New Asian American Studies Journal to debut this Summer

The University of Minnesota's Asian American Studies Journal and Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay recently shared the cover image for the debut issue of their journal, themed: "Ctrl+F: Identities, Places, Connections." Keep an eye out for it soon.

30 Artists and the Laomagination Movement (1998-2018)

Like many artistic movements, the concept of Laomagination did not initially start with that designation but emerged over time as a catchall phrase for a particular aspect of the post-war reconstruction efforts of the Lao community in diaspora. It attracts artists from many corners of the globe but had some of its most concrete expressions in the United States and Canada.

Laomagination has been a multigenerational effort with key artists engaged in the movement occupying several age ranges, but particularly those who'd be classified as part of Generation X, born in the 1970s and often coming of age in the 1980s. Among earlier literary and artistic movements that have been cited as part of the influences on the movement have been cosmicism, inhumanism, fluxus, hip-hop, and punk.

The following list of artists who might well be studied over time for their participation (or lack thereof) in events, exhibits, and other projects of the Laomagination movement is by no means complete or comprehensive but a starting point for further scholarly inquiry and study.  Because of the frequent output of many of these artists, biographies are highly subject to change.

1. Bryan Thao Worra holds over 20 awards for his work including an NEA Fellowship in Literature and was a Cultural Olympian representing Laos during the 2012 London Summer Games. The author of 6 books, his work appears internationally including Australia, Canada, Scotland, Germany, France, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea, and Pakistan. He was the first Asian American president of the Science Fiction Poetry Association, an international literary organization celebrating the poetry of the imaginative and the fantastic.
2. Mattie Do was born in Los Angeles to recent immigrant parents who left during the communist revolution in Laos. Mattie Do returned to Vientiane in 2010 with her husband and whippet to take care of her retired father. Noting that Lao-language films were scarce and that few featured strong female protagonists or stories, she became determined to make a feature film. At the time, Laos had no functioning filmmaking infrastructure and only one cinema in the capital city. Mattie uses horror and supernatural storytelling to convey messages about women's roles and delicate social issues. In 2012, Mattie debuted her film, "Chanthaly", at the Luang Prabang International Film Festival. Her film became the first Lao film to screen at major festivals in America and Europe. Mattie is the first Lao woman to direct a feature film.
3. Sydney Viengluang was born in Laos and raised in Wichita, KS. Since moving to Los Angeles, she has worked her way up from network TV co-stars, appearing on such shows as, ‘Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders,’ ‘Jane the Virgin,’ as well as various film roles. She had a recurring on the hit SyFy TV show ‘Z Nation’ since season 3.
4. John Chanthana graduated from Columbia College of Chicago with a degree in Film/Video and a concentration in Traditional Animation. He was always involved with a variety of multimedia, from post-production, to web development. When he’s not drawing or illustrating, he coaches youth football and create graphic and web designs. He also enjoys photography.
5. Peter Chanthanakone is a Canadian-born Lao American, and an award-winning animation director specializing in the 3D animated short film format. He’s the founder of Pixade, and has been an associate professor at the University of Iowa. His newest animated film, Parking Gods (2015) was an official selection of the Hamilton International Film Festival. He’s traveled widely, including Iceland, South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia and across the US.
6. Ketsana is a singer, songwriter, and producer.  She was born in Savannakhet, Laos. Coming to America in 1978 – Ketsana had to learn new culture, new language, and especially new sound of music.   Ketsana’s passion for music started to bloom when she joined her school choir at the age of 9. At 11, she was given an opportunity of a lifetime when she was adopted by the popular Lao Rock-n-Roll band “The Strangers” led by her mentor, Lao legendary singer and composer, Silavong Keo. Ketsana has 10 albums and has toured the US, Canada, France, and Laos. Her music is "a blend of East meets West; Mixing the Old and the New to maintain cultural ties." Her production credits include: 25th SEA Games hosted by Laos ~ Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Laos - 1st Annual Lao Artists Festival, Elgin, IL - 1st International Lao New Year, San Francisco, CA -Grand Finale Concert in commemorating the 50th  Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the United Dates and Laos - ELao Rock-n-Diva Concert Series.
7. Alisak Sanavongsay currently spends most of his free time shooting and editing his wife's popular cooking show, "Cooking with Nana," on YouTube, which currently has close to three million total 22 lifetime views. Alisak was born in Savannakhet, Laos. He arrived in the United States, at the age of 6, with his parents and two siblings. His family was sponsored by a church in Kingsport, Tennessee. Shortly after arriving in Kingsport, the family moved to Elgin, Illinois. During college, Alisak started meeting other Lao on the Internet, starting with Internet Relay Chat (IRC). Through IRC, he met a group of Lao college students who were part of a collaborative called "LaoNet." A few members of LaoNet, then created "SatJaDham, A Lao Literary Project," on April 11, 1995. Alisak currently works for the University of California, Merced, as a programmer. During his spare time he continues to assist organizations or individuals with technological use related to Lao culture and language.
8. Wattana Khommarath. As a child he discovered a love for drawing while growing up in refugee camps across Thailand and France. This love developed into a true passion not only for art, but for teaching and mentoring. His signature on his artistic works is signed as “EKG!”, his Laotian nickname that’s derived from the word “Ekarath” which translates to Independence/Freedom Fighter. In 2002 Wattana went on to graduate with a BFA from the CalArts Character Animation Program, where he also participated in the first Arts Pedagogy Class. After nearly 20 years of teaching everyone from children to adults, Wattana’s artistic arsenal includes everything from character design and animation, to water color and life drawing, and everything in between. His former students have gone to work at many high profile studios such as Disney, Pixar, Cartoon Network, Bungie, EA Dice, Nokia, Rockstar, Ready at Dawn, Naughty Dog, and Sony; along with one that even formed her own GLAS International Animation Festival. He is currently working as an independent artist out of Liberty Station in Point Loma.
9. Nor Sanavongsay is an artist from Illinois who currently lives with his family in San Francisco. The author of the children's book Xieng Mieng: A Sticky Mess, he is also the founder of Sahtu Press. He is trained in both design and programming of interactive media. He’s created award winning projects for retail giants such as Sears, Motorola, and many others.
10. Ova Saopeng is an actor, teaching artist and associate artistic director with Los Angeles based TeAda Productions. Born in Savannakhet, Laos, and raised in Hawaii he is a University of Southern California graduate with a B.A. in Theater. He recently performed in TeAda Productions world premiere of Global Taxi Driver at Intermedia Arts in Minneapolis. He is co-creator of Refugee Nation the only nationally touring play about the Lao-American experience. The critically acclaimed play received numerous awards including MAP Fund, National Performance Network’s Creation Fund, and California Council For the Humanities and a “GO!” review in the 2012 LA Weekly. Ova has held many roles as performer, teaching artists and producer on various TeAda works Kalo Projects, Native Immigrant, TeAdaWorks, Delicious Reality and Pop-Up TeAda; all work that focus on refugee and immigrant communities. As a teaching artist, he recently completed a residency creating performances with Southeast Asian youth in the LA Chinatown neighborhood. Ova was one of six playwrights selected to write for Our American Voice a part of the Smithsonian Institutes exhibit I Want the Wide American Earth at the Japanese American National Museum exploring Asian American immigration. Additionally, he has worked with nationally known companies: The Children’s Theater Company in Minneapolis on the production of Dragonwings and Center Theater Group’s production of Wondrous Tales of Old Japan and East West Players production Twelf Nite O’Wateva. He has toured colleges and universities with the Asian American Theater troupe hereandnow. Film credits include Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean:World’s End, Love is Good, Burmese Refugee and Seeds of Hope.
11. Rita Phetmixay is a Lao-Isaan American scholar-activist who graduated in June 2016 with a dual masters in Asian American Studies and Social Welfare from the University of California, Los Angeles. Rita is a filmmaker who had the honor of creating a documentary about her father’s journey from Laos to Thailand and finally the United States. She was invited to show her film at the Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival in 2015 and is still learning about the various ways one can tell their story. She is dedicated to advocating for other underrepresented communities and creating spaces in which communities can discuss topics relating to violence, refugee/immigrant histories, trauma, healing, and resilience. It is Rita’s aspirations to create social change so that these communities can achieve higher education, greater socioeconomic statuses, and healthier lifestyles.
12. Kinnary Pimpadubsee was a long-time board member of the Lao Assistance Center since 2004-2008 and has been a volunteer since 2000. She became part-time staff in 2009. She has been trained on issues of chemical health and youth leadership development. She was with the Youth Leadership Council on the Asian Coalition Against Tobacco from 2000-2008. She has also worked as the Elders Specialist for the Lao Advancement Organization of Minnesota. She has been part of the steering committee of the Harrison 21 Neighborhood Association working on neighborhood revitalization. Pimpadubsee studied graphic design and visual communication at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. She is very active in the Lao community and also fluent in Lao and English. Her paintings have been featured in the Twin Cities Daily Planet and exhibited in North Minneapolis.
13. Aloun Phoulavan was born in Vientiane, Laos in 1971 and raised in Northeast Thailand.  He is the second oldest of five children born to immigrant Lao-Thai parents.  He and his family arrived in the United States in 1976 as part of the first wave of Southeast Asian immigrants. His family  was sponsored by a church, which led them to settling down in south central Wisconsin. Aloun has been teaching art for eleven years, of which ten of those years he spent teaching grades K-12 in the St. Paul Public Schools. Currently, he teaches Reading at Como Park Senior High in St. Paul, MN
14. EraNetik is a Lao-American independent recording artist and professional dancer from Southeast San Diego. He is currently managed by Finest City MG / Collective Society for music and Go 2 Talent Agency for dancing. Not only has he racked up over a million views online and gained thousands of fans, his greatest accomplishments also include NBC's America's Got Talent, TruTV's Fake Off, and being a principal member in the Jabbawockeez show in Las Vegas & Australia.
15. Krysada Panusith Phounsiri is a Lao-American artist and engineer. He was born in Laos in 1988 and came to America with his family in 1989. A graduate of UC Berkeley in 2010, he holds a degree in Physics and Astrophysics Double Major and also a minor in Poetry. His debut collection is Dance Among Elephants, was published by Sahtu Press in 2015. His work has been featured in the Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement and the Smithsonian’s “A Day In The Life Of Asian America” digital exhibit. He recently received first place for Poem of the Year in the Rhysling Awards of the Science Fiction Poetry Association.
16. Sisavanh Phouthavong-Houghton is currently an Associate Professor of Art at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro where she teaches advanced level painting courses.  She was born in Vientiane Laos in 1976. At the age of four, her family emigrated from Thailand to Winfield, Kansas. She attended the University of Kansas in Lawrence and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Painting in 1999. Sisavanh continued her education at Southern Illinois University of Carbondale where 2003 she received her Master of Fine Arts Degree in Painting and Drawing. She has exhibited her work in solo, juried, and invitational exhibitions throughout United States, Canada, and New Zealand.  Sisavanh resides in Woodbury, TN with her family.
17. Thavisouk Phrasavath was a 2010 Emmy-winning director whose work was nominated for a 2009 Academy Award (Oscar) and Film Independent Spirit Award. He is an accepted member of WGAW (Writer Guild of America West). He has directed documentaries, dramatic short and music video for independent record label and artists, published poetry and won awards for paintings and illustrations. He is the author of the book Step Out of the Womb (Memoir of the Journey to Land Where the Sun Fall). His background in community work includes assisting Gang Prevention for Youth and Family Crisis Intervention and working with the police as a liaison and consultant for the Lao community. Thavisouk Phrasavath has consulted for the New York City Board of Education. The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) was the film that he was both subject and a filmmaker.
18. Carol Rasaphangthong also known as Carol K. Ras, founded Cool Town Creations in Los Angeles. Over the years they’ve created short films and videos featuring original characters to well-known pop culture icons such as Mr. Spock, the supernatural investigator John Constantine from the comics, and more, applying their unique mix of humor and professionalism to each project. Cool Town Creations began as Cool Town Claymation, and today serves as a platform for creative artists to collaborate and make a simple thought tangible through stop motion animation.  Professionally, they offer services for commercials, music videos, short & feature films, business promotional videos, PSA’s and other projects, and can provide stop-motion animation seminars/workshops & consultation.
19. Saengmany Ratsabout holds a Master of Arts in Southeast Asian Studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Ratsabout has taught Ethnic Studies and Asian American Studies at Saint Cloud State University and was interested in exploring the social history of Laotian Americans and how immigration laws and legislations affect the community. He has worked in the non-profit and academic sector for over 13 years in various capacities.Ratsabout has been a Board Member of Laotian American National Alliance and an Executive Board Member of the Center of Lao Studies. In addition, he works as a consultant to the Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota. As a consultant with LACM, he has worked on the Get Out the Vote project, research analysis, grant writing, planning and evaluation, and community assessment. He currently works with the Immigration History Research Center (IHRC) at the University of Minnesota.
20. Khetphet Phagnasay was born in Laos. His family escaped in 1979 from the communist government to find a better future in America.  KP has been an Actor, Director, Playwright, and Acting coach for over 15 years. As an acting coach, he has taught at various studios in California and Hawaii. KP is featured in commercials and media such as Lost, Hawaii, Northshore, independent films and local theatre. KP earned his B.A in Theatre Arts from California State University, Fresno, then pursued his MFA in Acting from the University of Hawaii, Manoa, where he studied Asian Theatre forms. He has helped cast talents, and translators for many projects.KP worked on the feature film Finding Hope Now. He is well known with non-profit organizations as a consultant or committee member to groups including FIRM, Stone Soup, and Asian Fest, Better Healthy Community Initiative, California Arts Endowment, and South-East Asian Writers/Artists, and LA’s East-West Players Asian Theater Company.
21. Loy Khambay-Correa Born Kheuthmy Khambay, her name meant “Grow Rich Gold Leaf.” Over the years her close family and friends began calling her Loy, which either means “slip away” or “swim.” She was born in a small village in Savannakhet, Laos. Her formative years were spent in Saint Louis, MO and Saint Petersburg, FL. She developed her love for art watching her uncle Thai Khambay draw when she was a little girl. She received her degrees in Commercial Arts along with a Film & Video Production degree from Full Sail University. Soon after she graduated from Full Sail, she moved to Los Angeles, CA. She had an internship with Women In Film and than worked on various projects. In that world, she went from working in post-production, production, and than pre-production. Today, she only work on projects that she feels that it is worthy to her. If it is going to a good cause or if it is her seed that she is planting. Through all of that process, she found her love and that was returning back to her art. In 2007, she decided to come out of hiding to reveal her artistic talent to her family and friends. She held her first and solo art show called the Ah-Loy Show. With that success, she plans on having a show every year along with a new theme to showcase her vision.
22. Chantala Kommanivanh is a high energy and engaged emerging Laotian American artist. He is both a visual artist and has an active role as one half of the dynamic hip-hop duo “Maintenance Crew” with whom he has released 4 full-length albums. The rap music and the visual work have areas of overlap in terms of their meaning and content. His work has been displayed in four solo exhibitions in the Chicago area galleries and has been included in numerous group and invitational exhibitions in the U.S. He received his Master of Fine Art at UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts in 2014 emphasizing in painting and drawing. Throughout his career Chantala achieved numerous awards such as the Union League Civic Arts foundation award and a two-time A.O.P Fellowship award recipient. Chantala Kommanivanh currently lives and works in Chicago as a practicing visual artist and a professor of the arts at Northeastern Illinois University.
23. Lina V Luangrath is a Lao American singer/songwriter from Rockford, IL. She discovered her passion and gift for singing at the early age of six, while singing with the local church worship team. Soon after, she began performing at local events around town. In 2005, her soulful voice quickly caught national attention, as she toured with ELao Entertainment to major cities around the U.S. In 2008, Lina V attended Briar Cliff University where she studied classical voice and fine arts singing. Her renewed rendition of "Kuptoom Luang Prabang" on YouTube caught the attention of the Philadelphia-based organization "Laos in the House" which led to the invitation to perform there in May 2015. Her newly released song "Wall Street" fuses Laotian folk songs, with soulful vocal technique. Lina V currently resides in California, and continues to draw inspiration from her Laotian American roots to fuel her passion for music.
24. Vongduane Manivong was born  in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, and spent  part of her childhood there. In the late ‘80s she came to America with her parents when they fled the troubled country, finally settling in Dallas, Texas. Her work encompasses a variety of artistic influences, from classical to pop, but it is the emotional core of the work that resonates most powerfully. Vongduane’s art has been exhibited in galleries across country, as well as at many national events, including the Symposium of Lao History at the University of California-Berkley, the National Youth Leadership Council’s Urban Institute, and the Cultural Heritage Exhibition at the Laotian Community Center of Rhode Island. These exhibitions have allowed her to bring wider attention to the diversity of the Laotian experience around the world.
25. Bidone Salima is a Lao American artist and community builder based in San Diego. Her work as a freelance photographer spans four continents and has appeared in publications such as Bakka Magazine. Her creative flash essay, "Beauty,” was selected as the first winner of the Little Laos on the Prairie Writing Contest in 2013.In 2013, she completed a groundbreaking playwriting class with a cohort of emerging Lao American writers in San Diego, at the Old Globe Theater. She regularly volunteers for several Laotian organizations in Southern California. She speaks several languages and has an AA degree in Administration of Justice. Her future goals include pursuing her B.A degree in human services.
26. Timothy Singratsomboune is a Laotian American writer, actor, and activist from Columbus, OH. Timothy was involved in racial justice activism while attending the Ohio State University, organizing with groups like Cbus2Ferguson.  Since graduating, Timothy has launched the film team Horizon Side Films with his friend Rashida Davison. Horizon Side Films aims to use film to shed light on Black, Asian, and LGBTQ narratives. Horizon Side’s debut film was All the Way Down!
27. Kulap Vilaysack is an actor, writer and director who lives in Los Angeles. She is the creator, executive producer, show runner and occasional director of critically acclaimed, BAJILLION DOLLAR PROPERTIE$. Her documentary feature, ORIGIN STORY debuted in 2018. In it she travels to Laos to meet the father that she never knew, all the while dealing with her fraught relationship with her mother. She also co-hosted the comedy podcast WHO CHARTED? on the Earwolf Network and has been at work with her new non-profit Laos Angeles.
28. Sayon Syprasoeuth is a visual artist, Curator, multi-media design artist and an instructor. He currently works at United Cambodian Community as a Program Coordinator for Living Arts Long Beach, teaching students about career options in the arts through lectures, guest artist visits and by creating and making art. He volunteers ASCRIC, devoted to restoring, distributing, and implementing procedural justice for Cambodian American victims and survivors of the Khmer Gouge. His work recently was in: Asian American Literary Review, Long Beach Post, Boom Journal magazine.

Lao writer Nay Saysourinho announces website

Lao American writer Nay Saysourinho recently announced her new website at https://www.saysourinho.com.

With roots in Canada, her primary interests with her blog will be food, class, memories, and post-colonialism. She is a Kundiman Fellow, one of only two in the history of the program to date and the only one in prose. She is also a Tin House Summer Workshop Alum.

A. Ou's "From The Streets Below" on Little Laos on the Prairie

This week, poet A. Ou shared his new poem, "From The Streets Below," on Little Laos on the Prairie. 

Luang Prabang Film Festival coming December 2018

The dates were recently announced for the 2018 Luang Prabang Film Festival as December 7-12th. The festival’s special focus will be on Indonesia this year.

Short films, feature-length films, public discussions and other events will be part of the programming. 22,000 people were believed to have attended the 2017 Luang Prabang Film Festival and it shows strong signs of continued growth. Manilla Chounlamountri, art director of the Vientiane-based Me-Idea Full Service Agency, came up with this year’s poster.

All festival events are free and open to the public.

For more detailsL www.LPFilmFest.org.

Kulap Vilaysack interviewed in Hyphen Magazine

Hyphen Magazine interviewed Lao American creator Kulap Vilaysack about her directorial debut
Origin Story. The documentary follows her journey back to Laos to learn the truth about her biological father and marks a significant moment in the children of the Lao diaspora coming to terms with the complexity of their journeys and how families rebuild. Origin Story recently won an award at CAAMfest in its category during its West Coast premiere.

 Kulap Vilaysack was born in Washington DC and grew up in Minnesota. Today, she is an LA-based actor, writer and comedian. She co-hosted a weekly popular podcast, “Who Charted?” with Howard Kremer for over 7 years and often appears on other podcasts.. Her acting credits include The Office, Parks and Recreation, Happy Endings, Bob’s Burgers, The Sarah Silverman Program and Reno 911! She has had recurring roles in Childrens Hospital and Comedy Bang! Bang! She can also count appearances in the films I Love You Man and Welcome to Me. She created, showran, and directed the show Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ that ran for four seasons.

Chantala Kommanivanh exhibition Su Kwan (Calling of the Souls) coming

Recently Lao American artist Chantala Kommanivanh announced an upcoming exhibit at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee at the end of August, with a closing reception on September 14th.

Chantala Kommanivanh is a high energy and engaged emerging Laotian American artist. He is both a visual artist and has an active role as one half of the dynamic hip-hop duo “Maintenance Crew” with whom he has released 4 full-length albums. The rap music and the visual work have areas of overlap in terms of their meaning and content.

His work has been displayed in four solo exhibitions in the Chicago area galleries and has been included in numerous group and invitational exhibitions in the U.S. He received his Master of Fine Art at UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts in 2014 emphasizing in painting and drawing.

Throughout his career Chantala achieved numerous awards such as the Union League Civic Arts foundation award and a two-time A.O.P Fellowship award recipient. Chantala Kommanivanh currently lives and works in Chicago as a practicing visual artist and a professor of the arts at Northeastern Illinois University.

Diversicon 2018 coming to Minnesota

On Thursday, July 26th Bryan Thao Worra will be reading with Diversicon Guest of Honor Charlie Jane Anders from 6:30-7:45 p.m., at DreamHaven Books, 2301 38th St E, Minneapolis. Refreshments will be served. 

DreamHaven has hosted readings from internationally acclaimed writers including Neil Gaiman, Douglas Adams, Clive Barker, Terry Brooks, William Gibson, Lois McMaster Bujold, Eleanor Arnason, Terry Garey, Samuel Delaney, Andrea Hairston, Catherine Lundoff, Kelly Link, David Schwartz, Kim Harrison, Kelly McCullough, Barth Anderson and many other masters of science fiction, fantasy and horror. DreamHaven was one of the first places where Thao Worra read selections from On The Other Side Of The Eye during its initial release in 2007. 

Diversicon is a project of SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural, multimedia organization dedicated to improving contacts among groups and individuals interested in speculative fiction, in and out of the traditional SF community. Our continuing mission: to provide the most thoughtful Programming and the mellowest, most welcoming Parties of any Minnesota SF convention, and to making our state’s SF community more closely reflect the cultural diversity of Minnesota in the third millennium. Tickets are $45 at the door and $35 for students for the entire weekend.

 Charlie Jane Anders is the author of All the Birds in the Sky, out now. She’s the organizer of the Writers With Drinks reading series, and she was a founding editor of io9, a website about science fiction, science and futurism. Her stories have appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Tor.com, Lightspeed, Tin House, ZYZZYVA, and several anthologies. Her novelette “Six Months, Three Days” won a Hugo award.

Bryan Thao Worra is the president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association, a 40-year old international literary organization celebrating the poetry of the imaginative and the fantastic. A Lao American writer, he holds over 20 awards for his writing and community leadership including an NEA Fellowship in Literature and was a Cultural Olympian representing Laos during the 2012 London Summer Games.

In 2009 he received an Asian Pacific American Leadership Award from the governor’s Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans. He holds a 2011 Youth Media Innovation Award from the University of Minnesota Human Rights Center and won the 2014 Elgin Award for Book of the Year from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association. He has presented at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Loft Literary Center, Intermedia Arts, Kearny Street Workshop, the Institute for Contemporary Art, among many others, and recently as a Visiting Artist with University of Merced Center for the Humanities.

He is the first Lao writer to be professional member of the Horror Writers Association and trained several years with Asian Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy on social justice during their National Gender Equity Campaign. One of the co-founders of the National Lao American Writers Summit, he is the author of 6 books, with work appearing internationally in Australia, Canada, Scotland, Germany, France, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea, and Pakistan.

MAP Fund announces 2018 winners including TeAda Productions

The MAP Fund recently announced the 2018 grantees: 40 original, live performance projects that will receive a total of $1.4 million in direct support for project creation, development, and distribution. For Lao Americans the notable production funded was Masters of the Currents by Leilani Chan, Ova Saopeng, and TeAda Productions.  More about the full pool of MAP applications and grantees is covered in the 2018 Grant Cycle Data Report. Each year, MAP hires external reviewers and panelists through an open nomination process.

2018 Jerome Travel Grant Recipients Announced

Congratulations to Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay who was named as one of the 2018 Jerome Travel Grant Recipients recently. This marks the final year of the Travel and Study program, which began in 1986 and awarded 1,109 grants to emerging artists and Minnesota-based arts administrators.

Future support for travel and study opportunities have been included within the new Artist Fellowship program, which will award grants in 2019.

Saymoukda Vongsay was awarded $5,000 “to travel to Nong Khai, Thailand and Luang Prabang, Laos for 15 days. As an essential part of the refugee healing process, Vongsay will travel to Nongkhai, Thailand and Vientiane, Laos to retrace, reimagine, and record her family’s journey after the Secret War.”

NBC Asian America Presents A to Z features 2 Lao

Congratulations to Kulap Vilaysack and James Syhabout who made the list this year! “NBC Asian America Presents: A to Z” aims to celebrate the emerging voices and breakout stars of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities throughout Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. These individuals aren’t just reading the dictionary of what it means to be Asian American and Pacific Islander in America; they’re writing new definitions every day."

Equilibrium aesthetic: LAO'd AF coming to the Loft Literary Center 6/16

"Mommy Eats Fried Grasshoppers" coming this year

Sahtu Press has proudly announced that it is publishing an exciting new book titled “Mommy Eats Fried Grasshoppers”. This stimulating new book is written for everyone, especially children and it will be released in September, 2018. The book is now available for pre-sale and everyone can get a copy reserved by pre-ordering online.

The story is by Vilayvanh Bender and the art is by Nor Sanavongsay. “We like to promote multiculturalism, eating healthy and being accepting of other cultures,” said Vilayvanh Bender, the author, while introducing the upcoming book. “Mahlee, who is a little girl central to the story, learns how differently Mommy did things as a child in Laos than Mahlee does here in America,” she added.

According to the author, the book is all about promoting cultural preservation and encouraging intergenerational dialogues. “Sahtu Press is committed to publishing exciting, vital, and enduring Lao American authors of our time to delight and inspire readers,” said Nor Sanavongsay, the Founder of Sahtu Press.

“We also aim to contribute to the cultural life of our community and also to enrich our literary heritage,” he added. In addition to books, the press also publishes articles for its valued readers. This exciting new book is not only for the children of Laos or American origin, but also for the children from around the world and the press is welcoming parents and other readers worldwide to make generous donations to its cause.

There are over 232,000 Lao in the United States and many of them arrived as refugees in the 1980s with over 60,000 resettling in California, often to considerable culture shock compared to their lives back in Southeast Asia. In addition, more than 7,000 Lao lives near Los Angeles and the Inland Empire.

Vilayvanh Bender is a privately practicing Registered Dietitian based in Corona, California, and she is working with children and families. She migrated to America as a seven-year-old refugee girl after the Vietnam War. In addition, she is married and is the mother of two children. Vilayvanh teaches both daughters her cultural heritage through stories and activities. She enjoys outdoor activities and trying new food. Spending time with family makes her most happy. “Mommy Eats Fried Grasshoppers” is based on her eldest daughter, Mahlee, and her. 

Nor Sanavongsay is an award-winning Lao American writer based in the San Francisco Bay area and he is the founder of Sahtu Press. He has been a member of several platforms, including the SatJaDham Lao Literary Project, the National Lao American Writers Summit and the Lao Artists Festival of Elgin. He is also the author of children’s books inspired by Lao folktales, such as Xieng Mieng: A Sticky Mess. Some of his handiwork can be seen from companies like Encyclopedia Britannica, Sears, Zoosk, and Barnes & Noble among others. “Mommy Eats Fried Grasshoppers” is his second illustrated children’s book.

Both author and illustrator will be available to talk at schools and book clubs throughout 2019. Also, there will be discount rates for the book available for non-profits, libraries and schools. They will also be available to sign books at these events. For more information on the book, please visit: www.sahtupress.com/books/mommy-eats-fried-grasshoppers Or find out more about the Sahtu Press by visiting: www.SahtuPress.com

Southeast Asian Diaspora Storytelling: Reimagining Lao Pasts, Lao Futures, June 9th

SEADS Presents: Reimagining Lao Pasts, Lao Futures A Lao Community Conversation Facilitated by Chanida Phaengdara Potter & Friends

What are the stories you carry? Join us for a healing community conversation through creative inquiry as we hold space that acknowledges and honors the diverse and complex journeys of our Lao Minnesotan diaspora stories. Lao veterans, elders, activists and youth are encouraged to attend.

This event is free and open to those who identify as Lao Minnesotan or have Lao heritage. Food and drinks will be provided. Childcare available by request.

Saturday, June 9th, 2018 10:00AM-12:30PM
Minneapolis, Minnesota
*Exact location will be sent to registrants*
Please RSVP via Eventbrite at https://seadslao.eventbrite.com, and direct any questions to seadstorytelling@gmail.com, 612-460-5559.

For more info about this project, go to www.theseadproject.org/seads SEADS (Southeast Asian Diaspora Storytelling) is a project of The SEAD Project, a Southeast Asian-based community organization. SEADS is in collaboration with The SEAD Project, ManForward & Partners.

 ***Please note that this event is specifically for the Lao community only. Keep posted for future conversations that are open to the general public.***

Minnesota Remembers Vietnam is an initiative led by Twin Cities PBS aimed at inspiring Minnesotans to remember, share stories, recognize bravery, express their reasons for dissent, and foster understanding around the lasting impact of war. TPT is partnering with the Minnesota Humanities Center to bring public conversations around these topics to communities across the state, thanks to support from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with a vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

#MinneAsianStories now online!

Check out the stories gallery of Asian Minnesotans who share their experiences from the past, present or future. The goals of #MinneAsianStories are to “engage, educate and challenge fellow Minnesotans’ perceptions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who live, work and play in this vibrant state we call home.”

Philadelphia hosts #Blessed on May 12th

Coming May 12th thanks to Catzie Vilayphonh and Laos In The House:

MRAC funds Lao, SEA arts projects in N. Minneapolis

Recently, at least two projects in North Minneapolis serving Southeast Asians received funding from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council through the popular Community Arts grant program. The Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota received funding for "Before We Remember (We Dream)" and will present interdisciplinary arts exhibits featuring the work of Lao Minnesotans between May and December 2018. The SEAD Project is convening "Reclaiming Our Many Narratives" a storytelling training series focused on preparing a showcase of Asian American stories in all of their diversity in the Twin Cities, including six performances and workshops to collect and share missing Minnesotan's stories of the Southeast Asian diaspora. Lao Assistance Center executive director Sunny Chanthanouvong said in a statement "We are very excited to bring this project to our community to learn and to share with one another."

 The Community Arts program provides grants of up to $5,000 in project support for groups wishing to offer quality arts activities in any discipline to communities within the seven-county metropolitan area of Minnesota. Grant requests may include costs for artists and other personnel, facility and/or equipment rental, postage, supplies, printing and other expenses necessary to carry out the project. These projects were funding during second round of MRAC's FY 2018 Community Arts grant program. The organizations and projects chosen demonstrate both strong artistic quality and a connection to a community. In November 2008, Minnesotans passed the clean water, land, and legacy amendment to the Minnesota Constitution. As a result, over the next twenty-five years, 3/8 of one percent of the state’s sales tax are dedicated with 33 percent to a clean water fund, 33 percent to an outdoor heritage fund, 14.25 percent to a parks and trails fund, and 19.75 percent to an arts and cultural heritage fund. Proceeds from the arts and cultural heritage fund “may be spent only on arts, arts education and arts access and to preserve Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage.”

2018 National Poetry Month!

It's National Poetry Month so here are some Lao American poems for the first week examining the Laotian diaspora. What can Lao poetry look like? How will poets examine Laos in the future? Hopefully these selections will began to expand our conversation on the possible and the ideal. Thank you for sharing these with your friends and colleagues who've been working on issues such as refugees, immigration, the arts, and more.

Getting Lao'd to premiere in Seattle February 23rd

Steve Arounsack‘s documentary on the growth of the Lao music and film scene will have its World Premiere at the 2018 Seattle Asian American Film Festival, Showtime: Friday, Feb. 23 @ 6:30pm, Northwest Film Forum and Broadway Performance Hall.