There is a saying that an injustice to one is an injustice to all. No one is truly equal and free until everyone is equal and free." - Helen Zia. Helen Zia is a second-generation Chinese American activist and journalist. She was named one of the most influential Asian Americans of the decade by A. Magazine. Award-winning writer and social justice activist, Helen Zia was a key spokesperson and organizer in the landmark civil rights movement for justice for Vincent Chin and is the Executor of the Lily and Vincent Chin Estate. Her role is documented in the Academy Award-nominated Who K ..read more

For over 30 years, Madalene Mielke of Southeast Asian heritage, has been at the forefront of politically organizing the Asian American and other communities of color along with women throughout the country. Initially starting her political carrier working for the DNC in the mid "90s, Madalene quickly became recognized as a fundraising and political campaign authority in the early 2000's expanding her political alliances with Blacks, Latinos, and other important constituencies. Eventually, she assumed the role of CEO of the famous nonpartisan nonprofit Asian Pacific American Institute for Congr ..read more

AAUC's Podcast this May examines a nationally growing trend regarding legislation that attempts to refute what's known as the "caste system". Our interview with Suhag Shukla, a Constitutional law authority, Executive Director and Co-founder of the Hindu America in Foundation, provides a revealing and in-depth examination and explanation of the origin and history of "caste". She also describes the attempts statutorily refute it in addition to the legal and practical issues and consequences that result. Is this concept that was conceived in Europe, employed in Asia, and now alleged to be a probl ..read more

Gun violence throughout the country continues to increase. Tragically just last week two shootings struck AAPI communities in California,  Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, in addition to a third event in Oakland, all within 72 hours. And although the Oakland event did not specifically involve Asian Americans, they and everyone else living there have been organizing the community attempting to refute the killing and violence that results from guns. Join us in our discussion with Carl Chan, a prominent and longtime Oakland community leader, who describes the problems and efforts they are em ..read more

For over 30 years, Madalene Mielke of Southeast Asian heritage, has been at the forefront of politically organizing the Asian American and other communities of color along with women throughout the country. Initially starting her political carrier working for the DNC in the mid "90s, Madalene quickly became recognized as a fundraising and political campaign authority in the early 2000's expanding her political alliances with Blacks, Latinos, and other important constituencies. Eventually, she assumed the role of CEO of the famous nonpartisan nonprofit Asian Pacific American Institute for Congr ..read more

AAUC's Podcast this month examines a nationally growing trend regarding legislation that attempts to refute what's known as the "caste system". Our interview with Suhag Shukla, a Constitutional law authority, Executive Director and Co-founder of the Hindu America in Foundation, provides a revealing and in-depth examination and explanation of the origin and history of "caste". She also describes the attempts statutorily refute it in addition to the legal and practical issues and consequences that result. Is this concept that was conceived in Europe, employed in Asia, and now alleged to be a pro ..read more