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APASA event aims to change perceptions

The Asian Pacific American Student Association held a discussion about issues affecting the Asian American community

Paulina Reso

Media Credit: Kendrick Wong | Daily Trojan Kaneo Hirata describes being a foreigner in Los Angeles and how translators from the Pacific Asian Language Service, PALS for Health, have helped him.

Media Credit: Kendrick Wong | Daily Trojan Shawn Ta, a community organizer for Asian Pacific Islander Equality-LA, shares his opinions on marriage equality.

Media Credit: Kendrick Wong | Daily Trojan "Grandma" Hee-Pok Kim, an active member of Bus Riders Union, advocates for low income families and immigrant communities.

The Asian Pacific American Student Association invited community members to speak about social justice and their struggles at "Stories from our Community" on Monday night.

Daniel Wu, a sophomore majoring in international relations and APASA's community chair, said he wanted this event to show that "we live in a diverse place and there are so many different stories."

Members of the speakers discussed issues that affect the Asian Pacific American community both in Los Angeles County and at USC.

One of the speakers, Farranza Nayani, who consults largely with immigrant businessmen and small businesses in Historic Filipinotown, said that because of poorly funded education programs, businesses are not run well. She is working with the community's education programs to help them develop.

An important issue that faces the APA community is the lack of trained medical interpreters, said Marchela Iahdjian, a representative of PALS For Health, which works to improve access to health care for limited-English proficient individuals.

If an immigrant is hospitalized but cannot speak English, he cannot effectively communicate with the doctor and might not receive necessary treatment, Iahdjian said.

While not all of the topics discussed directly impact the APA community at USC, many of them did.

One of the speakers, Hee-Pok Kim, also fondly called Grandma Kim, is an active member of the Bus Riders Union, a group that fights for a more efficient transportation system.

"Fight transit racism. Fight for better bus service," Kim said.

The Bus Riders Union serves as an advocate for low-income people in immigrant neighborhoods.

Grandma Kim works with the Bus Riders Union to combat the harmful effects of environmental warming through a clean-air campaign that fights against Los Angeles' auto air pollution.

Students are concerned with "clean air in general. Fare increases are very relevant to the students also," Kim said.

As a subgroup of the Programming Board, APASA frequently holds events, which Wu said he hopes contrast what students usually expect.

"I want these programs to be challenging and have more intimate discussions," he said.

At the storytelling event, students were broken into groups and listened to a different speaker before launching into a dialogue.

Maria Quimson, a freshman majoring in communication and international relations said APASA's events have given her a different perspective of the APA community.

"APASA does a good job informing us of problems. I have learned a lot about my background," Quimson said.

Wu said he also wants these events to challenge opinions of Asian Pacific Americans.

When people first meet him, he said they ask him what country he is from. He feels other USC students do not see him as an American citizen, though he was born and raised in Orange County.

"It's not anyone's fault. There's just not enough discussion," he said.

Wu said he believes that one way to begin the discussion is through storytelling.

"Stories are a good way to start teaching," he said.

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