The history taught in our early years may not be one that we find ourselves in. Heritage months encourage us to address this deficiency and offer us ways to learn and relearn about the different histories of our nation’s past. Learning more about these histories helps us inform our present and future — be it challenging the use of a stereotype or empowering you to embrace your identities in a different way.
As we enter the second week of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we hope that our Bruins offer you spaces to not only revisit the histories of our diverse and vibrant Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, but also encourage you to find ways to tell your own history. Your story is a part of our collective history in the making — ourstory.
As always, feel free to forward this to a friend who might appreciate hearing "ourstory" or help us tell it. Visit our social media companion to the Diversity Digest on Instagram at @ucladiversealum. Most importantly, please let us know if there is a topic you are interested in by submitting ideas to diversity@alumni.ucla.edu. This week’s offerings include:
WATCH
Learn more about the impact Asian Americans have had in United States history through the PBS documentary series "Asian Americans." Airing May 11 and 12, the series features UCLA filmmakers and scholars including vice provost for the UCLA Institute of American Cultures David Yoo, Professor Renee Tajima-Peña and Theater Film & Television alumna Grace Lee, M.F.A. ’02.
SHARE
There is no better way to make "ourstory" than by sharing your story. Created by Conrad Contreras ’15 and Mallory Valenzuela ’13, Kubo, embraces Pilipin@ culture, challenges the status quo and amplifies Pilipin@ voices.
RECLAIM
Unfortunately, the mispronunciation of names starting in our early school years can, over time, lead to stigmatization and shame. Asian Pacific Coalition is running a “Reclaim Your Name” campaign for us to learn about the significance of names, so that we may find pride in their deep meanings.
DRINK
Sahra Nguyen's ’09 Nguyen Coffee Supply is the first ever Vietnamese-American-owned importer, supplier and roaster of green coffee beans from Vietnam in New York. Five percent of purchases will benefit COVID relief.
READ
Delve into the rise and fall of the idea of “diversity,” the roots of student protest, changing ideas about Asian Americanness and the impact of a century of racial separation in housing in Jeff Chang's, M.A. ’95 "We Gon' Be Alright."
COOK
Meet with the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association for a general meeting, followed by a cooking demonstration and instructional class. It will be taught by two of the authors of “The Filipino Instant Pot Cookbook: Classic and Modern Filipino Recipes for Your Electric Pressure Cooker,” our friends Tisha Gonda Domingo ’98 and Jorell Domingo ’99.
As always, we thank you for your love and support — our diverse alumni community means the world to us.
Here's ourstory,
Patricia Châu Nguyễn
Senior Director
Diversity Programs & Initiatives
