All posts tagged: Writing

A Community for Us, By Us: Reflections on LAWS 2016

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What a weekend. This year’s Lao American Writers Summit (LAWS) was momentous in so many ways. Taking place in San Diego, California from May 27-28, 2016, it was the first time the Summit was held outside of Minnesota, the first Summit to take place in consecutive years, and the largest gathering by far. People came in from all over the U.S. to learn and connect. Although the event was held over a weekend, the Summit officially kicked off festivities on May 12 with the opening of the gallery installation titled “Intersectionalities,” curated by Catzie Vilayphonh and Sayon Syprasoeuth, featuring artwork from various Lao American artists from across the nation. The gallery and the Summit took place in the beautiful Centro Cultural de La Raza, which was the perfect venue for sharing art, making connections, and telling stories. If I were to break down some key observations from this year’s Summit, they would be: There is an ongoing need and desire for a space where Lao Americans can connect and express themselves. I attended the Lao American Writers Summit for the …

Save the Date! San Diego hosts Lao American Writers Summit 2016

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Mark your calendars and get those creative juices flowing! Spend your spring break with LLOTP and other literary and visual artists, activists, shakers and community builders this year at the 2016 Lao American Writers Summit from May 27-May 28, 2016 in sunny San Diego, California. LLOTP is excited to co-host and sponsor this year’s 2nd annual event. Keynote speakers include LLOTP editor and poet Bryan Thao Worra and Legacies of War‘s Channapha Khamvongsa. About the summit: 40 Years of Lao Diaspora, less than 40 Books of Lao American writers published. It has been a challenge for the Lao American community to be visible. Community issues, expression in art, and access to higher education are core to the problem of invisibility regarding Lao Americans. The summit aims to be a gathering space for creatives and professionals who are Lao American as well as those who support the community. Its objective is to open dialogue on the current state of creative writing, visual artistry, social media, and community advocacy of Lao Americans whose history ties with the events …