All posts tagged: creative writing

Lao writers mark Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in Fresno

Published by

As the end of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month approaches, three Lao American authors will gather in Fresno, California on Saturday, May 30th at the Fresno County Woodward Park Regional Library. The free reading will be from 3 to 4 pm with refreshments served. It is sponsored by Lao American Community of Fresno and Sahtu Press, and the community is also using it as a time to mark the 40th anniversary of the Lao Diaspora.  The library is located at 944 E Perrin Ave. The lineup includes children’s book author and illustrator Nor Sanavongsay, and the poets Krysada Panusity Phounsiri and Bryan Thao Worra. They’ll be reading selections from their latest books and previewing upcoming projects. They also hope to use the time to encourage younger Lao youth to value their stories and to remember their roots. “I’m honored to be a part of this event,” said Panusith Phounsiri, who recently released his collection Dance Among Elephants which has been selling well across the community. Many of his poems touch upon his heritage and his family’s journey …

Creative Placemaking for Lao Americans?

Published by

The Kresge Foundation recently announced a new strategy for its arts and culture program. This approach will unify elements of their three-part framework which guided its arts and culture grantmaking since 2010. What would the impacts be if other foundations engaged in the arts and culture funding followed suit? In a recent statement, Kresge is promoting a form of “creative placemaking.” According to the foundation, creative placemaking embodies the belief that the arts can enliven and rejuvenate public and private spaces, improve the climate for local businesses, bring people together, and contribute to making neighborhoods and communities more desirable places to live. As Lao American artists, many of us have been advocating this approach for years, although it has been best implemented in Minnesota. Even then, this has admittedly mixed results, but that’s a discussion for another time. The new changes are centered on the idea that this is a viable way to create opportunities that willing meaningfully improve the lives of low-income and disadvantaged people nationwide. As Lao Americans constitute one significant sector that’s …