The Asian American Literature Festival is back! We hope we'll see some of you in Washington, D.C., from August 2nd–4th at this free, open-to-the-public festival! We have several amazing events planned. Read more about the festival on the Smithsonian APA website. Here's where to find us once you're there:
Friday, August 2nd
12:30 PM–1:45 PM: Blood in the Water: Pacific Islander Poetry Reading, featuring Will Nu'utupu Giles, Terisa Siagatonu, Lee Kava, & Christopher Diaz
Eaton DC, Beverly Snow Ballroom (Second Floor)
Oceaniaʻs vast Sea of Islands was once tightly woven together with trade and tradition. But as our shores have been seized by colonial powers, economic and climate hardships have created a new culture of forced migration. This reading/panel shares the work of poets from across the Pacific diaspora, as we hold uncertainty, assimilation, and distance as we try to build home away from it.
2:00 PM–3:30 PM: VS Podcast Live
Eaton DC, Wild Days Rooftop Bar (top floor)
Come out for a live podcast taping hosted by Danez Smith and Franny Choi! Kundiman's Executive Director Cathy Linh Che and Kundiman's Cofounders Sarah Gambito and Joseph Legaspi will be interviewed.
9:00 PM–10:00 PM: Kundiman Salon
Eaton DC Hotel: Room number to come!
Join us for an informal reading and gathering space in our hotel room! Bring a piece of your own work to share (250 words or less), and enjoy snacks and mingling with a warm community.
Saturday, August 3rd
5:30 PM–7:00 PM: Kundiman Mentorship Lab Reading
Eaton Hotel, Beverly Snow Ballroom (Second Floor)
In Kundiman’s 2019 Mentorship Lab, nine emerging Asian American writers receive 6-month-long mentorship in Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, and Poetry. Mentorship Fellows Pik-Shuen Fung, Julie Ae Kim, June Daowen Lei, Divya Nair, Kimarlee Nguyen, Danielle Batalion Ola, Shrima Pandey, Ananya Kanai Shai, and Paul Aster Stone-Tsao will each share brief readings from their work, as will Mentors J. Mae Barizo, T Kira Madden, and Bushra Rehman.
9:00 PM–11:00 PM: Queer Literaoke
Eaton DC, Beverly Snow Ballroom (Second floor)
This beloved mashup of karaoke & poetry returns, featuring Franny Choi, Ching-In Chen, Wo Chan, Mimi Khúc, Yanyi, Jericho Brown, Kristen Arnett, Regie Cabico, Ricco Siasoco, Sarah Gambito + Joseph Legaspi, emceed by our very own Dan Lau!
Sunday, August 4th
11:00 AM–3:00 PM: Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon for Asian American Literature, co-sponsored by Wikimedia DC Eaton DC, Crystal Room (Second floor)
At our previous Edit-a-Thons, Kundiman has added over 30,000 words on Asian American literature to Wikipedia! In conjunction with Wikimedia DC, we'll have a space for everyone to add or revise entries on their favorite Asian American writers, books, and movements. Trainings will be provided––no Wikipedia experience necessary!
3:00–5:00 PM: Caring for Liberation Workshop with Purvi Shah, Sunu P. Chandy, & Krittika Ghosh Eaton DC, Crystal Room (Second Floor)
The ways we give, receive, and create chosen families of care are connected to gender, ethnicity, sexuality, immigration status, birth order, and more. In this 2-hour workshop, we will deepen our relationship to self and community care through embodied healing art practices. Together we will generate art; connect within ourselves and across communities; and, move towards healing and collective liberation.