The Courage to Begin Again
Mohsin Jamal is a quick learner. It was an essential survival skill for a young child from Afghanistan’s Hazara minority, a persecuted ethnic group
Category: Asian American
Valley of War with no Peace
Fifteen year-olds can be… a lot. It’s often when a rebellious streak first emerges, when a kid might start sneaking out, breaking curfew or perhaps,
Opportunity in Every Hurdle
Ng Lai Goon, eager to fit in with her American grade school peers, chose her American name, Sally, from an elementary school reading primer,
My Self-Honoring Choices
Peggy Nagae grew up in Boring, Oregon, the second generation of her family to be born in the US. With other Japanese Americans, her parents and grandparents
On My Parents’ Shoulders
Growing up in Taiwan, Janet Liu had no memory of her father, who had left to study abroad when she was very young. At age 10, she finally met him
An Orphan’s Long Journey Home
Liani Reeves arrived in the US when she was only a few months old. With no way to trace her ties to her birth family in Korea, she grew up […]
Life Through Her Eyes
For 98-year-old Bertha Lee Saiget, Portland’s Chinatown is more than a mark on a map or a tourist destination. Its history is her life, and she has borne witness to […]
Finding Strength in a Complex Heritage
“Being 100% American means fully accepting your heritage — whatever it is,” Mitzi Loftus says, reflecting on her experience growing up in Oregon
Temple Romance – Live on Stage
Temple Romance goes to South Indian classical flute melodies blended with a strong string and chorale harmonies. Bala’s inspiration for this piece is
Magic Gem – Live on Stage
Magic Gem takes a classic Western melody and adapts it to an Eastern classical vibe using the Chinese erhu, played by Jerry Lin.
Hit the Strings – Live on Stage
Hit the Strings is based on a Middle Eastern musical scale and features the Japanese koto played by Masumi Timson. Many cultural influences flow between
Harmony of Rhythms – Live
Harmony of Rhythms features young musicians from Portland Kalai Kuzhu playing parai drums, one of the oldest instruments in India but one that,
Changing the System from Within
Chanpone Sinlapasai was born in Laos during a bloody civil war, and narrowly escaped to the US with her family at just four years old.
Here From the Very Beginning
Kambiz GhaneaBassiri is one of the nation’s leading scholars of Islam in the United States. In this conversation, he sat down with writer and educator
That Little Girl Got a Shock
Originally from Taiwan, Janet Liu’s family spent years trying to build a home together in the United States despite restrictive immigration policies at that time.