Monday, March 30, 2015

Michigan Muslim Man Finds Stranger Buried Next to Wife, Again. - NBC News.com

My article at NBC News Asian America

"There have been reports about double-selling of plots in this cemetery and others, and it is truly disturbing," he said. "The family has demanded that the cemetery take immediate remedial actions to ensure the family that this can never happen again."
Michigan Muslim Man Finds Stranger Buried Next to Wife, Again. - NBC News.com

The Best Single Malt Whiskey in the World Is From Taiwan - NBC News.com

My article for NBC News Asian America on Taiwan's Kavalan Whiskey
"Because Yi-Lan has really clean water and the hot/humid weather is extremely helpful to maturing the whiskey, Kavalan has been able to produce some great whiskey even though it has been aged for a shorter period of time," Samuel Wang, founder ofAkufuncture and producer of a film about Taiwan, "Picture Taipei," told NBC News, "This has been making waves because a lot of people have realized that some of Taiwan's products can be at the top of the world."
The Best Single Malt Whiskey in the World Is From Taiwan - NBC News.com

Friday, March 27, 2015

Hate Crimes Against Arabs, Sikhs, Hindus Will Now Be Tracked - NBC News.com

My article for NBC News Asian America on FBI DOJ updated hate crimes database and training manual
"Tracking hate crimes is more than the questions of who, or when, or how," said Crowley, "It's about why? What could have prevented this? What could be done to better protect this community?"
Hate Crimes Against Arabs, Sikhs, Hindus Will Now Be Tracked - NBC News.com

Thursday, March 26, 2015

From Pork Belly Buns to Bubble Tea, Book Captures Food of Taiwan - NBC News.com

My article for NBC News Asian America
Cathy Erway's new book, "The Food of Taiwan—Recipes from the Beautiful Island" (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), is a tantalizing and mouth-watering exploration of Taiwan's cuisine and country—ranging from the excitement of night market street food to the familiarity of home-cooked comfort dishes. Punctuated by photographs of people cooking and eating across the island's varied landscape, the writing is warm and personal, and captures the essence of Taiwan's obsession with food.
From Pork Belly Buns to Bubble Tea, Book Captures Food of Taiwan - NBC News.com

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

George Takei Invites Fans to Help Fund His Legacy Projects - NBC News.com

Join Asian America's beloved Uncle George Takei's legacy project to benefit both Allegiance - A New Musical and the Japanese American National Museum. My article for nbc asian america

George Takei Invites Fans to Help Fund His Legacy Projects - NBC News.com

'Shot Across the Bows': Restaurant Workers Win $2.7 Million Suit - NBC News.com

My article in NBC News Asian America about NYC Korean restaurant workers lawsuit
"Korean restaurant owners have to a large extent not been sued for labor law violations in the past, unlike Chinese restaurant owners, particularly in New York's Chinatown," Ken Kimerling, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) legal director, told NBC News. "This decision should be like a shot across the bows of the other Korean restaurants; they too are vulnerable to large damage awards unless they change their practices."
'Shot Across the Bows': Restaurant Workers Win $2.7 Million Suit - NBC News.com

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Oregon Law Could Mobilize 20,000 New AAPI Voters - NBC News.com

My article for NBC News Asian America re Oregon's new "Motor Voter" law:

"Getting Asian Americans empowered to vote involves three steps—increase naturalization rates, get more people registered to vote, and increase the turn-out among those registered to vote," Karthick Ramakrishnan, Professor of Public Policy at the University of California-Riverside, told NBC News, "Increasing registration is arguably the largest step. [Oregon's new law] is impressive and it will be interesting to see how other states follow suit."
Oregon Law Could Mobilize 20,000 New AAPI Voters - NBC News.com

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Taste of Taiwan and Japan Fest this weekend at UMich

At University of Michigan this weekend:

Taste of Taiwan Saturday 6-9pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/1804602099764104/

Japan Cultural Fest Sunday 12-4pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/358202441046318/

Finding your voice class cancelled

Spring is here! Hard to get everyone back inside again, so unfortunately, my "Finding your Voice" creative writing class at WCC this Saturday, March 21, has been cancelled due to insufficient enrollment. 

My next class, "Dare to Dream," will be held Saturday, April 11, 9:30-3:30, at WCC. Register early and often! Tell all your friends!


Friday, March 20, 2015

Is There Anything "Insurgent" Star Daniel Dae Kim Can't Do? - NBC News.com

Did I happen to mention that I interviewed Daniel Dae Kim? He is so nice and so smart. 

Video by Traci Lee. Title via 18 Million Rising. And I told him that Emily P. Lawsin and I showed National Film Society's "Top 5 Asian Hotties" in class at UM last year. Here's my article for NBC News Asian America:
"It is much more empowering to be creating opportunities, to be the one who is saying, 'Look, I'm going to take this from the ground up and create a story that is meaningful to me as an Asian American, and cast it with Asian Americans, and have Asian Americans writing it.'"
Is There Anything "Insurgent" Star Daniel Dae Kim Can't Do? - NBC News.com

Lawsuit: At-Large Elections Lead to Racially-Polarized Voting - NBC News.com

My article for NBC News Asian America re Fullerton California lawsuit re Voting Rights

"Asian American voters long to participate in Fullerton's city government, but the current at-large system prevents that by diluting our power at the ballot box," said plaintiff Jonathan Paik in a statement, "We join with other voices in our community in calling for a change that provides all residents in this city an opportunity to have a seat at the table."
Lawsuit: At-Large Elections Lead to Racially-Polarized Voting - NBC News.com

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Are Undocumented New License Holders Driving Organ Donor Spike? - NBC News.com

My article for NBC News Asian America on AB60 and Organ Donation Registration Spike

"It's the only spike that's happened in the last few years," California Transplant and Donor Network Communications officer Anthony Borders told local media, raising speculation that the increase in organ donor registration is directly related to the high numbers of undocumented immigrants now able to get driver's licenses. According to Borders, ninety percent of those who sign up to be organ donors do so at the DMV.
Are Undocumented New License Holders Driving Organ Donor Spike? - NBC News.com

Attention Awesome Kids! This Is the Princess Story for You. - NBC News.com

my article at NBC News Asian America on Greg Pak's new book, "The Princess Who Saved Herself" now on Kickstarter

"The beautiful thing that pulled me into Jonathan Coulton's 'Princess Who Saved Herself' song is that its heroine is this awesome, proactive kid who tackles every challenge with fearlessness and aplomb — not hesitating to kick a dragon's butt if necessary," Pak told NBC News. "But ultimately, she deals with every problem with compassion."
Attention Awesome Kids! This Is the Princess Story for You. - NBC News.com

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

The First Multiracial Miss Universe Japan Has Been Crowned - NBC News.com

My article for NBC News Asian America re first multiracial hapa Miss Universe Japan, Ariana Miyamoto
"In a country where the majority of fashion beauty magazines and TV shows are reigned by 'hāfu' models and actors," filmmaker and co-director of the film "Hafu," Lara Perez Takagi told NBC News, "It was actually about time that a mixed-race Japanese girl won the Miss Universe pageant."
The First Multiracial Miss Universe Japan Has Been Crowned - NBC News.com

Monday, March 16, 2015

'Bharat Babies' Brings Indian Culture to American Children - NBC News.com

My article for NBC News Asian America
"My daughter and her friends will be able to see themselves and their culture in the stories they read growing up," said Joshi, "And that is incredibly empowering."
'Bharat Babies' Brings Indian Culture to American Children - NBC News.com

The Untold Stories of Internment Resisters - NBC News.com

My article at NBC News Asian America about Japanese American resistance to internment that went way beyond the No-No boys. Check out the Suyama Project at UCLA Asian American Studies Center and the amazing story of what happened at Tule Camp Block 42. (I also love the stories of "borrowing" wood).The Untold Stories of Internment Resisters - NBC News.com

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Chinese American Society of Ann Arbor 2015 Spring Festival Celebration Fundraising Gala

Chinese American Society of Ann Arbor 2015 Chinese Spring Festival Celebration Fundraising Gala with Dinner and Cultural Performance to raise funds for Washtenaw Community College scholarship fund

Sunday, March 15, 2015, 6:00 pm

Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, Michigan

with performances by Ann Arbor Traditional Chinese Music Ensemble, Ann Arbor Chinese Center of Michigan, University of Michigan Revolutions, and more!

Chinese American Society of Ann Arbor

Thursday, March 12, 2015

A Push to Protect Adult Adoptees From Deportation - NBC News.com

My article for NBC News Asian America on Child Citizenship Act of 2000 Amendment and case of Adam Crapser #KeepAdamHome

"US citizenship is a symbol of what was promised to all international adoptees," Kevin H. Vollmers, founder of Land of Gazillion Adoptees and Executive Director of Gazillion Strong, told NBC News.
A Push to Protect Adult Adoptees From Deportation - NBC News.com



More from Jenn Fang at Reappropriate: http://reappropriate.co/?p=8047#more-8047



More from 18 Million Rising: http://action.18mr.org/crapser/?source=direct_link&


Sunday, March 8, 2015

International Women's Day: the Legends and Leaders to Know - NBC News.com

My article for NBC News Asian America
In honor of Women's History Month and International Women's Day, NBC Asian America is taking a look back at a few of the inspirational Asian American and Pacific Islander women we have been honored to feature. From social activist legends to legislating trailblazers, in real life and in comic/character form, here are some of the formidable women you should know.
International Women's Day: the Legends and Leaders to Know - NBC News.com

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

These Women Are Fast Becoming 'the Face of American Immigration' - NBC News.com

My article for NBC News Asian America on new NAPAWF report on Asian American women and immigration

"Every Asian-American family in the United States is impacted by immigration policies in one way or another," Miriam Yeung, Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF), told NBC News. "Right now, millions of Asian-American women and their families are suffering under immigration policies that continue to deny dignity to our families."
These Women Are Fast Becoming 'the Face of American Immigration' - NBC News.com

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Despite Guilty Verdict, Advocates Vow to #StandWithNanHui - NBC News.com

My article for NBC News Asian America on #standwithnanhui Nan-Hui Jo verdict
"We are very disappointed and saddened to hear that the jury decided to convict Nan-Hui Jo today," said Hyejin Shim, a volunteer from Korean American Coalition to End Domestic Abuse (KACEDA) who has been observing the trial. "However, we know that when it comes to the criminal legal system, it is very common for survivors of domestic violence to be criminalized and blamed, not supported. What happened today is precisely why so many survivors fear our justice systems."
Despite Guilty Verdict, Advocates Vow to #StandWithNanHui - NBC News.com

Monday, March 2, 2015

Domestic Violence Groups Rally to #StandWithNanHui - NBC News.com

My article for NBC News Asian America on #StandWithNanHui Nan-Hui Jo on trial in California

"I think Nan-Hui's story is resonating with people the way that it is because domestic violence is an unspoken trauma for so many in our communities," Hyejin Shim, a volunteer from Korean American Coalition to end Domestic Abuse (KACEDA), told NBC News. "It also provides a glimpse into a horrifying system that criminalizes survivors, so people are rightfully outraged by that."
Domestic Violence Groups Rally to #StandWithNanHui - NBC News.com