Schedule

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Sunday, April 6th:

8:30 – 9:00 AM: Check-in & Light Breakfast

9:00 – 9:30 AM: Introductions

by UNC SAAS and NCAAT/NCAAT In Action

9:30 – 10:15 AM: Keynote Address

by Shania Khoo

10:15 – 10:30 AM: Coffee/Tea Break

10:30 – 11:25 PM: Session #1

Living in Legacies of Resistance: Building Asian American Studies for the Contemporary South

• Though historic models of Ethnic Studies departments emerging from the West Coast are undoubtedly crucial to our own ongoing advocacy for Asian American Studies curricula, we must also recognize that these models of knowledge and activism can never be totalizing, especially as we reckon with the history of diasporic communities in North Carolina and the South more broadly. Looking to the long history of grassroots resistance, labor organizing, and the Black radical tradition in the American South, this workshop seeks to augment our collective understanding of Ethnic Studies in the Triangle area.
• Duke ASA (rm 1005)

Oral History is Activism

• Learn about how to use oral history in creative ways to advance activism and advocacy efforts by historically marginalized communities. The workshop will be led by Anna Spencer and Diana Koo. Participants will discuss parallels between what these communities have been able to achieve using oral histories, and how oral history could be a valuable tool for the grassroots advocacy and education work that they are doing!
• Marian Jackson Center (rm 1009)

Decolonizing South Asian Identity: Unpacking the Past, Rebuilding the Future

• From language to beauty standards, from caste to queerness — colonialism’s impact on South Asia still lingers in ways we don’t always realize. This workshop dives into how British, Dutch, Portuguese, and French colonialism reshaped gender, caste, colorism, queerness, and identity across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and beyond. Together, we’ll unpack the past, challenge internalized colonial legacies, and explore what decolonization looks like for South Asians today. Expect engaging discussions, interactive storytelling, and a space to reimagine our histories on our own terms.
• UNC Sangam (rm 3024)

11:40 – 12:35 PM: Session #2

Revitalize: Exploring Asian Spirituality and Wellness Practices

• This workshop explores nutrition, movement, and traditional medicine in Asian cultures and how they intersect with Western wellness trends. Our workshop, will discuss topics such as whitewashed Asian practices, the commodification of wellness traditions, mental health in Asia, and health disparities within Asian communities. The workshop will conclude by examining how to reclaim these spaces.
• NCSU ASA (rm 1005)

Passing the Torch: Revisiting Asian American Stories, Futures, and Legacies

• ‘Asian America’ is composed of myriad communities and identities. While banding together as a coalition of peoples will help us propel broader societal changes, how might re-centering individual experiences and leaving room for difference actually reinforce the idea of ‘Asian America’ and strengthen our collective futurities? Join us in reflecting on the role of heritage in our stories, reminding ourselves of the convergence and divergence in our perspectives, and reimagining the world we wish to create for future generations of Asian Americans!
• UNC MASH (rm 1009)

Roots, Remembrance, and Resistance: Creating and Sustaining Asian American Studies

Beyond Fairness: A Global Lens on Colorism

• This workshop explores colorism as a global issue, analyzing its historical roots, structural impact, and lived experiences. Drawing from sociological research on skin tone stratification and the Carolina Population Center’s work on light privilege, we’ll examine the skin-lightening industry, Bollywood’s brownface, media representation, and other pertinent topics. The discussion will also highlight an international student’s journey as a dark-skinned Indian woman across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas, unpacking how mobility shapes racialized experiences. Through an interactive dialogue, we’ll explore how colorism intersects with class, gender, and colonial histories, fostering reflection on ways to challenge its presence in society.
• The Social Science Club at UNC (Nelson Mandela Auditorium)

12:35 – 1:30 PM: Lunch Break

Special thanks to Momo’s Master

1:30 – 2:25 PM: Session #3

Kashmir x Palestine: Parallels & Differences in Struggles Against Settler Colonialism

• Learn about the histories, peoples, and cultures of Kashmir and Palestine. This workshop seeks to foster dialogue about these two regions especially underscoring their parallels and differences in their respective struggles against settler colonialism. Our event is open to anyone and everyone, creating a safe space for constructive discourse and education. We will have a presentation followed by discussion and a hands-on activity.
• UNC Monsoon (rm 1005)

Clay, Verse & Create: Unwind through South Asian Art Forms

• Journey through the vibrant artistic traditions of South Asia in our interactive workshop! South-Asian art forms — Clay Ganesha Making, South Asian poetry and Chukkalu Muggulu/Rangoli — that participants can engage with. Participants will then select two of the three stations that they would like to work at, and begin working on the first one, transitioning to their second choice after 15 minutes.
• We Are SAATH x UNC BSA (rm 1009)

Re-Defining Youth Asian American Identities

• The history of the Asian American community is deeply intertwined with evolving perceptions—both from within and outside the community. Throughout America’s story, Asian Americans have been cast as outsiders and insiders, as leaders and laborers, as excluded and embraced. This workshop examines how Asian American identity has shifted over time and what it means for our generation and those to come. Join us as we come together to share experiences, learn from one another, and mobilize for the future. AASA, SEASA, Kasama, BSA, and Sangam invite you to Re-Defining Youth Asian American Identities—a conversation on history, identity, and the power of our voices.
• UNC AASA x UNC BSA x UNC Kasama x UNC Sangam x UNC SEASA (Nelson Mandela Auditorium)

2:25 – 3:00 PM: Coffee/Tea Break

Special thanks to Meantime Coffee

3:00 – 4:15 PM: Panel Discussion

• Returning to the political origins of Asian American as a organizing tool to “unite those who want to united”, this panel will amplify Asian American who are doing political or organizing work in the US South to galvanize the community. Grounding the discussion in our geopolitical location, what does it mean to be Asian American in the South? How do we mobilize one of the fastest growing racial minority populations in North Carolina?

4:15 – 4:30 PM: Closing Remarks and Announcements