Executive Director Minji Chang goes on LA18’s Halo Halo w/ Kat Iniba to talk about the Kollaboration Empower Leadership Conference!
You’re Invited to be EMPOWERED
Kollaboration Executive Director Minji Chang invites you to Kollaboration’s inaugural EMPOWER Leadership Conference, taking place on Saturday August 29 2015 at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, CA. Join us for a day of inspiring keynotes and engaging panel discussions with some of the API communities brightest leaders!
Learn more and register at www.kollabempower.org
Dare to Dream at the Kollaboration Empower Conference
Kollaboration is proud to present our very first annual EMPOWER Conference!
The Kollaboration EMPOWER Conference is an event where API youth & young professionals gather to learn directly from some of the community’s most inspirational professionals. At EMPOWER, attendees will be able to explore a variety of creative career paths, industries, and best practices to apply to making their dreams a reality. This unique experience will bridge communities, generations, industries, and innovative minds.
Exciting Speakers & Panels
Learn from APA leaders and professionals at the top of their game. Topics and focus areas include media production, starting your own company, the relationship between arts & activism, switching careers, and more!
Engaging Interactive Workshops
Become a more effective communicator, team member, and leader through guided workshops covering the arts of storytelling, improvisation, leadership styles, and public speaking.
Inspiring Mentorship Office Hours
Take the opportunity to engage with inspiring leaders from the community in a small group setting.
Find out more at www.KollabEmpower.org and 
Kollaboration Los Angeles 2015 Highlights
Check out our highlight reel from last month’s Kollaboration Los Angeles Showcase! Stay tuned for more clips from the event.
Peter Chung Wins Kollaboration Los Angeles 2015!
It was an electric night last Saturday at the Los Angeles Theatre Center as six finalists played their hearts out in front of their community. In the end, it was Peter Chung who would follow up his 2012 win at Kollaboration SF with another victory in his new home, Los Angeles, securing a spot in this year’s Kollaboration Star finale. Special thanks to all of our finalists, Rosy Donovan, Lisa Sonoda, Track IX, Perry & Danielle, and The Will Park for being part of such a special night. Everyone is looking forwards to seeing what everyone does next!
A full recap of the night is coming soon including coverage of the incredible Lip Sync Battle!
In the meantime, make sure to follow all of our talented finalists:
Perry & Danielle
Facebook
Twitter
Asian Americans Respond to the Tragedy in Charleston
The tragic events in Charleston, SC last week sent shockwaves across the country and has been a stark reminder that racism and hate is still very much alive in the United States. Experts and the public alike have been trying to make sense of why this tragedy occurred and what, or who, could have filled the killer, Dylann Roof, with so much hate that he had to commit this act of mass murder. The Asian American community has been very vocal with condemning the actions of Roof, his racial motivations echoing the Detroit killing of Vincent Chin 33 years ago this day. Here are some of their reactions:
AsAm News responds to Roof’s manifesto, which perversely identifies East Asians as potential allys.
“Don’t waste your time, Dylann Roof. Asian Americans are not your allies. We don’t want anything to do with you. Your nonsensical perverted thinking does not resonate in the Asian American community. We reject you and all you stand for.”
Activist blog Reappropriate calls for an appropriate response from the public and media in labeling this an act of terrorism
“As an Asian American and a woman of colour, I don’t understand how anyone can stand idly by and watch this happen. How can any moral person not be enraged by the relentless assault and murder of Black citizens, who are guilty of nothing more than going about their daily lives while wearing the colour of their skin? Do we really think we are not also stakeholders in this necessary fight for racial justice?”
Rafu Shimpo reports on the responses of APA political and community leaders to the mass shooting
“The Asian American and Pacific Islander community shares the pain of the black community in Charleston, as we have also experienced killings motivated by hate, including the murder of Vincent Chin almost 33 years ago today by Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz,” said Michael W. Kwan, national president of OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates. “He, like the victims of this murderous rampage, had done nothing wrong except to be of a certain color and therefore a target in the mind of a racist killer. Make no mistake, this slaughter of innocents is an act of domestic terrorism designed to instill fear in communities of color and advance a white supremacist political agenda.”
How has the tragedy in Charleston affected your perspective on race, hate, and their institutionalized presence in our culture?
Sources: AsAm News, Reappropriate, Rafu Shimpo
Photo: Dallas Morning News
Top 5 Upcoming, Returning Asians Playing Asian Roles
Moving on from the Aloha and Allison Ng (aka Emma Stone) flop, audiences can now look forward to the upcoming white-washed cast of The Martian directed by Ridley Scott. Though Asian American talent getting overlooked for non-white roles is nothing new, these recent incidents show once again that AAPI talent still isn’t the obvious go-to– even for Asian roles.
However, not all hope is lost. Despite whatever mistakes Hollywood makes, television seems to be faring slightly better. Next season, audiences can look forward to seeing quite a few new AAPI faces on the TV screen, including some returning favorites. Here are five upcoming (and returning) AAPI actors that I’m looking forward to the most. Continue reading “Top 5 Upcoming, Returning Asians Playing Asian Roles”
Kollaboration Update – 6/8/2015
 On Saturday, June 27, Kollaboration Los Angeles triumphantly returns to Downtown Los Angeles for our 2015 showcase. Join us at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in DTLA for a celebration of Asian American talent and passion! Get your tickets now! |
 Watch our Global Executive Director Christine Minji Chang chat with Halo Halo’s host, Kat Iniba on KSCI LA-18!
Introducing Kollaboration ArtistsArguably one of the largest collections of Asian American talent online. Hundreds of artists have graced our stages over 16 years in 16 cities. We’re working on compiling them all here as an incredible resource for Kollaboration and community. We hope that you enjoy it as much as we’re enjoying creating it! |
Get involved with Kollaboration!Kollaboration has open staff positions for our Atlanta, Boston, Seattle, SF and Toronto teams! If you’re interested in contributing to the movement, meeting new friends, & working with amazing artists, apply here: OPEN POSITIONS Kollaboration Blog – CALLING ALL WRITERS!If you’re interested in writing about music, film, literature, tech, culture, society & more for the Kollaboration blog, please send an email to: blog@kollaboration.org!
Check out the latest from the KollabCastEpisode 18 featuring Aaron Yeung – Aloha Hot Aaron Episode 17 featuring Jenny Yang – Tell Us A Story Episode 16 featuring Travis Atreo – Caveman Selfies |
Come check out and participate in one of our local Kollaboration events, now held across the country! Here are some upcoming events:
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New York – Kollaboration New York and TAP-NY are teaming up for a laid back karaoke happy hour at Karaoke Boho West4 on Tuesday, June 9th! |
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Houston – Kollaboration Houston is proud to be promoting tons of talent and the hottest food trucks in the city at the upcoming Food Truck Park event on June 19th! |
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Dallas – Kollaboration Dallas Showcase Auditions are now ongoing! Applications close June 16, CLICK HERE for more information. |
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D.C. – Kollaboration DC is hosting an Open Mic Night this June 27th at The Board and Brew, featuring local artists from the DMV community! |
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“Mellow Yellow” – DumbfoundeadListen to Dumbfoundead’s “Mellow Yellow” produced by Josh Pan. » |
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“adios, ozone” – PlaitwrightsWatch the official music video for Plaitwrights’ “adios, ozone”. » |
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“Lean On (feat. MØ)” – Major Lazer & DJ Snake Choreography by KINJAZ |
Help keep the Kollaboration movement alive & kicking in 2015! Every little bit helps & we are grateful for your support!
Kollaboration’s Global Executive Director Representing on LA18’s Halo Halo!
Kollaboration Global Executive Director Christine Minji Chang went on LA18’s Halo Halo with Kat Iniba to talk about Kollaboration’s recent award by the City of Los Angeles as well as the many projects Kollaboration has brewing!
More Pictures from the Los Angeles City Hall APAHM Event:
Buy your Tickets Now for Kollaboration Los Angeles 2015 – June 27 @ DTLA
On Saturday, June 27, Kollaboration Los Angeles triumphantly returns to Downtown Los Angeles for our 2015 showcase. Join us at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in DTLA for a celebration of Asian American talent and passion!
Six talented finalists from all across Southern California were chosen through an intense and competitive round of auditions to compete for the chance to move on to the Kollaboration Star finale later this fall and perform for the national title and $10,000 grand prize! In addition to the talent competition, Kollaboration Los Angeles will also feature amazing performances from prominent Asian American guest artists (To be Announced!).
Your 2015 Kollaboration Los Angeles Finalists:
Lisa Sonoda, Singer/Songwriter
Perry & Danielle, Acoustic Duo
Peter Chung, Singer/Songwriter
Rosy Donovan, Singer/Songwriter
Track IX, Beatbox
Will Park, Singer/Songwriter
Hosted by Sean Miura, community organizer and producer of the long running Tuesday Night Cafe
Special Performances by hip hop artist Azure
Kollaboration Los Angeles 2015
The Los Angeles Theatre Center
514 S Spring St, Los Angeles, California
Show starts 7:00PM
General Admission tickets on sale now for $20