This event is DePaul Global Asian Studies’ annual colloquium to celebrate the Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month. We aim to engage DePaul community as well as partners and allies from all backgrounds in discussions and reflections on how to heal and continue to progress from continuous hate crimes and xenophobia targeting Asian and Asian American communities. 4 prominent Asian American community leaders in the midwestern region will share their thoughts about the recent development of anti-Asian hate crimes and offer short- and long-term advice to Asian Americans and allies. Audience will be invited to share their experience and provide insights.

Event Agenda: 

1:00-1:10PM Introduction & Opening Remarks 

1:10-2:00PM Discusison with Panelists

2:00-2:25PM Q&A 

2:25-2:30PM Closing Remarks  

Moderator:

Dr. Ryan Yokota:

Ryan Yokota is an adjuct faculty teaching Asian American history and critical ethnic studies courses at DePaul. His current research focus is on comparative transnational ethnic studies in both East Asia and in the U.S., with a focus on Uchinānchu (Okinawans) under Japanese and American colonialism, Asian Latin Americans and Asians in Latin America, and Japanese American/Asian American history

Panelists: 

Grace Chan:

Grace Chan McKibben is Executive Director at the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, which seeks to empower the Chinese American communities in Greater Chicago through planning, advocacy, and organizing. In 2020, the Coalition led successful campaigns on Census outreach and education, and voter registration and engagement. The Coalition is currently leading coordination of COVID response and assistance in the Chinatown and surrounding areas, to increase community voice as well as ensure that needs that have arisen due to rising COVID positivity rates, prolonged business closure and unemployment, and Anti-Asian discrimination are met.

Ji Hye Kim:

Ji Hye Kim received Juris Doctorate degree from the UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF LAW in 2008 and has worked with low-income individuals and families, as well as immigrants and refugees, in various capacities. Prior to law school, Ji Hye worked at the SARGENT SHRIVER NATIONAL CENTER ON POVERTY LAW, where she managed a community economic development program and facilitated train-the-trainer workshops on a financial literacy curriculum for social service agencies. Ji Hye joined KAN-WIN in 2010. She served as the Associate Director for 7 years prior to becoming the Executive Director in 2020.

Grace Pai:

Grace Pai is the Director of Organizing at Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago, where she manages and leads strategy for issue-based campaigns and power-building work. She has spent the last eight years organizing in Chicago toward racial, economic, and immigrant justice and has trained hundreds of organizers and community leaders across the country.

Pardeep Singh Kaleka:

Executive Director of Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, Published Author of “The Gifts of Our Wounds,” award-winning columnist with Milwaukee Independent and Clinician specializing in utilizing a trauma-informed approach to treat survivors and perpetrators of assault, abuse and acts of violence.