A Multi-Generational Symposium of Activism, Past, Present and Future in the Bay Area

(Oakland, CA) – The Korean Community Center of the East Bay and the Oakland Asian Cultural Center proudly announce "Korean American Activism for the Ages: A Multi-Generational Symposium of Activism Past, Present, and Future in the Bay Area on June 21, 2008, Saturday from 1:00-4:00 at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 Ninth Street, Suite 290, Chinatown Oakland, CA.

The Event, co-Sponsored by KAWAWA, KACSF, KCI, IIC, San Francisco State University's Asian American Studies Department, and UC Davis' Asian American Studies Department, brings together for the first time an extensive effort to bridge the multi-generational and multi-ethnic divide within activism in the Bay Area. This luncheon will feature KW Lee as the keynote speaker, panel discussions among important activists in the Bay Area, photo exhibits and an oral history video presentation, all united around bridging gaps in technology, information, and awareness.

The event will feature a photo exhibit courtesy of the Japanese American National Museum entitled, "Remembering the Past: Free Chol Soo Lee movement and the Korean Immigrant Community, an oral history of KW Lee, the keynote speaker; an opening spoken word performance from Mush and a closing performance from Ishle Park; and a drumming performance from EGO, the Korean Drumming group at UC Berkeley. Childcare will be provided.

This event brings together some of the most important activist work from the 1970s with the Free Chol Soo Lee Movement and the Pan Asian Movement including:

• Chol Soo Lee, Freedom Fighter and Activist
• Tom Surh, Commissioner of Alameda County Superior Court
• Min Paek, Executive Director of the Korean American Women Artists and Writers Association
• Chris Chow, Pioneer Activist in the Pan Asian Movement in the Bay Area
• Gail Whang, Conflict Resolution Trainer for the Oakland Unified School District
• Han Yun, Founding Member of the Korean Community Center of the East Bay and local Community Leader

In addition, we will also feature leading Korean American Activists in this current moment of activism.

Included in the symposium are

• Yul Kwon, Survivor Winner and leading Korean American Activist
• Helene Kim, community activist/lawyer who fought for fair coverage of Asians in the media
• Isabel Kang, Shimtuh Director promoting Domestic Violence awareness within the Korean and Korean American community
• Amie Kim, a leading activist to bring the politics of Korean adoption to the forefront of discussion

The purpose of this event is to unite and create a dialogue around the issues most pressing in the Korean American community by utilizing information technology as a way to connect with the broader community.

At the heart of this phenomenon are the younger Korean American generation who will collect digital stories of these prolific activists through film at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center.

There will be time and opportunity to network, connect, and speak with all the performers and panelists.

It is up to this current generation to archive, collect, and record the great achievements of these Korean American activists.

They will undoubtedly serve as the bearers for the Korean American community and carry on the momentum of Activism as it has existed.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact, CJ Lee,cjlee@kcceb.org at KCCEB, (510)547-2662 x 203.