Tuesday, May 4, 2021 - 3:30pm to 4:45pm
Location:Register for this event
In light of recent tragedies associated with anti-Asian violence and hate, let’s get inspired by people spreading hope and solidarity. At this event, you will hear from Asian Americans who are doing innovative work that uplifts our diverse communities. They are proud to combine their passions, critical thinking skills, and a vision for a better world in meaningful careers.
Made possible by our co-sponsors: University Library, Department of Asian American Studies, Asian Studies Program, China Institute, Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, College of Humanities Distinguished Visiting Speaker Programming Fund, Academic Programming Fund
Panelists
Mike Murase
Little Tokyo Service Center/Little Tokyo Eats -is Director of Services at Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC), a social service and community economic development agency serving Little Tokyo and greater Japanese American community throughout Los Angeles. When the pandemic hit, he helped to organize “Little Tokyo Eats,” in which seniors who are sheltering in Little Tokyo receive home-delivered meals prepared by hard-hit Little Tokyo restaurants. As a member of Nikkei Progressives, Mike is involved in various social justice campaigns, most notably in efforts to support migrant workers who have been caged in “detention centers.”
Mike’s roots in the Asian American communities are deep. As an undergraduate at University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), he was a co-founder of the Asian American Studies Center and later taught ethnic studies at UCLA, University of Southern California and California State University at Long Beach.
Wanda Pathomrit
Asian American Studies and Sociology, CSUN Class of 2011 - is a psychiatric social worker at Asian Pacific Counseling Treatment Center (APCTC), providing mental health treatment to Asian American communities in San Fernando Valley. She has worked with AAPI community organizations such as the Thai Community Development Center, Little Tokyo Service Center, and Center Pacific Asian Family, helping immigrant populations in Los Angeles to gain access to social, legal, mental health services. She also serves an advisory board of the Healing Out Lao’d Podcast, a virtual practice space exploring the intersections of Lao diaspora storytelling x healing x tools for sustainability.
Wen Chien
Wen Chien is a Chinese American community leader with years of professional and volunteer work engaging with people across a variety of backgrounds. She is the president of the Lead with Purpose Foundation (LWPF) and the Supervisor for the LWPF Student Commission Program. Wen works as a senior IT professional at HRL Laboratories and holds a master’s degree in Computer Science from Purdue University. Previously, she served as a computer system manager for the Space Station Program, Rocketdyne Division. Wen currently serves as an Advisory Board Member of the Conejo Valley Senior Volunteer Program and has been in leadership roles for several community organizations, including President of the Conejo Valley Chinese Cultural Association, a Public Relations manager for Toastmasters International, and instructor for Junior Achievement Southern California. Wen believes in sharing resources, exchanging knowledge, and creating opportunities across different ethnicities, generations, and religions.