Asian American Arts Alliance Series of Story Circles 5/14, 5/15

[Image Description: On a dark blue background are the following words in red “We Will Be Heard: Cultivating Community During COVID-19” and at the bottom left to right “ASIAN AMERICAN ARTS ALLIANCE” and “A4.”]

We Will Be Heard: Cultivating Community During COVID-19

Thursday, May 14, 6.30pm to 8pm

Friday, May 15, from 12pm onwards

In response to the growing displays of racism and violence against Asian and Asian American communities during COVID-19, the Asian American Arts Alliance (A4) presents We Will Be Heard: Cultivating Community During COVID-19, a series of virtual story circles for members of the community to come together and share stories, knowledge, resources, and support for one another during this time.

Creative writer and cultural organizer Huiying B. Chan will use a racial equity lens to facilitate story circles where participants are invited to share their lived experiences, fears, and hopes during COVID-19. Each session will be 90 minutes. In keeping with A4’s practice of bringing together their community, the series aims to create a safe and brave space for participants to share lived experiences towards collective healing. 

In a story circle, as each person takes turns to share a story, a richer and more complex collective story emerges. This practice is often used in creating original performance and in community storytelling and listening projects. Each story circle will be guided by a designated facilitator to ensure equal space and attention. Each of the three sessions will hold space for up to 24 participants and each story circle will connect up to 8 individuals. Each session is designed with its own unique theme. Please review the dates and topics below to select the story circle that best fits your interests on Eventbrite.

The series is free and open to the public. RSVP is required to attend. 

You can RSVP here.

A4 will host three story circles: 

Thursday, May 14, 6:30pm: Addressing Anti-Asian Racism
Story circle centering anti-Asian racism, open to all. This session specifically holds space to share experiences of racism, fear, and discomfort experienced with the recent rise of anti-Asian racism. We will also share practical tools, resources, and knowledge on addressing instances of racism and building solidarity. This session is open to all.  

Friday, May 15, 12pm: Open Story Sharing
General storytelling related to COVID-19, open to all. This session holds space to share stories and experiences during COVID-19. These can include any stories that you would like to share, including financial stress, mental health, grief, etc. This session is open to all. 

About Huiying B. Chan
Huiying B. Chan is a creative writer, cultural organizer, and facilitator from New York City. Their work centers race, migration, intergenerational and ancestral resilience, and love. They work as a researcher for education justice at the NYU Metro Center. After hours, they facilitate creative writing workshops to cultivate radical imagination towards liberation. Huiying has received writing fellowships and awards from the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, VONA/Voices, and The Poetry Foundation. They received a B.A. in Ethnic Studies and Education from Wellesley College where they were the first to graduate with an Ethnic Studies major since the college’s inception. They do this work for their community and queer and trans ancestors and descendants to come.