WHAT'S NEW IN THIS ISSUE OF AIA DIRECTORY SPOTLIGHT: Wide Eyed Workshop Nurturing emerging Asian American voices. By Eurie Chung for AIA, October 2004 Doing an "inspirational exercise" during a summer writing workshop at the beach. Jen Park, Gieson Cacho, Jenny Cho and Garret Magpayo. The Angels of this city quake and pulsate in solidarity. In a flurry of language, in forces unmatched, with full bodied movement they are wide eyed and awake. - Rashaan Alexis Meneses, Wide Eyed Workshops In a dimly lit bar that might be smoky were it not for Los Angeles' non-smoking ordinance, the writers of Wide Eyed Workshops (WEW) are mingling and sharing their work in the heart of Thai Town. Some are first-time readers, clearly energized by the adrenaline and nervousness that comes from being on stage, others are seasoned professionals, at ease with the lights and the crowd, but all are greeted with enthusiastic whoops and hollers when they're done. The group, who hosts readings and writing events in addition to their workshops, is celebrating the release of their first chapbook, "family, long goodbyes, outcasts & hungry sex" in an intimate gathering characterized by the acceptance and encouragement that has been part of their mission from the very beginning. Wide Eyed Workshops was created to support and nurture the voice of emerging Asian American and Pacific Islander writers and artists in the greater Los Angeles area. The name has two meanings: for the enthusiasm and creative energy that participants bring the workshop and also to debunk stereotypes of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as "slanty-eyed." Though WEW held its first formal workshop in the summer of 2002, its roots stretch farther back to a core group of four members. As a graduate student in the Asian American Studies Master's program at the University of California, Los Angeles, Brandy Lien Worrall gathered together writers in informal workshops in her apartment. "People came and went, but there were four of us who were most consistent about meeting: Mae Mamaril-Choe, Arvin Lambinicio, Jason Howard, and myself. One day, we decided to make it an actual organization and to get people to officially come together in a more structured writing environment," says Worrall. Jason Kanjiro Howard, a WEW co-founder and core member, recalls that first workshop as an amazing and exciting place, especially in the way that the workshop's open environment cultivated trust. As Howard puts it, "You need trust with the other writers to show your dark side, demons, and perception of life. This was the first workshop that I had ever been in where we had something really special." "You need trust with the other writers to show your dark side, demons, and perception of life." One of WEW's priorities is to be an accessible and safe creative space for writers, but always in collaboration with the broader API community in Southern California. It is constantly seeking ways to bring these new artists together with other writers and activists as well. Worrall believes that the "group provides a much needed outlet for expression in the API community." The workshops place a high value on the community they provide for writers, who usually labor in solitude. WEW is also a place for people to develop a voice to express themselves and provide a forum to speak out on community issues. "I think it's important for the API community to support groups like ours, because it's important for our community to make their voices heard," says Howard. As a grassroots, volunteer-run organization, the core members give their time and energy because they are committed to the mission of the workshop. Most of the core group have full-time jobs in addition to the full-time responsibility and commitment it sometimes takes to keep the workshop going. It is "very easy to get burnt out" in the process of bringing together an eclectic and diverse group of participants, finding an inexpensive physical meeting space, and the logistics involved in coordinating the workshop all in the limited free time that people have, but "we still manage to get it done." For Howard and all of the core members, it is truly a labor of love with great rewards. Some of the most significant and poignant experiences for people include the infectious enthusiasm of the core impacting others, seeing participants become enthusiastic about their work and being around other creative, like-minded people. "It's so important to be around like-minded people, because it motivates you to act. If you are a writer who is surrounded by people who don't support you or don't understand writing it can be really hard to create. I also love being able to help mentor or be mentored by other writers," Howard explains. Likewise for Worrall, "It's just so rewarding knowing that people are coming together to write out their API experiences." Howard's experience with the workshop has also been personally empowering. "I performed a piece in Santa Monica at Highways about being Hapa, and so many people came up to me afterwards and said, 'I've never heard writing about being Hapa. I could relate to everything that you were saying.' When you hear comments like that, it motivates you to get out there and to keep sharing your work and stories." Those who are interested in a workshop, especially if you've never shown your work to anyone before, are highly encouraged to participate in WEW's upcoming workshops and activities. Others who are open and willing to support an Asian and Pacific Islander writers group with their time and the contribution of a meeting space are also urged to contact the group. WEW is currently on serial workshop hiatus, but the next Wide Eyed Workshop adventure will be "Writin' on the Rails" on Saturday, October 16, an all day event exploring and writing on the Metro Gold Line. For more information, registration or to be added to the email list, contact info@wideeyedworkshops.org. A filmmakers group, where the writers would write a short film or take an existing screenplay and help put that together, from pre-production, production to completion, as an offshoot of Wide Eyed Workshops is also in the works. Interested folks can contact Jason Howard through the email address above. Wide Eyed Workshop Los Angeles, CA http://www.wideeyedworkshops.org READER SURVEY Help us improve the AIA website by answering a few simple questions. You can also sign-up for our e-mail list.		DIRECTORY: Organizations Organizations, institutions, associations, projects, agencies, educational programs, etc: - National - New York - California - Washington, DC - Hawai'i - Illinois - Massachussets - Texas - Washington State - More States - By Ethnicity - Outside US Media Resources Print periodicals, electronic media, online communities, internet publications, etc. Commerical Retail products, online stores and other for-profit resources. Non-APA Links Other related organizations, government agencies, advocacy groups, social services and immigration resources. 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SEPTEMBER 2004 Loaded Dreams A dreamy indie/pop band straight out of Brooklyn. AUGUST 2004 ImaginAsian Entertainment Asian American movies and television, 24/7. JULY 2004 Asian American Youth Alliance Bringing together Atlanta's diverse youth. JUNE 2004 Asian Pacific Islanders for Human Rights Supporting the queer API community. MAY 2004 Stir TV A Show For and About Asian America's Next Generation. APRIL 2004 Visual Communications Supporting Asian Pacific American Media Arts. MARCH 2004 Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network Helping adoptee families through community and culture. FEBRUARY 2004 Special Registration: Discrimination and Xenophobia as Government Policy. JANUARY 2004 Asian Pacific American Women's Leadership Institute Fostering leadership skills for women. DECEMBER 2003 Refugee Women's Council Support and advocacy group needs help. NOVEMBER 2003 Great ExpectAsians Greeting cards for the rest of us. OCTOBER 2003 Asians for Miracle Matches Giving hope and life to APAs with Lukemia. SEPTEMBER 2003 Thai American Young Professionals Assoc. A new organization for a new generation. AUGUST 2003 The Waianae Project Youths farm organic produce while learning about culture. JULY 2003 The 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors Raising controversial issues with their wacky brand of humor. JUNE 2003 Asian Professional Extension, Inc. Reaching out to the Asian American youth. MAY 2003 Hyphen Magazine A new print publication dares to go deeper. APRIL 2003 The Asian Art Museum A lovely new face for San Francisco's old Main Library MARCH 2003 Asian Family Services Helping Asian Immigrants in Connecticut BACK TO TOP SUBMIT AN ITEM