Crossroads
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CrossRoads: High School Leadership Conference
A crossroad represents a point at which a crucial decision must be made that will have far reaching consequences. As of the 2005 census, almost 15 million Americans identify as Asian or Pacific Islander. While the APIA community has come a long way in terms of overcoming discrimination, fighting stereotypes, having representation in sports, media, politics, business and various other areas of society, we still have a lot to learn from each other and ourselves. We still have a lot that we can accomplish.
The Asian American Alliance at Columbia University hosts its annual ‘Crossroads’ leadership conference in April. All high school students are encouraged to apply. Delegates will work closely with student leaders at Columbia University. We hope to provide delegates with information, history, leadership skills, and a network of peers from which they can benefit from to become the next of generation of leaders.
2010 Conference
Date: April 10th, 2010
Time: 10am to 6pm
Location: Columbia University, Lerner Hall
Application: 2010 Application
Deadline: March 26th, 2010 at 11:59pm
Workshops
All workshops will be broken into small groups to encourage discussion. Different facilitators will lead required workshops, but all subject matter will be the same. Elective workshops will be led by different facilitators and will also take place in small groups.
Asian American History: A required workshop for all conference delegates. This workshop will explore major events in history that have impacted the Asian American community. Knowledge of such history will provide a strong background for not only the rest of the conference but for any future undertakings related to Asian American activism.
Leadership Training/Asian American Activism: The second required workshop; this workshop will engage all delegates in a leadership activity that will challenge and develop their leadership skills and styles.
Electives: (4)
• Are Asian Americans Sexy? How did you first learn about sex? Your parents? Your friends? School? Television? How has your education about sex shaped how you view sex and sexuality today? This workshop will explore the ways in which Asian Americans have come to view sex, how these views are influenced by the media, what this means for future of sexual outlooks and portrayals, and finally try to answer the question: are Asian Americans sexy?
• The New Decade: Asian American Representation: Can you name three Asian American politicians? Do you feel your congressman truly represents your interests? 2010 will be an important year for Asian Americans. The Census will be another indication for how the United States government prioritizes Asian Americans in terms of funding, programming, etc. Come learn about the current state of Asian American representation in the United States, from Asian American leaders, organizations, the communities that support them, and the implications for the future.
• Anti-Asian American Hate: Last December, 26 Asian American students were targeted and attacked at South Philadelphia High School by a group of other students. In 2005, Huang Chen was murdered while delivering Chinese food in Queens, NY. He was only 18 years old. These are only two of many instances of hate crimes and hate incidents that have targeted the Asian American community, the history of which goes back many years. Have you ever heard of Vincent Chin? This workshop will discuss as Asian Americans as targets of hate, why such events have persisted over time, and how the Asian American community can respond appropriately.
• Asian Americans YouTubers: Nigahiga, KevJumba, Community Channel, David Choi, Happy Slip, Pyrobooby, TimothyDeLaGhetto, Michelle Phan, Bubbiosity, WongFu Productions, mychonny, Cathy Nguyen… the list goes on. The number of Asian American rising stars on YouTube has grown exponentially ever since the launch of the site a little more than 5 years ago. However, for over a century, Asian actors have been trying to break into the mainstream media in Hollywood, and for many decades, Hollywood executives have been reluctant to cast Asian Americans in prominent roles. How does the recent proliferation of Asian YouTube stars go against this Hollywood pattern? How do you think that this will affect future Asian American visibility in the media?
2009 Conference
Date: April 25th, 2009
Time: 10am to 6pm
Location: Columbia University, Lerner Hall
Application: 2009 Application
Deadline: April 3rd, 2009 at 11:59pm
Workshops
All workshops will be broken into small groups to encourage discussion. Different facilitators will lead required workshops, but all subject matterwill be the same. Elective workshops will be led by different facilitators and will also take place in small groups.
Asian American History: A required workshop for all conference delegates. This workshop will explore major events in history that have impacted the Asian American community. Knowledge of such history will provide a strong background for not only the rest of the conference but for any future undertakings related to Asian American activism.
Leadership Training/Asian American Activism: The second required workshop; this workshop will engage all delegates in a leadership activity that will challenge and develop their leadership skills and styles.
Electives: (3)
• Asian American Health Awareness: Did you know that the second leading cause of death for Asian American women aged 15 – 24 is suicide? Did you 15% of Asians living in NYC are infected with the Hepatitis B virus, a rate 35 times higher than that of the general US population? This workshop will explore Asian Americans as a health demographic and delegates will discuss and examine health trends among the APIA community.
• Asian Americans in the Media: Do you know who Jackie Chan is? Lucy Liu? Yao Ming? How about Anna May Wong? Gedde Watanabe? Papillon Soo? Asian Americans in the Media will explore perceptions of Asian Americans propagated by music, film, television, and other types of media. Delegates will also discuss and analyze effects of such perceptions and the role Asian Americans play in the media and popular culture as a result.
• Asian American and Politics/Government: The first Asian American in the United States Congress was elected in 1956. Today, of the fifty current US Senators, only one is Asian American. This workshop will explore Asian American political leaders and their contributions. It will also discuss government policies affecting Asian Americans, such as immigration policy, naturalization, and more.
