In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and during a pivotal moment for Asian American representation in the arts, The WNET Group’s ALL ARTS and Exploring Hate initiatives teamed up with The Serica Initiative to present “Voices Rising: What’s Next for Asian Americans in the Arts?” at the Cuny Elebash Auditorium on May 9, 2024. 
The recent surge in anti-Asian hate has been met with an unprecedented celebration of Asian American creators at the highest levels on the national stage. From the success of television shows, documentaries, and films to best-selling books and graphic novels by artists of Asian descent, Asian Americans in the post-pandemic era are drawing themselves and their stories into existence more than ever, using art as a form of representation and resistance.
The evening featured performances by tap dancer Naomi Funaki with drummer Mikiya Ito, and Stand-up comedian Pooja Reddy.
Tap Dancer Naomi Funaki and Drummer Mikiya Ito. Photo by Lia Chang
Standup Comedian Pooja Reddy. Photo by Lia Chang
ABC News & Nightline award-winning news anchorJuju Chang moderated two panels. The first on writing featured Authors Mira Jacob (Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations), Jose Antonio Vargas (Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen) and Qian Julie Wang (Beautiful Country: A Memoir of an Undocumented Childhood).
Juju Chang, Authors Qian Julie Wang, (Beautiful Country: A Memoir of an Undocumented Childhoo d), Jose Antonio Vargas (Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen), and Mira Jacob
(Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations). Photo by Lia Chang
Juju Chang, Authors Qian Julie Wang, (Beautiful Country: A Memoir of an Undocumented Childhoo d), Jose Antonio Vargas (Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen), and Mira Jacob
(Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations). Photo by Lia Chang
Authors Qian Julie Wang, (Beautiful Country: A Memoir of an Undocumented Childhoo d) and Jose Antonio Vargas (Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen). Photo by Lia Chang
The second panel featured David Henry Hwang (Playwright, Yellow Face and Librettist, An American Soldier); and actors Rosalind Chao (3 Body Problem and What Became of Us) and BD Wong (Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens and What Became of Us).
Juju Chang, David Henry Hwang, Rosalind Chao and BD Wong. Photo by Lia Chang
David Henry Hwang, Rosalind Chao and BD Wong. Photo by Lia Chang
Juju Chang, David Henry Hwang, Rosalind Chao and BD Wong. Photo by Lia Chang
Pooja Reddy, BD Wong, Jose Antonio Vargas, Juju Chang, Rosalind Chao and David Henry Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
David Henry Hwang, Rosalind Chao and BD Wong. Photo by Lia Chang
Jose Antonia Vargas and guests. Photo by Lia Chang
Suzen Murakoshi and Lia Chang
The program was recorded for broadcast on ALL ARTS and will be streamed across all partner platforms at a later date. #aapimonth #aapivoicesrising #asiansinthearts
Lia Chang. Photo by Kalin Ivanov
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer, activist, documentarian and an Award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Lia is also the host and Executive Producer of BACKSTAGE PASS WITH LIA CHANG, an Arts and Entertainment and Lifestyle program that airs on Sundays at 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996 and streams on MNN2. Lia was recently profiled on Asian American Life. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. www.liachang.com www.liachangphotography.com
Lia Chang Photography 