White House - Here We Come

Taz is going to the White House to accept a Champion of Change Award! Read Angry Asian Man's post on the award right here. You can stream the event live right here at 2pm EST on May 4th: www.whitehouse.gov/live  

I (this is Taz) am incredibly honored and humbled to be receiving a Champion of Change award on the theme of Art and Storytelling from the White  House Asian American and Pacific Islander Initiative. I'll be accepting the award with 9 of my peers - all who are doing amazing artivism for the community. Particularly thrilled to share the stage w/ longtime collaborator Jenny Yang, and my favorite phone banker Jason Fong. My dad and my siblings will be joining me for this week and, inshallah, I'll get to read a couple of my poems at the ceremony too! It will be the first time my dad has ever heard me recite poetry.

As someone who is really trying to figure out what the intersection is between political paradigm shifting and moving people with their hearts and minds - it feels really surprising to be seen, especially by the White House. I feel passionately about using art as a tool for change, for re-centering, for being heard, for creating safe space, for decolonizing how others see people like me. 

Listen to this #MyAAPIStory I recorded at StoryCorps at the link to the right. Be sure to record your own at StoryCorps.me! 

And THANK YOU LOYAL LISTENERS! This would never have happened without all your support in making this podcast a thing. 

Posted on April 30, 2016 and filed under Awards.