With the start of a new year comes another APASA welcome event, and this year we had Make & Munch! Seeing all the planning and work our amazing Programming Director, Kendal Win, put into this event, I just knew it was going to be a blast. This event was centered around not only welcoming all the new faces to APASA, but also giving them a taste of what this organization is all about.
Read MoreWhen it comes to issues of housing and wealth, the Asian American community has long faced intense discrimination. Today, this history has evolved into something even more sinister: homelessness. As I learned from my mom’s story of being unhoused, we must realize that we are not so far removed from the problem as we might think. By replacing stigma with empathy, we can put an end to the legacy of discrimination we have faced for decades.
Read MoreMy dad’s diagnosis with kidney cancer this year has only underscored my difficulty with emotional vulnerability. Though I’m often advised to take care of myself alongside him, the fact is, rest cannot be attained without first being open with ourselves and others. By embracing the challenges of our lives for what they are, we can break away from the norm of silence and overcome our trauma.
Read MoreCultural Artivism Expo is APASA’s annual event focused on highlighting the incredible artists and activists within the USC and greater Los Angeles area. This year’s Cultural Artivism Expo theme was “The Right to Heal.” This encapsulated our co-Advocacy Chairs’, Christina Vo and Alice Phung’s, vision of facilitating a space for the APIDA community to uplight each other and celebrate through art.
Read MoreAmid the pressure of midterms and the rush of navigating the never-ending crowds of USC tours, what better way to unwind and destress than by taking a moment to reflect on your roots with APASA’s APAHF Extravaganza?
Read MoreAPASA’s Got Talent of 2023 was another huge success by our Programming Director Yusuf Rahman with the help of our Executive Director Emma Hsu. An amazing showcase of talents from members of USC’s APIDA community, APASA’s Got Talent was a night of music, magic, and so much more!
Read More6:00pm - The hallway outside of TCC Forum was buzzing with excitement, as the voices outside escalated louder, closing in to the 6:10pm entrance time. After many tireless months of community outreach, working with local food businesses, detailing marketing schedules and RSVP/wait-list forms, and coordinating last-minute lineup changes, Community Dinner 2023 was finally upon us. And this event, truly left an indefinite, and remarkable impression on not only us, but our lovely community and guests who attended as well.
Read MoreMany in the South Asian community have achieved stability that our ancestors were never afforded. Yet, this success hinges on a delicate balance that far too few of us acknowledge. The truth is, the immigrant experience is still marred with challenge—and for people like my dad, it’s made invisible, too.
Read MoreMuch has changed since the first time I filled out Trojan Check. I celebrated my 20th birthday and began having to cope with the reality of adulthood. I changed my major and minors maybe eight times (could be nine, I stopped counting). And of course, I joined APASA as an intern along with 13 other wonderful people whom I still stay in touch with today.
Read MoreThis year’s Night Market theme was “Plant Your Roots”. Yusuf, our Programming Director who led this event this year, wanted to open a space for the APIDA community to plant their roots in heritage and showcase their vibrancies on USC’s campus. It was also an opportunity for others to learn more about and grow closer to the array of cultures that color our local community.
Read MoreIt was a chilly Friday evening, but the Rosen Family Screening Room felt warm with a feeling of anticipation as it began to fill up with its audience for the night. Once everyone had gotten their chance to grab a delicious Beard Papa’s cream puff or a different snack of choice and settled into their seats, it was time to introduce the movie that we would be watching. Drum roll, please…it was Blinded by the Light!
Read MoreWe learned about the campaign itself, which focuses on preventing An Nguyen from being deported to Vietnam after serving his prison sentence in the United States. From the prison-to-deportation pipeline and what steps we can take as a community to prevent people like An from being separated from his family, the presentation also touched on why advocacy in general is important for people to participate in.
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