Asian American / Asian Research Institute

Vote Early Day 101 August Workshop
2025-08-27 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | NY
This year, Vote Early Day partners will organize in person and online actions to empower their friends or neighbors to vote early nationwide. We hope you will join our monthly workshops to learn best practices and gain access to incredible tools to help your organization build an engaging and impactful celebration this fall.

Theater: GUT (굿) Act 2: Memoirs
2025-08-28 - 2025-08-30 | HERE Theater, 145 6th Avenue, New York, NY, 10013
Memoirs (Act 2) is the second act of GUT (굿), a three-act autobiographical hybrid/dance work and the fifth and final installment of Soomi Kim’s series exploring mortality in Korean and Asian American lives. Act 2: Memoirs examine the complex legacy between a Korean American daughter and her immigrant father, as she pieces together the history of a man she never truly knew. Set between 1950s postwar Korea and present-day America, Memoirs traces a poetic journey through grief, fragmented memory, and complicated love—asking: how can we let go when grief is a knot of longing and regret?

Festival & Screening - 9-Man: 80 Years of Chinatown Legacy
2025-08-31 15:00 - 21:00 | Columbus Park, 67 Mulberry Street, New York, NY, 10013
Celebrate 80 years of 9-Man with an evening of food, music, and local vendors in the heart of Chinatown. This special community event honors the legacy of the game and the people who’ve built it—on and off the court. Whether you’re a longtime player or just discovering 9-Man, come experience the culture and community that make it all possible.

Asian American Authors in Conversation: Tony Tulathimutte - Rejection
2025-09-02 18:30 - 20:00 | Chatham Square Library, 33 East Broadway, New York, NY, 10002
Please join author Tony Tulathimutte as we discuss his collection of short stories Rejection : Fiction. Booksigning to follow Q&A.
Tony is author of the novels Private Citizens and Rejection. His work has been published in The Paris Review, N+1, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The New Republic, Playboy, and elsewhere. He has received a Whiting Award and an O. Henry Award and Rejection was longlisted for the National Book Award.

Recruiting Volunteers and Drawing People to Your Event
2025-09-03 14:00 - 15:00 | NY
Whether you are planning a small celebration or a large activation, getting people involved is essential to your success. Vote Early Day and National Voter Education Week are teaming up to provide a hands-on session that will provide practical strategies for recruiting volunteers and increasing event attendance to make your activation a success. We’ll discuss proven outreach tactics, templates for promotional materials, free resources, and strategies for building excitement and engagement around your event.

Sound and Directing – with Emily Strong
2025-09-03 18:00 - 20:00 | The City College of New York – Shepard Hall, 259 Convent Avenue, New York, NY, 10031
Please join Thirdworld Newsreel and the Documentary Forum at CCNY for talk on sound recording and making films with documentary filmmaker and sound mixer Emily Strong.

NYUL Presents Center for Black Excellence Speaker Series with James Rhee and John King
2025-09-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College, 47-49 East 65th Street, New York, NY, 10065
NYUL’s Center for Black Excellence Speaker Series launches at The Roosevelt House at Hunter College. Join us & SUNY Chancellor John King & entrepreneur James Rhee for a timely discussion on safeguarding and strengthening higher education for underserved communities in the current political climate.

Who Is This Music For? Asian Diaspora, Counterculture, and Access
2025-09-03 18:30 - 20:30 | The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center, 107 Suffolk St, New York, NY, 10002
A4 brings together Asian diasporic artists from experimental/countercultural music scenes and community leaders to discuss the lack of access Asian diasporic communities have to countercultural arts. Artists in the diaspora, especially those who work within experimental and countercultural scenes, often challenge traditional boundaries of genre and aesthetics.

MOCA x NYAFF Film Club: Saving Face
2025-09-03 18:30 - 21:00 | Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre Street, New York, NY, 10013
A queer romantic comedy set in vibrant, multicultural New York City, Alice Wu’s irresistible feature debut breathed fresh life into the charming story of a young woman’s complicated life and her pursuit of love amid the chaos. Wilhelmina is a 28-year-old overworked medical resident living in Manhattan with no social life. Her widowed mother, Ma, cannot understand why her desirable daughter spends all her time at work. Ma, meanwhile, appears to be a traditional ChineseAmerican woman still under the thumb of her ultra-strict father. That Wilhelmina and her mother are both products of the very insular, traditional (and, yes…gossipy) Chinese-American community in Flushing, Queens makes the usual family ties even tighter.
A true love letter to New York City, SAVING FACE is told with a great deal of warmth and humor, as everyone tries to sort out their emotions and fulfill their obligations…to themselves and to each other, while all along acknowledging their not-so-secret lives and trying to “save face.”
It was the first Hollywood movie that centered on Chinese Americans since The Joy Luck Club (1993).

Who Tells the War? Community Memory and the Vietnam War’s Enduring Legacies
2025-09-03 21:00 - 22:30 | NY
2025 marks 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War. This Luce Webinar hosted by the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, will examine the enduring consequences — particularly through the lens of how it differently affected communities across Southeast Asia. How the war is remembered, represented, and how do communities remember the war in ways that shape meaning, identity, and local history. Whose narratives are preserved or amplified? Whose voices are overlooked or silenced? From community-led memorials and oral histories to state-sponsored museums and the intentional absence of commemoration, the ways in which the Vietnam War is remembered reflect not only historical trauma, but ongoing struggles over identity, legitimacy, and visibility. In a time when factual accounts alone often fail to capture the complexity of lived experience, we explore how social memory is actively (re)constructed—and how communities reclaim authorship over how their histories are told.

Ed Park: An Oral History of Atlantis with Mira Jacob
2025-09-04 18:30 - 20:00 | The Korea Society, 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY, 10017
A deadpan, wildly imaginative collection of stories that slices clean through the mundanity and absurdity of modern life, An Oral History of Atlantis is the newest collection of short stories from Ed Park, the author of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize–winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist Same Bed Different Dreams.

Early AAPI Performance and the Construction of “Asian-ness”
2025-09-04 18:30 - 20:30 | Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre Street, New York, NY, 10013
From Exhibition to Expression: AAPI Performing Arts History is a three-part series exploring the rich and complex history of AAPI performance in America. From the early exhibition of Asian bodies to the fight for authentic representation on stage and screen, this series traces the evolution of AAPI artists in entertainment. Through discussions on yellowface, Hollywood’s early depictions, Broadway’s barriers, and the rise of Asian American theater, we’ll examine the struggles and triumphs that have defined AAPI performing arts.
In the first lecture, Professor Suzi Takahashi will delve into the history of early AAPI immigration to the United States and explore the earliest forms of AAPI performance in America, examining how Asian bodies and cultures were exhibited for public spectacle. Other topics to be covered include the Chinese Exclusion Act, the construction of “Asian-ness” in American melodrama, and the creation of Madame Butterfly—a work that continues to influence perceptions of Asian identity on stage and screen today.

New Korean Movie Night: Story Up Shorts in New York (Section 1 + Q&A)
2025-09-04 19:30 - 21:30 | Korean Cultural Center NY, 122 E 32nd St, New York, NY, 10016
The Korean Cultural Center New York (KCCNY) and the CJ Cultural Foundation co-present a ‘Story Up Shorts in New York.’ This program aims to introduce the works of promising young Korean directors to New York, supporting their future advancement into the mainstream.
The event will showcase three outstanding short films that have achieved remarkable results at domestic and international film festivals, followed by a Q&A session with the directors.
-Thursday, September 4th, 2025 at 7:30 PM
* Q&A session with the directors(Park, Yu-jin / Oh Hyundo / Kim Yoon-zy)
-Thursday, September 18th, 2025 at 7:30 PM

Balancing Work & Life, the Asian Way
2025-09-05 12:00 - 13:00 | NY
The Asian American Mentorship Providing Opportunities to Women for Empowerment and Resilience (AAMPOWER) at CUNY invites you to join us at our next workshop on practical strategies to help you manage professional responsibilities while nurturing your personal well-being.

Ai Weiwei + Orville Schell: Ai Weiwei Handbook
2025-09-05 19:00 - 20:30 | Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway 3rd Floor, Rare Book Room, New York, NY, 10003
Join us for a launch event with contemporary artist and activist Ai Weiwei, discussing his new book, Ai Weiwei Handbook, the latest volume in the new series from No More Rulers. Joining Ai in conversation is Arthur Ross Director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at the Asia Society Orville Schell. This event will be hosted in the Strand Book Store’s 3rd-floor Rare Book Room at 828 Broadway on 12th Street.

Our Journeys: 50 Years After the Fall, a traveling exhibition - Opening Preview & Celebration
2025-09-06 14:30 - 18:00 | Think!Chinatown Studio, 1 Pike Street, New York, NY, 10002
Vietnamese Boat People (VBP) is honored to present Our Journeys: 50 Years After the Fall, a traveling exhibition debuting in New York City in September 2025 at Think!Chinatown’s Studio.
Our Journeys is a curated multimedia experience, inspired by the interviews and content generated by the Vietnamese Boat People podcast and programs. It is developed around the core concept that a story passed down is a gift—something given to another with intention and without obligation. For a community whose stories have often been told by others, this exhibit centers the voices of the Vietnamese diaspora, reclaiming the narrative through personal stories, photographs, multimedia displays, and video essays. Visitors will be immersed in the resilience, legacy, and diversity of our community’s lived experiences.
Exhibition Preview | 2:30–4:00 PM
Think!Chinatown Studios | 1 Pike Street, NYC
Reception | 4:00–6:00 PM
DCTV | 87 Lafayette Street, NYC
Exhibition: September 7 to 28, 2025

MOCA TALKS with Dr. Robin T. W. Yuan – Red Bishop
2025-09-06 15:00 - 17:00 | Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre Street, New York, NY, 10013
The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) and the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia cordially invite you to a conversation with Dr. Robin T.W. Yuan, renowned plastic surgeon and author of his debut novel Red Bishop. Drawing on his family history as the grandson of the last Anglican bishop in China, Dr. Yuan traces a journey across generations and geographies to explore faith, identity, and the forces that shaped modern China.

Theater: Case 84: Adopted in the U.S.A.
2025-09-06 16:00 - 17:30 | Caveat, 21 A Clinton St, New York, NY, 10002, United States
New York City based storyteller, comedian, and AAPI activist Edward Yoo Pokropski has been touring, Case 84: Adopted in the U.S.A. around the U.S. for the past three years. A comedy show meets a TED Talk, Case 84 sheds light on the underrepresented experience of adoptees. Over the course of an hour and aided by visuals ranging from family photos to images of Superman, Edward answers all the questions he gets about being adopted.

Secrets of Publishing: A Conversation with Literary Agents, Editors, and Authors
2025-09-08 08:00 - 17:00 | P&T Knitwear Books & Podcasts, 180 Orchard Street, New York, NY, 10002
P&T Knitwear, in conjunction with PEN America, is pleased to welcome back award-winning author Susan Shapiro for a panel discussion of insider tips and tricks for navigating the publishing world! Shapiro will be joined in conversation by author-editor Miya Lee (New York Times Modern Love), author and literary agent Alia Hannah Habib, editors Paul Whitlach (Penguin Random House) and Rachel Kahan (Harper Collins), vice-president and publisher of Legacy Lit Krishan Trotman, and author-and-teacher Rob Cameron.

Yoichi Ohira: Japan in Murano (Exhibition Opening)
2025-09-08 11:00 - 18:00 | Magazzino Italian Art, 2700 Route 9, Cold Spring, NY, 10516
Yoichi Ohira: Japan in Murano, showcases the work of Yoichi Ohira (1946–2022), the Japanese-born artist who became a leading figure in designing Venetian glassworks on the island of Murano, Italy. His works—often vessels and sculptural forms—feature exquisite craftsmanship, rich colors, and intricate surface treatments inspired by nature, calligraphy, and Japanese lacquerware. By blending Murano’s technical mastery with refined, minimal sensibilities, Ohira created glass art that is both opulent and meditative. The exhibition (Sept 8, 2025 to March 23, 2026) will include approximately 60 works that showcase his masterful ability to blend Japanese influences with Italian traditions and his longstanding interest in abstracting from natural forms.

Smart Strategies for the Civic Holidays: Plan, Partner, Activate with Limited Time & Resources
2025-09-08 13:00 - 14:00 | NY
Mobilizing your community to register, get educated, and turn out to vote can be a lot of work, and we know not all of our partners have extensive time and funding to put on extravagant events. National Voter Education Week and Vote Early Day have teamed up to give you a training session that will help teams with limited capacity and resources plan and execute effective activations for the Civic Holidays!

Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” Featuring Janet Yang
2025-09-08 18:00 - 19:00 | NY
We are pleased to invite you to attend Committee of 100’s Conversations—”Recollections, Pioneers, and Heroes” featuring Janet Yang, a pioneer in film and entertainment and a Committee of 100 Member.
Janet Yang is an Emmy and Golden Globe-winning Hollywood producer, the former Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a keynote speaker, and a trailblazer and advocate for the AAPI community. She came to prominence through her collaboration with Steven Spielberg on Empire of the Sun, followed by partnerships with Oliver Stone and Lisa Henson. Her extensive Film and TV credits include The Joy Luck Club, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Shanghai Calling, and High Crimes. She is a member of the Committee of 100.

disOrientalism Part 8: Godzilla v. The Karens
2025-09-08 19:00 - 20:15 | Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette Street, New York, NY, 10003
A spectacular all-star show with the city’s most accomplished AAPI performers curated and hosted by New York’s original comedy dragon ladies – notorious comedienne/rapper Kate Siahaan-Rigg alongside child star-turned-Broadway-actress Olivia Oguma. Come be thrilled by the virtuostic skills of Jazz world fave Helen Sung, the comedy of rising star Julia Shiplett, original music by Broadway baby and new wave rocker Sam Poon, and the legendary spoken word/rock duo Slanty Eyed Mama. This program lasts about 75 minutes and is guaranteed to boost your immunity against boredom, inaction, xenophobia, orientalism, and bowl cuts.

Stand Against Hatred: The South Asian Community Pre and Post 9/11
2025-09-08 19:30 - 20:30 | NY
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, marked a turning point in American policies toward immigration, privacy, and the way South Asian Americans were perceived and treated. South Asian Americans faced an increase in hate crimes and bias-motivated incidents. Yet, they resisted and thrived. This workshop shares a few lesson plans on South Asian Americans, from the 1800s to the present day.
This workshop is free for educators and will take place virtually. It will be facilitated by Jayson Chang.

Ready, Set, GO! Last-minute planning for National Voter Registration Day
2025-09-09 13:00 - 14:00 | NY
National Voter Registration Day is just around the corner and in this last-minute planning webinar, we’re making sure you’re prepped for an AWESOME and exciting event! In this interactive webinar, we’ll cover everything you need to run a drive on National Voter Registration Day from how to set up your swag, to preparing your volunteers, to reviewing your resources. Need some motivation to get out there and register voters? We’ve got that too! As always, we’ll have Q&A time so you can ask questions about your planned events.

Jaipur Literature Festival
2025-09-09 16:00 - 22:00 | Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10021
Celebrating books, ideas, and dialogue, the Jaipur Literature Festival — described as “the greatest literary show on Earth” — returns to New York in 2025, presenting a series of conversations and performances examining the human experience through the imaginations of some of the world’s leading authors, thinkers, and performers. A caravan of pre-eminent writers, essayists, commentators, and raconteurs is almost here to take you on a journey to worlds woven by words and ideas.

An Evening of Jeongga
2025-09-09 18:30 - 20:00 | The Korea Society, 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY, 10017
Step into the world of JeongGa (正歌), the refined vocal art once cherished by scholars and nobles of Joseon Dynasty. Join us for an evening of lyrical elegance with ALeum Lee‘s resonant voice, accompanied by WooSung Jung on DaeGeum (flute) and HeeJung Han on HaeGeum (string instrument). Lee will also share thoughtful reflections on the origins and evolution of GaGok, Korean lyric song cycles, offering personal and refreshing insights into the meaning of Korean traditional vocal music today.

Workshop on "Who Built America? Working People and the Nation’s History"
2025-09-10 12:15 - 13:30 | Queens College – Library (President’s Conference Room), 65-30 Kissena Blvd - QNS01 - RO525, Flushing, NY, 11367
Join us on September 10 at 12.15 pm in President’s Conference Room #1 (RO 527) for a workshop introducing Who Built America? Working People and the Nation’s History, a newly launched OER by the American Social History Project (ASHP). We’ll explore how this resource—featuring thousands of primary sources and supplemental materials—can support educators in teaching historical inquiry and primary-source analysis across the disciplines, from history and composition to U.S. literature, political science, art history, and beyond. The workshop will be led by ASHP’s Assistant Director for Digital Projects Dr. Stefano Morello and ASHP historian Dr. Carli Snyder.

Working with the Media & Leveraging Social Media
2025-09-10 14:00 - 15:00 | NY
Taking advantage of local media outlets and social media networks can dramatically increase your event’s visibility and impact. National Voter Education Week, Vote Early Day, and Election Hero Day will join for an interactive workshop that will teach you how to reach out to traditional media outlets, craft media pitches that will get noticed, and effectively use your social media network to promote your civic engagement celebrations. We’ll discuss actionable strategies you can use to amplify your voice, and resources that you can utilize to reach your community.

Hong Seon Jang | Minor Landscaping [Opening Reception]
2025-09-10 17:00 - 19:00 | The Korea Society, 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY, 10017
With his installations, Hong Seon Jang transforms industrial products and found objects in order to explore the usually recognizable surroundings. As their conventional function and values are reinterpreted, distorted, and subverted, Jang investigates opposing concepts and contrasting ideas, such as authority and subordination, internal and external dynamics, and the interplay between security and threat. Through his art, Jang invites viewers to re-examine how symbols acquire cultural and ideological significance, and how their meanings transform in displacement.
