A History of Solidarity:
Asian American Activism Then and Now
Join the Dallas Asian American Historical Society for a panel discussion debunking the model minority myth and amplifying the rich history of Asian American resistance/organizing for social justice.
Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Time: 6:30-8pm
Location: Forest Green Branch Library
9619 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75243
Moderator:
Jo Lew (they/them) is an incoming Human Rights Studies M.A. candidate at Columbia University and a queer, API, Texan activist. As a Southern Methodist University (SMU) graduate with degrees in human rights, political science, and public policy, Jo has dedicated their life to advocacy work and activism. Jo served in multiple leadership positions at SMU and created the “Queer Qollective”, a collection of projects aimed at increasing the well-being of LGBTQIA+ students. Today, Jo serves as the Director of Outreach and Coalitions for OutVote, an organization dedicated to building a nationwide network to help register and mobilize LGBTQIA+ voters.
Panelists:
Jonah Ballesteros (he/him) is a Tagalog and Kapampangan settler on the ancestral lands of the Wichita, Kickapoo, Jumanos, and Tawakoni peoples (Richardson, TX). He is a United Methodist Home Missioner, married to Marie, and has three children: Tomas, Lijah, and Andres.
Amy Tran-Calhoun (she/her) is a proud Southeast Asian Vietnamese American who has dedicated her career to dismantling white supremacy and systems of oppression. She is the Director of Community Engagement for the Dallas Asian American Historical Society and a 2015 Dallas Public Voices Fellow with The OpEd Project. Aware that there is no social justice without racial justice, Amy has devoted her career to developing antiracist leaders.
Stephanie Drenka (she/her) is a Korean adoptee and co-founder/executive director of the Dallas Asian American Historical Society. She is also a facilitator and coach with The OpEd Project and founding editor of VISIBLE Magazine. Stephanie received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from DePaul University, with minors in Asian American Studies and Women’s Studies. She previously served as Communications Director for Dallas, Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation and is a board member for the Asian Chamber of Texas.