Asian Pacific Islander American Vote – Nonprofit Organization

GO, GO DEMOCRACY -  APIAVote is a fairly new nonprofit organization that creates effective and strategic partnerships to mobilize AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) communities to participate in the electoral and public policy making processes. APIAVote is the only national institution focused on voter mobilization and civic participation of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community.


Leverett Wing, a good friend and fellow Harvard Kennedy School of Government alumnus, is the Executive Director.






Southern Foodways Alliance Fieldtrip photos!

Fun photos from Southern Foodways Alliance fieldtrip to Atlanta’s Buford Highway. I was a “sherpa” leader for the Chinese restaurants tour and Margaret and I hosted the Saturday dinner in Chinatown! We got requests for more Asian Market tours–give us your feedback and tell us what you want!






Food paparazzi!



Checking out squash at Buford Hwy Farmers Market



Hosting new SFA friends, Chinatown






Korean tofu hotpot-sizzling yum!



F



Natalie & Eddie Hernandez, Taqueria del Sol








Eat Local, Organic – Farmers Market Directory

DSCN2412basketweaver-at market












Many folks have asked me about local farmers markets, where to find a directory, and my recent “Pedals to Produce” bike ride, organized by the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition.


Here’s a helpful directory to local farm stands and farmers markets on the Georgia Organics website, integrated with Google Maps so you can find a market near you!


It’s a great time for fall season veggies like root vegetables, cabbage, kale, collards….Ode to the Brassicas!





Social Innovation Forum’s Susan Musinsky Receives Idealist Award

Susan and I worked together at NCCJ (The National Conference for Community & Justice) in Boston. It was my first job after graduate school (Harvard Kennedy School).  We co-facilitated many diversity workshops and ran LeadBoston, the city’s leadership development program. Susan is a compassionate leader, mentor and a dear friend. Social Innovation Forum is a unique national model that channels capital for social impact. Congratulations, Susan!


Social Innovation Forum Director, Susan Musinsky, Recieves the 2010 Social Capital, Inc. Idealist Award


Susan will be honored with the 2010 Social Capital, Inc.  (SCI) 2010 Idealist Award at a special SCI Luncheon on Wednesday, April 7th at the Radisson Hotel in Boston. The Idealist Award is presented annually to individuals who exemplify SCI’s mission of mobilizing neighbors and volunteers to strengthen Boston-area communities.

As you know well, Susan’s work in this area is precisely what has helped to make the Social Innovation Forum a success. Under Susan’s leadership, the Social Innovation Forum has grown from a small volunteer initiative to a respected model for directing resources to the best available approaches for solving social problems. Since 2003, the Social Innovation Forum has worked with 39 social innovators in Greater Boston and connected them to Boston area social impact investors who have provided more than $5 million in cash and in-kind resources.





Sarah Palin, Beauty Pageants & Feminism

Not a recent article, but a good piece by Courtney E. Martin in American Prospect online that sheds some light not only on the controversy and strong opinions over Sarah Palin but also, on how we see ourselves as women and the status of modern day feminism.  As the commentary points out, the debate seems less about her and more revealing about us as women, as a society and country on gender and equality issues. Like the “Who’s Laughing” workshops on race and humor that I organized a decade ago, we may learn a lot by asking a few hard questions, e.g. about our discomfort or pleasure with Palin and taking a closer look at why she evokes such strong responses and controversy. Politics, power and gender dynamics are complex, from internalized sexism to reverse stereotypes, with few simple answers. As one insightful professor pointed out to me in college, asking the hard questions and having the honest conversations may be more important than trying to find the one right answer.


On feminism and gender equity, I would like to focus efforts on alleviating barriers and challenges to success–poverty, healthcare, education, childcare–as well as constructively eliminating remaining bias or prejudice, among men and women. We all have some stereotypes and blindspots to work on.  Women remain grossly underrepresented in Congress (16%) and in top corporate leadership (3% are CEOs). The White House Project is one good organization that promotes and trains women for elective office and civic participation. We definitely need a more diverse and robust pipeline. Running my own campaign and serving in local public office was one of the most fulfilling and challenging experiences. Go Vote, Run, Lead!


As for beauty pageants, folks are surprised when they hear me point out the differences between the scholarship pageants and other bikini-fur coat-and-sports car pageants. Since I attended dozens of pageants to watch my sister compete (and win—she paid part of her college tuition with scholarship awards), I  know the difference between chiffon, gold lame and taffeta,  dyeing matching pumps and how to do Asian glamour make-up. I learned the Top 10 Interview Questions and have seen the best and the worst talent performances. Actually, I would probably be a pretty good American Idol judge!





Asian/Chinese Book Clubs in Atlanta?

I received the following email from a friend recently:


Natalie, I have a friend who is interested in joining a book club with Asian/Chinese members.  Do you know of any Asian/Chinese book club in Atlanta? Any input would be greatly appreciated!


My response:


I don’t know of an Asian book club personally but it seems likely there would be one type or other in Atlanta. Depends on if you mean 1) read books in Chinese, 2) read books about Asia/Asian culture in English or 3) mainly have Asian/Asian American club members who read any books in English/Chinese/another Asian language.


There are many countries/ethnicities in Asia plus distinctions across Chinese groups—Taiwan, mainland China, Hong Kong, Chinese Americans–or maybe a different Asian group and language–Japanese, Thai, Hindi…


A few places to check: Chinese Cultural School www.chineseculturalschool.org or NACA, National Association of Chinese Americans (Atlanta). Also found a helpful website on local book clubs http://www.mosaicbooks.com/bookclub.html


This one sounded interesting: Round World Books is a newly-formed reading group for women (ages 17 and up) residing in North Atlanta.  This group was created to offer diversity to readers of all genres and nationalities. As the world changes, we must learn more about the cultures, traditions and preferences of nationalities other than our own. Round World Books will introduce our members to authors from all over the globe. roundworldbooks@yahoo.com.


Perhaps a good opportunity to start one. Good luck!





CSB photo gallery, courtesy of Cynthia Bohannon-Brown

18a CSB Cooking Demo

10 CSB Cooking Demo 2











Check out new photos here from our Sushi and Eggrolls shows, courtesy of Cynthia Bohannon-Brown and Cbbstudios Photography


Check out our new schedule of classes and events! Ni Hao, Y’all!