Posts tagged speaking engagements

I really need to remind myself to stop using the word “gorgeous” out here. For a place that’s famous for its actual gorges, I’m sure people are sick of hearing that word. I am such a cheesy tourist…

This week I’m out in Ithaca, visiting Cornell and its Asian & Asian American Center as part of the AC3 After Dark Series. The goal of the series is to provide the campus community with a positive space to engage in discussions on a variety of issues that affects both students’ health and well-being.

I always love speaking to smaller groups of people and get that really intimate feeling, (not that I don’t love giving presentations and showing off my not-so-awesome PowerPoint skills). So needless to say, I’m excited about getting a good conversation going.

Some topics that I am hoping to touch on:

• How I went from being a Facebooker during the day/publisher of Hyphen magazine at night to cofounding Thick Dumpling Skin
  
• Thought process behind the creation of the site
• Lessons learned and learning

So Thursday, April 16th, 2012
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Asian & Asian American Center at Cornell
626 Thurston Avenue, Ground Floor

For more info, click here.

See you there?

- Lisa

Do you want Thick Dumpling Skin at your event? Contact us!

Next weekend, April 6th - 8th, I’ll be in Michigan, Ann Arbor, representing TDS at the Intercollegiate Taiwanese American Student Association (ITASA) midwest conference!

Similar to the workshop that I did for the ITASA east coast conference in Atlanta, I’ll be talking about body image issues within our community and how the portayal of Asian Americans in mass media can construe the way we view ourselves physically. This will go down on Saturday, at 10:30 am in the Undergraduate Science Building.  

Not only am I stoked about visiting UMich for the first time, I am also excited about meeting my fellow presenters. In particular, I am looking forward to meeting the faces behind The Jubilee Project (Videos for a Good Cause) and finally, meeting Stephanie and Christine from Mochi Magazine. (Empowering Asian American Teenage Girls)! As some of you know, I was the former publisher of Hyphen magazine and remember when Mochi Magazine first came out. I imagine we’ll have a lot to talk about.

For more information on how to register (or if you just want to stalk me), go here. 

Seen any positive or negative depictions of Asian Americans on TV, magazines, or elsewhere lately? Send me some links. They might make it into my workshop. Oh, and let me know if there are any special spots to check out! I’m itching to explore.

- Lisa

Do you want Thick Dumpling Skin at your event? Contact us!

Photo courtesy of James Jiang

When I arrived at Yale, it was raining and the weather was gloomy, but that didn’t stop us from having some great conversations. While we were waiting for the students to come, I was informed that there was a TED talk happening during the same time. I’m a huge fan of TED so needless to say, I was very surprised and flattered when roughly thirty students showed up. We barely had enough seats for everyone.

Since we only had about a hour, I centered my talk around a few stories, and consequently, lessons that I learned from my time as publisher at Hyphen and running Thick Dumpling Skin now with Lynn. Then I spent the rest of the time answering questions. All of the questions that I got were well thought out and frankly, some that I’ve had myself both past and present. 

One of the things that I really loved was the setting of the talk. Contrary to the usual podium or stage that I would get, I got to relax in a chair in the living room of a really cozy house (you can kind of get the idea in the picture above), and everyone sat around on couches, on the floors, and we literally had tea. All we were missing is the actual fire in the fire place.

After the talk, I was able to talk more with some of the students over dinner. They are a lively bunch and they made me feel right at home by taking me some place with great food!

There were a few student write ups of the conversation. Read them at The Yale Globalist and at the Yale Asian American Students Alliance blog.

I had shared with the group that I first developed my “Asian American consciousness” during my college years and it’s a little odd to think that what I was doing at Yale was helping others to develop their own. But, to have this kind of opportunity to educate and raise awareness is really a gift, and we all have the power to do it in our every day lives. 

Thank you, Yale, for being a fantastic host, and I look forward to returning soon!

- Lisa

p.s. And yes, I no longer have black hair. It’s silver!

Do you want Thick Dumpling Skin at your event? Contact us!

Back in July, I received an invitation from Yale University to talk about Thick Dumpling Skin at a Master’s Tea (an “intimate gatherings during which students have the opportunity to engage with guests in the areas of academy, government, popular culture, the arts, journalism, etc.”).

Harkness Tower at Yale University.

Needless to say, I was honored and very excited for the opportunity. I felt even more honored when I realized that my name would eventually appear next to some of the famous people that Yale has hosted in past Mater’s Tea!

So, right after NEDA’s conference in LA, I flew out to the east coast. Am starting my little trip with Boston, heading to New Haven tomorrow, and will eventually end up in Ithaca, New York. The weather here has been gorgeous. In fact, I might have even overpacked by bringing arm warmers. Yes, not gloves, arm warmers.

If you have any recommendations for places to check out and foods that I should eat while I’m out here, let me know. All suggestions welcome! For example, I was told to check out J.P. Licks at Harvard Square and found myself this baby (pumpkin custard flavor):

Lisa’s view of her pumpkin custard ice-cream.

Now that I am done drooling, I hope to see you tomorrow at Branford Master’s College House at 80 High Street. The talk is co-sponsored by the Chinese American Student Association (CASA) and it’s free. 

 For more information, go here.

Looking forward to a great discussion!

- Lisa

Do you want Thick Dumpling Skin at your event? Contact us!