Event
The Asian American Studies Program (ASAM) presents "Beyond Borders: Navigating the Currents of Transnational Activism and Solidarity”
Join us in person. Please RSVP here! Breakfast and lunch will be served.
This symposium, “Beyond Borders: Navigating the Currents of Transnational Activism and Solidarity,” aims to forge a deeper understanding of transnational activism in its varied dimensions. It brings together scholars and activists to share their experiences, reflections, and research on transnational social justice movements. The event will feature one keynote speech and three pivotal discussions: firstly, an examination of the evolving connections among queer activists across Asia and the dynamic nature of queer identities; secondly, a transnational analysis of student activism in overseas pan-Asian diaspora communities; and thirdly, critical reflections on transnational activism. This gathering seeks to illuminate the complexities of diasporic consciousness, linked fate, and the possibility of multiracial and multinational solidarity in transnational activism.
Hosted by Panda Express Postdoctoral Fellow in Asian American Studies Weirong Guo.
Speaker Bios:
Grace Kao is IBM Professor of Sociology and Professor of Ethnicity, Race, and Migration (Secondary appointment, by courtesy) at Yale University. She is the Director of the Center for Empirical Research on Stratification and Inequality (CERSI) at Yale University. Her research focuses on: 1) Racial, Ethnic, and Immigrant Differences in Educational Outcomes and Transition to Adulthood; (2) Interracial Friendships and Romantic Relationships; (3) Sociology of Music, especially K-Pop and the Hallyu; and (4) Dating and Marriage in S. Korea. She has written numerous articles and books on these topics. In 2017, she received the “Contribution to the Field Award” from the ASA Section on Asia and Asian America. She was named the Robin Murphy Williams Lecturer by the Eastern Sociological Society in 2018.
Guobin Yang, Grace Lee Boggs Professor of Communication and Sociology at the Annenberg School for Communication, & Department of Sociology, School of Arts and Sciences, Director, Center on Digital Culture and Society, and Deputy Director, Center for the Study of Contemporary China at the University of Pennsylvania. Professor Yang studies social movements, digital culture, global communication, and contemporary China. He takes historical and cultural approaches to the analysis of social and political practices, with a focus on the role of technologies, narratives, and emotions.
Minwoo Jung is a sociologist whose work centers on gender, sexuality, race, and empire, with an emphasis on political activism and knowledge production. He analyzes how various local and international actors—activists, policymakers, experts, and community members—comprehend, envision, and strategize for social transformation. Taking a global and transnational perspective, he investigates how global forces interact with diverse regional, national, and local contexts within these political and cultural processes. In his ongoing book project, he examines the conditions and consequences of sexuality politics in Asia from a comparative perspective.
June is an Asian progressive student activist and Ph.D. student based in New York State. Since 2019, June has been actively engaged in various social movements, including BLM, StopAAPIHate, the fight against gun violence, MeToo, Defending Roe v. Wade, and the White Paper Revolution. June is committed to exploring the historical context of these social movements and their influence on contemporary society and pan-Asian communities.