Panel Discussions
The Model Minority Myth - May 19th, 2021
"I can't tell you how frustrating it was to be completely underestimated about wanting to have a voice." -- Jia Lee, Educator, New York
"You have to fit a certain mold that has been defined for you, and if you don't fit it...you are not a 'good American.'" -- Mana Vaea, Educator, Pittsburgh
"There is resistance to these stereotypes; there is a sort of awakening to what the American Dream is and how it looks for different people." -- Emily Goedde, Educator, Philadelphia
AAPI in America - May 24th, 2021
"A lot of our identities are multi-layered, and when we go into schools, we tend to hide certain parts." --Nico Chen, Educator , Oakland Public Schools. & PhD Candidate, NYU
"When we are speaking of Asian-Americans or Chinese Americans, we are always being treated as outsiders." -- Wei Chen, Civic Engagement Coordinator, Asian Americans United
"The words that come to mind are allyship and advocacy...this is our story to tell and our history to make." -- Ami Patel-Hopkins, Educator, Philadelphia
"How do you strike the balance of being a 'good American' while failing to abandon your heritage, your culture, your blood, your traditions, your ancestors, and how do you funnel it into a productive life without being fake toward either of those dual identities?" - Mana Vaea, Educator, Pittsburgh
"The things that I was really deeply worried about and ashamed of when I was younger...they end up becoming your roots as you get older." -- Philadelphia City Councilmember Helen Gym
Click HERE to see resources recommended by AAPI in America Panelists