March 2022
Volume 17 Issue 3
Printmaking Artist Taiko Chandler
Founder of Indie Creative Co. Chea Franz
Honoring the Lives Lost: One Year Anniversary of Atlanta Spa Shootings
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PRESIDENT’S NOTE
Annie Guo VanDan, President Asian Avenue magazine Connect with us! hello@asianavemag.com @asianavemag Thank you for your nominations for this year’s Asian American Hero Awards. Stay tuned for our May issue announcing this year’s awardees!
I write this note with a heavy heart, as families are being torn apart and lives being lost in Ukraine. Like many of you, I am watching the news every day and searching for ways to provide support to the victims. I’ve donated to Razom for Ukraine (razomforukraine.org) that is sending critical medical supplies to Ukraine. Locally, the nonprofit Ukrainians of Colorado is collecting medical supplies and equipment, as well as financial donations. Connect with the organization on Facebook @UkrainiansofColorado. Additionally, this month is the one year anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings that killed eight people, including six Asian women. I feel heartbroken that March is also Women’s History Month, a time for women to be celebrated for our achievements, yet we know that misogyny (prejudice against women) still exists. It has been painful to see in this past year, more Asian women being harrassed, beaten, and killed—including the murders of Michelle Go and Christina Yuna Lee—both in New York in recent months. In this issue, we honor the lives of those lost in Atlanta and all of the victims of anti-Asian hate. We join Asian Americans Advancing Justice and organizations across the nation on March 12 for a day of solidarity as we hold our communities close and remember the lives lost and families impacted. We recommit to expanding and deepening our community of care for all, beginning in Atlanta and spreading throughout the country and the world. A day of solidarity may be spending time with loved ones, gathering with community, or simply cultivating care within your own emotional space. Please take care of yourselves and each other.
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March 2022 | President’s Note
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EVENT: March events EVENT: Artist and writer traci kato-kiriyama’s tour will include a stop in Denver on April 16
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SPOTLIGHT: Robert Tanaka competes in 2020 Paralympics for judo, representing Team USA
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COMMUNITY NEWS: Nathan Yip Foundation hosts most successful Chinese New Year Celebration in its 20-year history FAREWELL MESSAGE: A farewell to community leader Tarika Cefkin INSIDE STORY: Indie Creative Co., founded by Chea Franz, is a PR firm that amplifies food, lifestyle brands
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March 2022 | Table of Contents
Editorial Director MARY JENEVERRE SCHULTZ
Web Designer JASON ZHANG
COVER STORY: Honor Asian American Pacific Islander lives, one year after the Atlanta spa shooting FEATURE: Learn about On Havana Street and how to support small businesses in the month of March ON SCENE: Asian Pacific Development Center students and their families receive Lunar New Year baskets Happy Living Adult Daycare celebrates its five years with grand opening at a new location in Aurora Families gather at the Far East Center to enjoy Lunar New Year festivities
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ASIAN AVENUE MAGAZINE P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222 Tel: 303.937.6888 E-mail: hello@asianavemag.com www.asianavemag.com
President ANNIE GUO VANDAN
Graphic Designer/Videographer LIJIN ZHAO
ART: Meet Taiko Chandler, a print making artist in Denver
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Publisher & Founder CHRISTINA YUTAI GUO
Find us @AsianAveMag #AsianAveMag
Marketing Manager JOIE HA Editor DAMIAN SIU Staff Writer PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG
Contact us at hello@asianavemag.com or visit our new office at 14015 E. Evans Avenue Aurora, CO 80014 on the cover In this issue, we honor the lives lost to antiAsian hate and violence including the six Asian women who died in the tragic shooting last year at Atlanta spas. Since then, Asians and Asian Americans have continued to be targeted for attacks with the deaths of more Asian seniors and women across the nation. On March 12, we will observe a national day of remembrance and healing in honor of the victims and their families. Asian Avenue magazine (ISSN 1932-1449) reserves all copyrights to this issue. No parts of this edition can be reproduced in any manner without written permission. The views expressed in articles are the authors’ and not necessarily those of Asian Avenue magazine.
Looking to promote your business? Asian Avenue magazine offers businesses a cost-effective way to reach consumers in the Denver/Boulder metro areas and beyond. For more information, call 303.937.6888 or e-mail hello@ asianavemag.com for our media kit and ad rates. Asian Avenue magazine is in association with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network.
upcoming events Film screening of Southeast Asian Artist: Nguyễn Trinh Thi
2022 Asian American Leaders in Mental Health Scholarship
Thu, March 17, 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM Cost: Free and open to general public Museum of Boulder at Tebo Center 2205 Broadway, Boulder More information at: eastwindow.org
Paradise Tavern 9239 Park Meadows Dr, Lone Tree Tickets: $15 Child (under 12) | $27 Adult More information at: jaihoparty.com
East Window partners with University of Colorado, Boulder to present a series of film screenings of contemporary Southeast Asian Artists. Letters from Panduranga is an essay film in the form of a letter exchange. Nguyễn’s personal and poetic film explores the complex legacy of cultural and historical occupation and its ongoing presence in the indigenous Cham community.
Holi Hai: Festival of Colors Bollywood Party Sat, March 26, 12 PM – 5 PM
For one day only, the courtyard at Paradise Tavern will be transformed into an enchanted land of vibrant colors and amazing music! Come dressed in white and play with colors at this family-friendly Bollywood party! Holi Hai, the Festival of Colors is a celebration of the coming of spring, the joy of friendship, and equality for all. The event will include Holi special dance performances, Holi color throw, Bollywood dance lesson and party, food and drinks for purchase and professional photography and videography. While deeply rooted in Bollywood and Bhangra music, DJ Prashant’s sets feature a blend of the world’s hottest dance music genres. The interactive dance lessons sprinkled in his DJ sets compel everybody to rock the dance floor, transforming any dance party into a full-fledged Bollywood musical.
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The 2022 Asian American Leaders in Mental Health Scholarship is an opportunity that supports individuals who identify as Asian American and Pacific Islander and have a desire to pursue a career in clinic mental health practice. Students who meet ALL of the following criteria are encouraged to apply • U.S. applicants of Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian Multiracial ethnicity as defined by the U.S. Census • Preference is given to applicants who are the first generation in their family to attend college or graduate school • Preference is given to applicants who are currently enrolled in a counseling psychology master’s degree program with a pathway to clinical licensure • Have indicated a commitment to counseling communities of color and utilizing a social justice lens. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2022, and all materials can be submitted through The Denver Foundation Scholarship Manager, at denverfoundation. org/grants/scholarshipmanager.
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Event Calendar | Asian Avenue Magazine
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“Navigating With(out) Instruments” with traci kato-kiriyama By Stacey Shigaya
Navigating With(out) Instruments: The Workshop
Presented by Sakura Foundation Saturday, April 16, 2022, 5 to 7pm Jewish Community Center – Social Hall 350 S Dahlia St, Denver, CO 80246 Free parking Workshop tickets are $15 and includes light snacks, a journal and pen. Register in advance at: tinyurl.com/57pzk4fa Learn more at traciakemi.com Denver is fortunate to be a stop on author and activist traci kato-kiriyama’s tour to share her fascinating new book: Navigating With(out) Instruments (NWI). traci (they+she) is an award-winning multi-, inter-, and trans-disciplinary artist, recognized for their work as a writer, performer, theatre deviser, cultural producer, and community organizer. Sakura Foundation is pleased to host a reading + workshop with traci on Sat. April 16th from 5 to 7pm. The creative writing and storytelling workshop portion of the evening is oriented to the many themes of traci’s book—from memory excavation, belonging, (dis)ease, death, and transformation; to people, place, community organizing, creative process, collective care, and love. traci will read from NWI and take you through the themes of her book and make space for folks to “build” poems and other pieces for storytelling and writing (dialogue, letter writing, etc.), oriented to each participant’s own “Table of Contents”—a writing exercise in itself that will begin the workshop process. You’ll be asked to take risks and be open about your process, but will never be forced to share aloud. An easy entry point into writing again or continuing to write or even to writing anew—all are welcome. “Navigating With(out) Instruments is a journey of several years— queer body diving into love, an aging body searching beyond loss, a surviving body dancing through (dis)ease—navigating through a context of Death Moments, past /ever-present tensions of war and violence, trauma and ideation, memory excavation...and the continuum of what keeps me sane and on a continual path of gratitude + healing and fighting forward—our relations, communities, proactive solidarity, collective resistance...our places, process, art, and ultimately what I live and die for again and again—our peoples, our love.” – traci kato-kiriyama
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March 2022 | Upcoming Event
Young Tanaka (right) with sensei Moore and his son
Robert Tanaka competes in the 2020 Paralympics, representing team USA and his Japanese American heritage in Tokyo
Tanaka, from Denver, is a senior at the University of Southern California
I am Robert Tanaka Jr., a 2020 Tokyo Paralympian in judo. My younger brother, Nicholas, and I are Yonsei (fourth generation Japanese American), who were born with albinism, a genetic disorder which affects the pigmentation in our skin, eyes, and hair, as well as our vision. My skin is very light-complexioned, which makes me susceptible to the sun. I am also visually impaired or considered legally blind. Because of my visual impairment, it was difficult to participate in the usual sports like baseball and basketball. My parents wanted me to participate in athletics, so they took me to a judo class at Denver Judo when I was five years old. At my first class, I was reluctant to get on the tatami (mat). The judo sensei (coach) Scott Moore, who also happened to be albino, was a gold medalist in judo for Team USA at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics. He encouraged me to get on the mat and try it out. After some basic instruction, sensei Moore asked me to throw him. Unbeknownst to me at the time, sensei Moore
jumped over me when I tried to throw him, so it appeared (and felt like) I had thrown him. That throw was the start of my love of judo and the beginning of my journey to represent the USA in the 66 Kg. weight class at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. As fate would have it, sensei Moore was my coach at the Tokyo games. Since that first day at judo class, I made it my goal and dream to make it to the Paralympics. There were many times I wanted to quit because it was a lot of hard work and sacrifice, but thanks to my family, friends, fellow Judokas (judo players), and senseis, I continued to work towards my dream. After 16 years of hard practices, sacrifices, wins and losses at tournaments all over the world, I achieved my goal. Competing in the Paralympics was an incredible honor and experience, especially because Tokyo was the birthplace of judo and because of my Japanese American heritage. When I walked into the Budokan for my first match at the Paralympics, I felt nervous but also extremely proud. That patch on the back of my judo gi (uniform) with “USA” and “Tanaka” made me feel incredibly proud to represent my country and my family at the highest level of competition. Unfortunately, I did not medal, but to be one of the top twelve Judokas in the world to qualify for the Paralympics was very rewarding. I’ll never forget the experience of walking with my teammates in the opening ceremony. Looking toward the future, I hope to qualify and compete in the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles. I plan get more involved in teaching and coaching judo, continue to be active in the Asian American community, and finish my graduate studies in Econometrics at University of Southern California.
Tanaka competed in judo at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics
Spotlight | Asian Avenue Magazine
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NATHAN YIP FOUNDATION
CHINESE NEW YEAR
The Nathan Yip Foundation’s 2022 Chinese New Year Celebration was their most successful event to date—raising more than $350,000 for the benefit K-12 school projects in rural Colorado. On February 12, the foundation celebrated its 20th anniversary with supporters at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in downtown Denver. With stunning Chinese New Year decorations highlighting the Year of the Tiger in every corner, guests enjoyed a festive night market, Chinese calligraphy by Harber Chang, lion dancing by Nguyen Thieu Lion Dance, live music by SolOverLuna, and a casino with table games.
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March 2022 | Community News
The Event Chairs Julia and Rusty Porterfield presented a spectacular evening with the leadership of Executive Director Tarika Cefkin and Board President Jon Olafson. Anne Trujillo of Denver’s 7News and Reggie Rivers emceed the celebration before a breathtaking backdrop. The event honored its founders Linda and Jimmy Yip, who reflected on the past 20 years and looked ahead at the next 20. They also announced their jaw-dropping $30,000 gift to the Nathan Yip Foundation’s endowment fund! Learn more about the Nathan Yip Foundation at: nathanyipfoundation.org. Photo Credit: Travis Broxton
A Farewell to Tarika Cefkin Last month, Nathan Yip Foundation announced that its Executive Director would be leaving for a new opportunity!
2022 Nathan Yip Foundation Chinese New Year Celebration
“It is with mixed emotions that I announce my departure from the Nathan Yip Foundation to embark on a new international adventure. I have officially accepted a position with the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer, and begin my training in Washington, D.C. in April,” shared Tarika Cefkin. To learn more or apply for the Executive Director position, visit: nathanyipfoundation.org/contact/careers.
Tarika,
Our dearest cat-loving, outdoor hiking, ukulele singing, golf cart driving, community organizing friend —
2019 Asian American Hero Awards Ceremony
Like you, the news of your departure from not only the Nathan Yip Foundation (NYF) but the state of Colorado (and country!) has filled us with mixed emotions. In a time where so much turmoil is happening in the world, we know that you will serve the U.S. with tremendous honor and make a significant global impact in this new role. We are proud of you for continuing to reach for the stars in your career and fulfilling your passion for foreign service. We thank you for your leadership and service in Colorado, and specifically in the AAPI community. As a 2019 Asian American Hero of Colorado Award recipient, you will always be a hero here and the impact of your work and contributions to NYF, Colorado Dragon Boat, Insight Colab Theatre, the Thai community, and beyond—will continue to have a ripple effect for years to come.
Founders of the Nathan Yip Foundation, Jimmy Yip and Linda Yip, with Tarika Cefkin
2021 Nathan Yip Foundation Fundraising Event
Personally, I will miss you as my dear friend of over a decade. I have loved growing with you on our shared journeys in finding ourselves and also the good in humanity. I will miss your radiant smile and contagious energy. Wishing you a happy and safe next chapter! Annie Guo VanDan, President of Asian Avenue Magazine
2021 at Bonnie Blues Event Venue
2014 Double Tenth Celebration
Nathan Yip Foundation | Asian Avenue Magazine
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Indie Creative Co., founded by Chea Franz, is a PR firm that amplifies food, lifestyle and cause-driven brands By Mary Jeneverre Schultz
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March 2022 | Inside Story
Instead of grinding at a traditional 9 to 5 job, Chea Franz created a position for herself that involves her background in public relations and a love for food and craft beer. As a child of restaurant owners, Franz, 38, is familiar with long hours, the hustle and bustle of patrons, and the dining hospitality. She grew up in restaurants, taking naps in corner booths after the lunch rush and folding napkins with staff. Her first job was packing to-go orders in the kitchen when she was 9. This passion for the food industry sparked a desire to share the stories behind food and beverage. A career in public relations and marketing has become rewarding for Franz, who lives in Fort Collins and will be moving to Denver in the coming months. “I enjoyed the writing aspect,” she said. “It’s a fun way to elevate the brand through storytelling.” The Evolution of a Name: Chea Franz Chea Franz legally changed her full name once she got married, taking her husband’s last name Franz and changing her first name to Chea, pronounced “Shay.” The name was a nickname given to her by a high school friend. Most of her Mandarin Chinese-speaking family still calls her Cheau-Ru. “My name before I changed it was Cheau-Ru Tzou (pronounced CHOW-roo Zo). It means intelligent, splendid, exquisite, deft, and nimble,” she said. “So cool! Why on earth would I want to change it?!” The rise of attacks against Asian communities across the country has been a time of reflection for Franz. She remembers her early years, growing up in “white spaces”—trying to fit in, noticing the lack of diversity in her neighborhood, experiencing microaggressions, and feeling complacent when faced with racism. During her childhood years, classmates would mispronounce her name and she never corrected them. Now as an adult, she hopes to explore her Taiwanese culture more deeply and share stories from people with diverse backgrounds. She is also considering hyphenating her maiden and last name. Parents in the Restaurant Industry Growing up in Westminster, Colo., Franz watched her parents manage and run local Chinese restaurants throughout the state. She shared that there are likely a number of individuals in the Asian restaurant industry that have once worked with her parents, Shirley Tzou and William Tzou. Her parents owned restaurants throughout Colorado, including Mandarin Garden in Northglenn and Downtown Denver. The downtown location was located on 18th and Champa at Denver Place, next to the Embassy Suites Hotel (now the Apartments at Denver Place) where visiting celebrities would dine or order takeout. A Career and a Passion Unite Before her career in public relations took off, she ex-
plored the beer culture through working for Fort Collins Brewery (no longer operating) and enjoying the craft beer scene in Fort Collins, while she freelanced for local PR firms. In addition, she wrote for PorchDrinking.com and was promoted to the position of National Content Editor. After several years, she stepped down from the role to start her own company, Indie Creative Co. Pandemic Times After much reflection with her husband, she started her own company focusing on food, beverage, and lifestyle. But the company launch started a week before the pandemic shutdown. “It was a crazy time to start a business, especially one that focuses on the food and beverage industry. These industries were heavily impacted by the pandemic,” she said. During pandemic times, she reflected on the brewery industry and hoped for more diverse representation. Understanding that there’s still a long way to go, she is optimistic! The Makeup of Indie Creative Co. With seven clients under her belt, she especially enjoys representing breweries. “Beer was something I enjoyed,” said Franz, adding that she wanted to combine her love for beer into her career. For a list of her current clients, visit indiecreative co.com. On the beverage side, her current clients include WeldWerks Brewing, LUKI Brewery, the Colorado Brewers Guild, Our Mutual Friend Brewing and Adrift Tiki Bar, to name a few. She admits her client roster are her friends. “It makes me smile that everyone is doing so well,” she said. After the tragic death of George Floyd, she aimed to work with cause-driven brands that serve marginalized communities. This is why she conducted a cold call to a potential client. She has since been working with Urban Sanctuary, an inclusive wellness and yoga studio in Five Points, that welcomes all different kinds of ideas, beliefs, practices and people. Free Time Fun When Franz isn’t working on Indie Creative Co., she enjoys visiting breweries, hiking, yoga and is a big foodie. She is also a proud fur parent of Lucy, a breed of Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel and Poodle mix). Learn more about Indie Creative Co. and their services at indiecreativeco.com. Indie Creative Co. | Asian Avenue Magazine
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TA I KO CHANDLER Japanese Printmaking Artist in Denver
Taiko Chandler lives and works in Denver. She was born and raised in Nagano, Japan and originally trained as a nurse. Today, she is an artist who works primarily in printmaking and, more recently, site-specific installation art. Her work has been exhibited in Colorado, Texas and New Mexico, as well as at numerous print fairs throughout the U.S. Her work is in private and public collections in the U.S. and Japan, including the Cleveland Clinic Art Program, University of Colorado Denver Business School, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the Denver Art Museum (Education Collection).
What inspires you? And how would you describe your art? Everyday life experiences from past to present inspire me – nature, politics, human behavour, humanity, whatever speaks to me. It is not easy to explain, but my art is the result of a complex set of reactions and natural instincts that interact inside of me. To explain my art, the words that come to mind are: dynamic, meticulous, intense.
What was your journey to becoming an artist? Even though I was initially trained and worked as a nurse in Japan, I have always been interested in color, form, or texture in nature or really any kind of material. Looking back to my childhood, I was sensitive to and curious about my everyday surroundings or life experiences. This only increased as I moved from country to country (Japan, United Kingdom, and United States), and from state to state (FL, TX, and now CO). These impulses have always been present in my life and I see them as a foundation that I build on every day with my art. When I moved to Denver in 2011, I took my first art class at the Art Students League of Denver, and it happened to be printmaking. Although it was initially challenging, I loved it by the end of the course. Since then, I have focused intensively on learning the medium and now I find myself here, an artist!
What do you miss the most about Japan? I try and return to Japan once a year. Of course, I miss my friends and family, but also aspects of Japanese culture, such as the food, architecture (old and new), nature (my home prefecture is Nagano), and simply being there. But, what I also realize more and more is that, although there are many things I miss about Japan, there are also many elements to my life in the US that I can only get here. Increasingly, I feel comfortable with those multicultural realities of my life.
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March 2022 | Art
What exhibition are you most proud of? It is hard to choose one, but I think the current exhibition at Denver Botanic Gardens is a statement show, for me. Indelible Garden: Prints by Taiko Chandler is the accumulation of prints and installation pieces over a number of years, where I pushed myself in terms of technique, process, and materials. For me, process is a very important part of my work. I enjoy that it allows me to invest my passions and curiosities in the art, but also poses many challenges and problems that need to be solved. Two of the three installations at Denver Botanic Gardens are not permanent and were created on site, piece-by-piece, in seven days. Given the short timeframe (these kinds of installations normally take longer, for me), there were many decisions that had to be made – the process felt very instinctive and spontaneous, and I was emotional when I finally felt the work was done.
Recent Fine Prints from Oehme Graphics On view March 11 though April 9 Space Annex 95 Cherokee Street, Denver Photos by: Oehme Graphics
Installation view of Indelible Garden: Prints by Taiko Chandler.
The Indelible Garden: Prints by Taiko Chandler Now through April 3, 2022 Denver Botanic Gardens | 1007 York St, Denver botanicgardens.org/exhibits/indeliblegarden-prints-taiko-chandler
“Memories of nature have left an indelible mark on Taiko Chandler’s identity, one which is reflected in her delicate, undulating abstractions. Her organic compositions are not literal representations of plants and rivers, but instead represent emotions interpreted through form and color.” Taiko Chandler | Asian Avenue Magazine
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Colorado’s AAPI Community Sets to Honor the Victims of Anti-Asian Hate and Seek Change Reverberations are still felt in Colorado’s Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community one year after eight people were killed in the Atlanta Metro Area – amongst whom were six Asian American women. On Tuesday, March 15, 2022 from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., a collective of Colorado’s AAPI nonprofits and community members will host a panel discussion at the Colorado School of Public Health’s Injury & Violence Prevention Center. On March 16, 2021, Daoyou Feng, Hyun Jung Grant, Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz, Suncha Kim, Paul Andre Michels, Soon Chung Park, Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Ashley Yaun, and Yong Ae Yue were killed. Since the start of the pandemic, Asians and Asian Americans have experienced a sharp increase in discrimination and violence. In Colorado, 119 incidents were reported to the national Stop AAPI Hate reporting platform in 2020 and 2021 with the majority of incidents being verbal attacks. While heartbroken, many in Colorado’s AAPI community seek change, as it honors the lives of those lost in Atlanta, as well as all the other Asians and Asian Americans who have been victimized
since. The panel will discuss resources for coping with the trauma associated with community victimization, and tools for where we – as a community – go from here. Panel speakers are as follows: • Dr. Emmy Betz, Director, Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative, Injury and Violence Prevention Center • Harry Budisidharta, Executive Director of Asian Pacific Development Center • Dr. DJ Ida, Executive Director of National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association • Brian Sugioka, Chief Deputy District Attorney, 18th Judicial District Register for the event at: tinyurl.com/honorvictims-panel. This event is organized by Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado, Asian Pacific Development Center, and Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network, and supported by: Asian Chamber of Commerce, Asian Girls Ignite, Asian Real Estate Association of America Greater Denver, Colorado Asian Pacific United, Community Organizing for Radical Empathy, Japanese Arts Network, and Sakura Foundation. (Event flyer on page 17).
Community members from all backgrounds attended the vigil to show solidarity
Allyson Masunaga Goto (left) and Alyssa Noguchi (right) attended the Denver vigil on March 20, 2021 for the Atlanta shooting victims
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March 2022 | Cover Story
Cody Chang (second from right) organized and spoke at the candlelight vigil in downtown Denver on March 20, 2021
On the One Year Anniversary of Atlanta Spa Shootings, We Call for Reflection and Action A collective statement by Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta On March 16, 2021, eight people, including six Asian women massage workers, were killed at three spas in the Metro Atlanta area. As we mark the one year anniversary of this tragedy, we honor the victims, the survivors, and their families. We place their healing, care, and peace at the heart of our remembrance. We are grateful to the local and national communities of care that blossomed over the past year and that have centered the families of victims and survivors. We have centered those most directly impacted by connecting them to critical services, and raising funds for victims and their families. For our broader community, we continue to tend to the process of healing by finding inspiration in the traditions of our elders. We are also continuing to advocate for policies and solutions that address the root causes of violence and hate so that we may all live in safe communities. We have held our community members close as we navigate loss, grief, and trauma not only in the wake of the Atlanta spa shootings but in experiencing continued violence, misogyny, and racism against Asian Americans in Georgia and beyond. Most recently the brutal murders of Michelle Alyssa Go and Christine Yuna Lee within weeks of each other in New York City have renewed the fears and anxieties of Asian and Asian American women and femmes who are subjected to both gender and race-based discrimination and violence. In Albuquerque, NM two Asian massage workers were killed during robberies at Asian spas, heightened the fears felt by Asian American and immigrant small business owners. These highly visible tragedies also call our attention to the everyday experiences that the most vulnerable members of our communities face in the cross-hairs of white supremacy, misogyny, and imperialism: the racial and sexual exploitations wrought by the presence of U.S. militarism in Asia and the Pacific; the resulting geopolitical upheavals that force migration; the daily terrors of a system that criminalizes immigrants, massage workers, and sex workers; housing and financial insecurity; and the ongoing abuses and dangerous conditions that migrant, low-wage, service workers face daily. To heal we must grapple with these truths and address white supremacy and misogyny as the root causes of violence and hate. To do so requires us to hold uncomfortable dualities. It means acknowledging the pain and fear that motivates some victims and community members to call for carceral solutions
such as increased police presence, hate crimes legislation, and other forms of punishment; while at the same time interrogating how these responses criminalize and cause harm in the name of public safety. Grappling with the truth also means confronting anti-Blackness in our Asian American communities. We cannot allow the tragedy of the shootings in Atlanta to justify policies that expand law enforcement and its disproportionate impacts on Black communities. Rather, alongside our Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Arab, and Pacific Islander allies, we are inspired to reimagine what justice, healing, love, and hope can look like for our communities. Over the past year, we witnessed messages and acts of community care, empowerment, and solidarity reverberating in streets, parks, and community centers as more people have come together, bound by grief, and committed to radical change. Together, we commit to push beyond the oppressive boundaries of white supremacy and anti-Blackness and build sustaining communities of care. We can’address the needs of victims of racialized and gender-based violence while also holding our elected leaders accountable for creating policies that center our communities. This includes investing in community-based organizations that are often on the frontlines of caring for victims, survivors, and vulnerable communities in the languages they use and with sensitivity to their cultures, livelihoods, and immigration statuses. Our elected leaders must provide long-standing investments and resources for the families of victims and survivors well after the immediate crisis has abated, access to victims’ compensation funds, fully fund violence prevention and restorative justice programs, and public infrastructure and institutions focused on public health and education. Together, we can struggle in more powerful ways for community safety and healing, for racial and economic justice, for stable housing, for access to quality health care, including mental health and education and a liveable wage, for the right to vote, for the right to organize, and for art and beauty in our neighborhoods. On this anniversary, we remember the lives taken and the families who still struggle without their loved ones, and we recommit to expanding and deepening our community of care for all communities, beginning in Atlanta and spreading throughout the country and the world. See the full list of organizations that signed on to this statement at: advancingjustice-atlanta.org. Honoring AAPI Lives | Asian Avenue Magazine
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OBSERVE, JOIN or ORGANIZE
solidarity events in the Denver community On March 12, join Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta in remembrance and solidarity as we mark the one year anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings that occurred on March 16, 2021. Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta was the organization that led rapid response efforts to directly support victims, survivors, and their families last year. They invite the national community to observe, organize, and join solidarity events on March 12. A day of solidarity may be spending time with loved ones, gathering with community, or simply cultivating care within your own emotional space. Deenver will hold a panel dicussion entitled “One Year Later: Honoring the Victims of Anti-Asian Hate” on Tuesday, March 15 (information in flyer below). If you are organizing any events for March 12, please connect with @asianavemag on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter so we can help share your events.
Above photos are from the Stop AAPI Hate rally held at the Colorado State Capitol on March 27, 2021 organized by CORE DEI and partners
ATL Remembrance Day supportive space
Wednesday, March 16, 2022 10AM - 8PM
3/16 will be a complicated day for Asian Americans. On the anniversary of the Atlanta shootings, Denver Asian Collective will be holding an open space for supporting each other. Come, as you are, and cowork, mingle, or just rest in the company of other Asians. This is a space for us to collect and just be, and to support each other, however that looks for each individual’s needs. This will be a BIPOC-only space, to ensure a safe, Asian-centered supportive environment. Learn more about the space at: denverasiancollective.com.
Bystander Intervention Training
Friday, March 25, 2022 | 3pm to 4pm Happy Living Center | 14015 E Evans Ave, Aurora Register at: tinyurl.com/bystander-intervention-co The one-hour, interactive training will teach you Hollaback!’s 5 D’s of bystander intervention methodology. We’ll start by talking about the types of disrespect that Asian and Asian American folks are facing right now -- from microaggressions to violence -using a tool we call the “spectrum of disrespect.” You’ll learn what to look for and the positive impact that bystander intervention has on individuals and communities. We’ll talk through five strategies for intervention: distract, delegate, document, delay, and direct; and how to prioritize your own safety while intervening. We’ll have time at the end for practice, and you’ll leave feeling more confident intervening the next time you see Anti-Asian and Asian American harassment online or in-person. Snacks and bubble tea will be provided. Presented by:
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March 2022 | Cover Story
Visit On Havana Street in March to support small businesses Tous Les Jours Sushi Katsu Katsu Ramen
What is On Havana Street? The Havana Business Improvement District (BID) or On Havana Street, is a special district in Aurora, Colo. created in 2007 by business and neighborhood leaders and Aurora city staff working together to build a stronger, better community. There are 209 real commercial properties and approximately 2,100 businesses in the area. The district’s retail shopping centers are 95% leased and in a very desirable area, which is the top five producing areas for the City of Aurora sales tax generation and revenue. The businesses generated $23.8 million in sales taxes for the City of Aurora in 2021, representing 9.64% of the sales taxes collected within the city last year. A nine-member board, made up of all sizes and types of businesses from different sections of On Havana Street, oversees district programming. On Havana Street focuses on unique, culturally diverse events and fun new things to do to make the lives of Aurora residents and visitors more interesting. In addition to over 20 events a year, the Havana BID provides programming and benefits to business and commercial properties located along the Havana corridor including economic development, establishing a district identity for the area and advocacy programs.
Where is On Havana Street? On Havana Street runs 4.3 miles along Havana from 6th Avenue on the north to Dartmouth Avenue on the south, swinging the corners at major intersections. It is situated at one corner of the “opportunity triangle” formed by three other redevelopment projects in the area–Lowry, Central Park and Anschutz Campus. How Do I Celebrate Small Business Month On Havana Street? Enjoy a morning drink at Coffee Story, followed by lunch at a restaurant On Havana Street such as Angry Chicken, Tofu House, Shin Myung Gwan, or Katsu Ramen. Get a massage at Vogue Day Spa or pedicure at Nail Spa. Shop at M-Mart for Asian groceries and then grab dessert at Milkroll Creamery, Snowl, or Tous Les Jours. Visit OnHavanaStreet.com to enter to win $250 in gift cards featuring small businesses for the month of March. Four winners will be selected from the website entries and social media giveaways on Instagram and Facebook @OnHavanaStreet. With more than 100 diverse restaurants, over 20 international markets, and over 20 retail shopping centers, there is something for everyone On Havana Street.
Learn more at: OnHavanaStreet.com Feature | Asian Avenue Magazine
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“Some of our families are newly arrived refugees and were touched to see cards welcoming them to this country.” The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado and Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network organized a Lunar New Year Basket Drive in February to provide donations to families served by the Asian Pacific Development Center (APDC) and its Adult Education Program. Michaely Rosas, Adult Education Director, said: “I can’t tell you how excited our students got when seeing their beautifully put together baskets.” This year, the drive collected 180 baskets and red envelopes, which supported 749 people and included 371 children! After signing up to provide a lunar new year basket or monetary donation via a red envelope, members of the community were then paired with a refugee or immigrant family served by APDC.
Rosas said: “I love that we provide such a personal experience for both families and donors by matching the two; some of our families are newly arrived refugees and were touched to see cards welcoming them to this country. It was amazing to witness.” Donors also provided red envelopes which helped families struggling to cover basic living expenses. Several donors gave extra envelopes, which were given to a group of single mothers that APDC is working with. “All of those ladies are incredibly hardworking, both in their jobs and at school, and were overjoyed to receive support from this valuable project,” said Rosas. This is the second year of the lunar new year basket drive.
Asian Pacific Development Center students and their families receive Lunar New Year basket donations
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March 2022 | On Scene
From left: Fran Campbell, President of Asian Chamber of Commerce; Jerry S. Chang, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Director General; Christina Yutai Guo, CEO of Happy Living Adult Daycare; Mike Coffman, City of Aurora Mayor; Juan Marcano, Aurora City Councilmember; and Annie Guo VanDan, President of Asian Avenue Magazine
Happy Living Adult Daycare celebrates its five years with grand opening at a new location in Aurora Happy Living Adult Daycare celebrated its fifth anniversary and the grand opening of its new location on February 4 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and performances by the Chinese seniors. Happy Living provides culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate programs and services to accommodate the needs of Chinese-speaking elders in Colorado, so that they can live happy and healthy lives as they age. The average age of the seniors is 84 years old. Together, they play mahjong, learn English, go on field trips, and much more! Founder and CEO Christina Yutai Guo said at event: “When we first opened in February 2017, we only had eight partic-
ipants. Now we have expanded to serve 54 seniors. We are happy to provide them with social connections so that they do not feel alone or isolated, especially during the pandemic.” During the event, Chinese seniors performed a cultural dance, tai chi demonstration, and finger exercise. Mr. Dingping Li presented comedic jokes and magic tricks, and other seniors shared their personal experiences at Happy Living, while guests enjoyed Chinese snacks and celebratory cake. A video of memories at Happy Living was produced and shown by Lijin Jessie Zhao. Local leaders participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony including: Aurora
Mayor Mike Coffman, Aurora Councilman Juan Marcano, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Director General Jerry Chang, and President of Asian Chamber of Commerce Fran Campbell. Members of the community attended the celebration to learn more about the services and tour the space that will be available for organizations to host community events. The Happy Living Adult Daycare center also houses offices for Asian Avenue Magazine, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network, and Rocky Mountain Chinese Weekly. Learn more about the daycare at: happylivingadultdaycare.com.
Seniors at Happy Living gave a tai chi demonstration during the anniversary event
From left: Paul Cheng, Happy Living CEO Christina Yutai Guo, and Sophia Cheng
Community supporters enjoyed performances by the seniors and learned about the center On Scene | Asian Avenue Magazine
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Families and communities gather at the Far East Center to enjoy Lunar New Year festivities
Firecrackers, gongs and lively music were heard as Denver welcomed the Year of the Tiger. In early February, the Far East Center, Truong An Gifts, Denver Streets Partnership, and other partners provided the largest Lunar New Year event in the mile-high area. From January 24 to 31, Truong An Gifts offered a Lunar New Year Street Market selling red envelopes, plants,
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March 2022 | On Scene
flowers, decorations, fresh fruits and more. On the weekend of February 5 and 6, performances and vendor booths welcomed community members, families, and local officials to celebrate lunar new year traditions. Organized by Mimi Luong of Truong An Gifts, activities included a kids fashion show, lion dance and kung fu performances, tai chi demonstrations, k-pop
dances, singing of pop hits and Vietnamese classics, taiko drumming, and dozens of vendor booths. Denver Police Department Chief Ron Thomas, Senator Michael Bennet, Denver Councilwoman Jamie Torres, among other local leaders, participated in the event. To learn more about future events, follow @TruongAnGifts on Facebook and Instagram.