Oakland Asian Cultural Center

BomBay to the Bay: a Garba Dance Festival
2024-08-03 17:00 - 21:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Saturday, August 3, 2024 | 5 PM – 9:30 PM

*ONLINE REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
Join us on August 3, 2024, 5 PM – 9:30 PM, at BomBay to the Bay: A Garba Dance Festival featuring live music by Bay Area garba legends Madhvi and Asim Mehta, a dance lesson, community dancing, and artists to explore! Garba is a Gujarati indigenous and folk dance practiced by all ages to live drumming, singing, and instrumentals during joyous celebrations.
Arrive at 5 PM for a short garba class dressed in your own cultural finery. This multiracial, multireligious, and multiethnic garba festival supports an Oakland-style expansive vision of solidarity and joy, so get ready to dance Bay to Bay, across the world! This event is co-hosted by Reetu Mody and OACC and sponsored by the Activate Oakland Event Sponsorship Program.
While this event is free, registration is required.

Register

Live Music and Performance By:

We’ll be welcoming Bay Area garba legends Madhvi and Asim Mehta alongside their percussionist and live dhol player, Parimal Zaveri. Madhvi and Asim are bringing raas-garba music with a flair to BomBay to the Bay!
Website: http://www.kampmusic.com/bio.htm
EVENT Q&A
Dress Code:
Dress up to dance! Feel free to wear South Asian, traditional Gujarati, attire from your heritage, or anything that is colorful, slightly formal, and easy to move in. All global attire is welcome and we encourage everyone to participate fully in the dancing and opportunity to dress up.
For Gujarati garba celebrations, people often wear elements of traditional Gujarati attire including a chaniya choli (a long wide skirt with a crop top and scarf) and/or kediyu or kafni pajama (a gathered long sleeve shirt and pants). Traditional clothes for garba are colorful, embroidered, mirrored, and often have cowrie shells on them. In the dance space people will take their shoes off to honor the feminine divinity/goddesses. If you are able to take your shoes off (we know that different accommodations require people to wear shoes), we suggest you take them off.
Garba is one of the many circle folk dance traditions that exist all over the world and all those heritages are welcome to join together here. If there is a piece of attire from your cultural background you would love to wear- this is the place for it!
What should I do if I want to wear shoes?
Because there will be many barefoot dancers, please wear indoor shoes.
What if I don’t know how to do the dance?
You’ll learn! Like all folk dance traditions, everyone does the dance together from ages 1-100. You’ll move in your own style and the steps are easy to pick up. The point is to experience the exhilaration and the joy of moving together, not to look exactly the same. If you need a break, there will be chairs to watch other dancers and there are artists to visit both in the auditorium and the adjoining artist room.
Who should I bring?
Everyone is welcome! This is a space committed to liberation for all people all of the world and is explicitly about joy in a multiracial, multireligious, and multiethnic folk dance space.
What should I bring?
Bring shoes you are comfortable taking off (if you are able to), a water bottle, and dandiya sticks (two Gujarati dancing sticks) if you have them.
What if I am not South Asian, can I still attend?
Yes! Everyone is welcome. And if you have South Asian clothing that you want to rock as a non-South Asian, this is an event you are welcome to do so at. Just bring your love and respect!
Is garba a spiritual practice?
Like many folk dances, garba is connected to spirituality. Gujarati garba dance is connected to indigenous and tribal practices and Hinduism. Many people of different religious backgrounds, including Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, and Christianity, also practice culturally in Gujarat. At this garba, we will be honoring the feminine divine, which will be symbolized by a matke/matlo (a pot) in the center of the room.
What if I want to donate at your event?
This event is completely free to attend! We will be accepting Venmo and Zelle donations, which will be given to Palestine Legal and Middle East Children’s Alliance. Each group provides support for Palestinians in different ways, with Palestine Legal using the judicial system and Middle East Children’s Alliance providing direct support on the ground in Gaza.
Why did you want to host this event?
Reetu Mody grew up with garba as one of her childhood’s most joyful and inclusive practices. As a resident of Oakland, she wanted to create an event that uplifts how Oakland as a city continues to enable cultural artistry, acceptance and inclusion of immigrants, sanctuary, mutual aid, joy, and care for all communities. At this event, we want to create a small space of belonging for all. This event seeks to embody equity, global liberation, anti-caste, anti-Islamophobia, pro-LGBTQ2IA, pro-immigration, and pro-neighborhood practices. For us, this means caring, living, and celebrating together. Feel free to read more with this KQED article, too.
Why can’t I register online anymore?
If we have reached our maximum registration capacity, you can no longer register online. We will allow people into the event on a first-come, first-served basis at the beginning of the garba. We will prioritize those who registered online as we near capacity throughout the night. If you did not register online, you may have to wait in line.
Will there be food?
Please note that there will NOT be food at the garba, but Renaissance Plaza and the surrounding neighborhood have several restaurants.

Celebrating Our HeART-filled Heritage: Hālau O Keikiali’i in Performance
2024-09-07 13:00 - 16:30 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Saturday, September 7, 2024 | 1 PM – 4 PM
Join us on Saturday, September 7, 2024, from 1 PM – 4 PM at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center for an unforgettable afternoon of vibrant Hawaiian arts and culture. Featuring performances by Halau o Keikiali’i (ancient and modern Hula), Hawaiian music artists Kumu Hula Kawika Alfiche on `ukulele and Steven Kanahe Espaniola on Hawaiian slack key guitar and falsetto, and many Hawaiian arts and crafts vendors.
Don’t miss this celebration of Hawaiian culture, tradition, and community!
OACC’s “Celebrating Our HeART-filled Heritage” Asian American & Pacific Islander performing arts series will provide a platform for local Asian and Asian Pacific Islander culturally relevant artists that inspire intergenerational and cross-cultural exchange.

Register

About the Performers

Hālau O Keikiali’i‘s primary focus is on cultural traditions, including hula kahiko (ancient dance), hula `auana (modern dance), oli (chant), mele (traditional songs), himeni (modern songs), nā mea hula (arts, crafts, implements), lole hula (hula attire), ‘ōlelo (language), and mo’olelo (stories).
Following tradition, they share what they learn with different communities so that others too can benefit from a better understanding and appreciation of Hawaiian culture. It is within the stories told in the mele, and its morals and values, that people can truly be enriched in their personal lives.
Hālau O Keikiali’i hopes to reach people far and wide, touching everyone who may or may not be exposed to the Hawaiian culture and sharing with them in this spirit.

Kumu Hula Kawika Alfiche is the Kumu Hula (Master teacher) for Hālau o Keikiali’i, is the Director for the Kaululehua Hawaiian Cultural Center in South San Francisco, and has been teaching hula and Hawaiian cultural arts for over 25 years. With a mission to preserve and perpetuate all things Hawaiian, Kawika spends his life learning, teaching, and sharing his culture through the hula and cultural arts, and continues to teach throughout the globe.

Raised in Aliamanu, Hawai’i and now residing in the California Bay Area, Steven Kanahe Espaniola is a self taught multi-instrumentalist Hawaiian artist specializing in Ki Ho’alu (Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar), ‘Ukulele, Upright Bass, and Leo Ki’e Ki’e (Traditional Hawaiian falsetto). Of Hawaiian, Filipino, Chinese and Spanish descent, his ethnicity is as diverse as his unique sound which preserves the integrity of the traditional with a flourish of the modern.

AAPI Voters Have Power Exhibition
2024-09-18 12:00 - 2024-11-09 17:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
AAPI VOTERS HAVE POWER

Exhibition Dates:
Sept. 18, 2024 – Nov. 9, 2024

The Oakland Asian Cultural Center presents “AAPI Voters Have Power,” a powerful new exhibition where art meets activism in a loud call for civic engagement. Dedicated to mobilizing the San Francisco Bay Area Asian Pacific Islander community for this fall’s crucial elections – locally, statewide, and nationally – this exhibition features artwork by artists across the country, including the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund’s 2020 and 2024 Creative Catalyst cohort artists and youth artists from City Studio.
According to the Public Policy Institute of California, despite being a vibrant and prominent demographic, only 54% of Asian Americans are likely to vote. Historically, our voting rates have not reflected our growing influence and the urgent issues we face. “AAPI Voters Have Power” underscores why it’s essential for each of us to participate actively in the electoral process. Each vote carries the weight of shaping policies that affect our daily lives, from education and healthcare to civil rights and representation. Voting is critical to shaping our collective future.
EunSook Lee, Executive Director of the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund, shares, “We know the AAPI vote can make or break elections. What will happen in November will determine the future of democracy in the United States, and AAPI communities will be central to that. Art and social change start at the personal level, and we are grateful that these phenomenal artists have created work that speaks to the Asian American and Pacific Islander experience today.”
Through compelling artwork and storytelling, “AAPI Voters Have Power” illuminates the power of our collective voice and the impact of our votes on the future of our communities and democracy at large. We hope to impart the following message to you: your voice is crucial, and your vote can drive meaningful change. Let’s make a difference this fall!
This show will be open from September 18, 2024, to November 9, 2024, during OACC’s business hours (Wed-Sat, 12 PM—5 PM).
Special thanks to the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund and their 2020 and 2024 cohort artists participating in this exhibition.
Participating Artists
Hena Ashraf
City Studio
Kat Evasco
Tori Hong
Lehuauakea
Katie Quan
Sonia Rao
Cindy Shih
Aparna Sindhoor PhD.
The artwork used in the exhibition flyer is “Abolitionist Elder” by Tori Hong (www.ntxoo.art).
Gallery Hours: Wednesdays through Saturdays, 12 PM – 5 PM
Location: Oakland Asian Cultural Center
388 9th St, Ste 290, Oakland, CA

"Simone" Book Release & Reading
2024-09-22 13:00 - 14:30 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Sunday, September 22, 2024 | 1 PM – 2:30 PM
Join us for the release of Simone, an exciting new picture book, with words by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen and art by illustrator Minnie Phan. Simone is an unforgettable story of a Vietnamese American girl whose life is transformed by a wildfire.
Arrive at 12 PM for a children’s coloring activity led by Minnie Phan, followed by a reading, live drawing, Q&A, and book signing starting at 1 PM.
Viet and Minnie hope Simone inspires a generation to pick up a pencil, to create daringly, and to dream fiercely a new vision for a more collective, collaborative, and compassionate future.
This event is co-sponsored by Eastwind Books of Berkeley.

Register

Meet the Creators of Simone

Viet Thanh Nguyen (author of Simone)’s debut novel, The Sympathizer, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, is a New York Times bestseller and is now an HBO TV series directed by Park Chan-wook. He is the editor of The Displaced: Refugee Writers on Refugee Lives and the Library of America volume for Maxine Hong Kingston and he co-authored Chicken of the Sea, a children’s book, with his then six-year-old son, Ellison. His most recent books are The Committed, the sequel to The Sympathizer, and his second children’s book, Simone, illustrated by Minnie Phan.

Minnie Phan (illustrator of Simone) is a Vietnamese American illustrator and designer creating visual communications that spark delight. Her debut picture book was The Yellow Áo Dài, written by Hanh Bui. Minnie’s work also includes animation and comics, and she has created art for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the San Francisco Public Library, and a 250-square-foot mural for Google among others. Her most recent children’s book publication is Simone, written by Pulitzer-Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen.

A Short Film Screening and Book Reading Exploring Cambodian & Queer Identity with Jean-Baptiste Phou
2024-09-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
“My Mother’s Tongue”/ “Coming Out of My Skin”

A Short Film Screening and Book Reading Exploring Cambodian & Queer Identity with Jean-Baptiste Phou

Friday, September 27, 2024 | 6 PM | FREE

Join us for a special screening and book reading of recent works by Jean-Baptiste Phou, a writer and multidisciplinary artist born in Paris to Chinese-Cambodian parents:
“My Mother’s Tongue”, is a short film that tells the story of a mother and son who don’t share a language, her being born in Cambodia and him in France. They have difficulties communicating until something unlocks when she suddenly falls very ill.
“Coming Out of My Skin”, is a compelling memoir of a gay Asian man living in a white world that deftly aspires for a reconciliation that can empower people of sexual and racial minorities to inhabit their bodies joyfully.
A discussion will follow the screening and reading facilitated by CERI board member, Mory Chhom.
This event is co-presented with the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI).

Register

Meet the Speakers

Photo by Annie Gozard
Jean-Baptiste Phou is a writer and multidisciplinary artist born in France to Chinese-Cambodian parents. As an actor, he has performed in plays, musicals, and films. He has also written, directed, and produced his own plays, including ‘Cambodia, Here I Am’ and ‘l’Anarchiste’, the latter adapted from Soth Polin’s novel. He is also the author of ‘Coming Out of My Skin’ (Seagull, 2023) and ‘80 mots du Cambodge’ (l’Asiathèque, 2024). In addition to theater and writing, he explores other mediums such as sound, image, and performance. His work tackles issues around identity, migration, and minority experiences.

Mory Chhom (she/her) is a 1.5-generation Cambodian American born in a refugee camp in Thailand and raised in Modesto, California. She has dedicated the last 20 years of her career to achieving health equity for refugees and immigrants. Currently, she is the Director of Population-Focused Prevention Early Intervention at RAMS.

Speed Weave Loom Mending
2024-09-29 13:00 - 15:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Speed Weave Loom Mending

Sunday Sept. 29, 2024 |
1 PM – 3 PM

2024 年 9 月 29 日星期日下午 1 点至下午 3 点

Bring a clothing item that needs repair to this mending class to experience the joy of quickly repairing a sock or knitted clothing using a speed weave loom, needle and thread. No experience necessary. Attendees only need to bring their well loved clothing item. Cantonese or Mandarin interpreter can be arranged upon request. Registration required with a $10 hold fee, funds returned when you show up for the class.
This workshop is supported by Stop Waste. Stop Waste helps Alameda County’s businesses, residents, and schools waste less, recycle properly, and use water, energy, and other resources efficiently. They’re a public agency governed by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority, the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board, and the Energy Council. For more information, please visit Stop Waste’s website: https://www.stopwaste.org/about-stopwaste
您有没有那双袜子或衬衫您舍不得丟的？您可以带来您仍然喜欢的旧袜子来参加这个修补班！您将体验到使用高速织布机、针和线快速修补袜子的乐趣。无需经验，参加者只需携带需要修理的袜子就可以。请打电话或前来安排粤语或普通话翻译。需要报名。登记时需要付＄十元。当你们参 加这 课堂时，这十元是会返还给你们。

Register

"Background Artist: The Life and Work of Tyrus Wong." A Book Reading and Conversation with Author Karen Fang
2024-10-11 18:30 - 20:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Background Artist: The Life and Work of Tyrus Wong

A Book Reading and Conversation with Author Karen Fang

Friday, October 11, 2024 | 6:30 PM | FREE
You might not know the name Tyrus Wong, but you probably know some of the images he created, including scenes from the beloved Disney classic, Bambi. Yet, when he came to this country as a child, Tyrus spent a month alone at Angel Island. How did he go on to have a long and prosperous career drawing animation cels, storyboards, and greeting cards that shaped the American imagination?
This reading and book launch shares the inspiring story of Tyrus Wong’s remarkable 106-year life, from the paintings and fine art prints he made working for Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration, to the unique handmade kites he designed and flew on the Santa Monica beach. Showing how Tyrus found American communities that nurtured his artistic talent, author Karen Fang will cover everything from Tyrus Wong’s work as a studio sketch artist for Warner Bros. to the best-selling Christmas cards he designed for Hallmark and other greeting card companies.
Join us for the launch of Background Artist: The Life and Work of Tyrus Wong, to celebrate a multi-talented Asian American artist and pioneer.
Q&A and discussion will be facilitated by Le Tang, a Lead Story Artist at Pixar Animation Studios.

Register

Meet the Author

Karen Fang is a film scholar and visual culture critic who writes and speaks for museums and film festivals around the world. Known for previous books about Hong Kong cinema and nineteenth-century British interest in exotic objects, Karen often writes about the intersection of Eastern and Western aesthetics. Her work has appeared in Smithsonian Magazine, Hyperallergic, Nikkei Asia, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. She is also a prominent contributor to The Engines of Our Ingenuity, a long-running, widely distributed public radio series about science and innovation, where  her episodes always focus on the visual arts. A Sunday painter, Karen’s favorite media are watercolor and pen and ink.
Meet the Discussion Facilitator

Le Tang is a Vietnamese-American artist and storyteller, with over 18 years in the animation industry. He started his career in animation at Lucasfilm Animation as a Story Artist, and from there moved onto such studios as Nickelodeon, Dreamworks, and Disney. He is currently at Pixar Animation Studios as a Lead Story Artist, having worked on such films as Toy Story 4, Onward, Elemental, and Inside Out 2.

OACC Co-Presents: Kearny Street Workshop's "APAture 2024: Return"
2024-10-12 - 2024-11-08 | CA
APAture 2024: Return

October 12, 2024 – November 9, 2024
The Oakland Asian Cultural Center co-presents Kearny Street Workshop’s 2024 APAture festival.

APAture is celebrating 25 years of supporting emerging artists from across the Bay Area! From October 13 to November 9th Kearny Street Workshop will be presenting six showcases in venues across the city.

The theme for this year is RETURN. From the Palestinian right to return, the call for Indigenous Land Back, the various migrant histories and struggle for justice in our Pacific Islander and Asian communities, and the returns we face in our own personal lives: What does the idea of return mean to you? Where and to whom are you returning?
About Kearny Street WorkshopKearny Street Workshop (KSW) is an organization dedicated to producing, presenting, and promoting art that empowers diverse Asian Pacific American communities. Since 1972, KSW has offered multidisciplinary arts presentations and workshops to Bay Area community members. www.kearnystreet.org

About APAture
APAture is a multidisciplinary arts festival for emerging Asian-Pacific American (APA) artists to develop their art, affirm their voices, and share their work with the APA community. For the past 25 years, Kearny Street Workshop’s festival has shaped the culture of the San Francisco Bay Area by addressing the realities and narratives of APA lives.
Upcoming Showcases

APAture 2024 Music Showcase + Festival Kickoff

DNA Lounge375 Eleventh St, San Francisco, CA

Co-presented by Kultivate Labs Balay Kreative, and Oakland Asian Cultural Center

October 13, 2024 7:00 – 10:00 PM PDT$10 presale/$15 at the door DNA Lounge is an all ages venue.

This year APAture kicks off with its music showcase! With rising star, Ian Santillano, headlining the night alongside an amazing line-up of emerging MCs, singer-songwriters, and electronic music artists!

Featuring Ian Santillano with Nu Tekno Sounds, Karinyo, Jaeya Bayani, Steven Cong, and Double Goat.

Curated by Steven Cheung and Isalina Chow.

Learn More

APAture 2024 Visual Arts Opening Reception

Arc Gallery & Studios1246 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA

Co-presented by SOMArts, ARTogether, and Oakland Asian Cultural Center

Opening Reception: October 18, 2024 6:00 – 9:00 PM PDT

Gallery Hours: October 12 – November 9, 2024 W, TH, 1-6pm & SAT 12-3 PM
Free, $60 all access (entry to all ticketed events with free t-shirt, drink tickets, and more!).

From murals and exhibition walls to pride month designs for local sports teams, San Jose-based artist Houyee Chow-Jiménez has been making an impact in the Bay and we’re proud to have her headline alongside an incredible ensemble of emerging artists, at APAture 2024’s visual arts exhibition at Arc Gallery & Studios! Join us on October 18th for the opening reception! The exhibition will be on view at Arc Gallery & Studios until November 9th’s closing reception.

Featuring Houyee Chow-Jiménez with Jang Lee, Joanna Kao, Laura Ming Wong, Lisa Juachon, Madi Reyes, Bhumikorn Kongtaveelert, Grace Jin, Brianna Cheng, Jackie Liu, Kea Kahoilua-Clebsch, Michelle Lin, Mehr Kumar, Marisa Goudie.

Curated by Tanza Solis and Ngân Vũ.

Learn More

APAture 2024 Film Showcase

Roxie Theater3117 16th St, San Francisco, CA

Co-presented by Roxie Theater, Kultivate Labs Balay Kreative, and Oakland Asian Cultural Center

October 22, 2024 6:00 – 9:00PM PDT$15 / $60 all access (comes with free t-shirt, drink tickets, and more!).

These varied and poignant works explore cultural knowledge and belonging through a variety of different lenses: educational shows and music videos that foreground the lived experience of the AAPI diaspora, reflections on cultural belonging and embodiment, and a documentary that highlights Indigenous Hawaiians’ righteous struggles for self-determination.

Featuring Jalena Keane-Lee with Angelique Kalani Axelrode, Joyce Keokham, Elaine Nguyen, Sophia E. Perez, and Teao Sense.

Curated by David Cao and Lehua Taitano.

Learn More

APAture 2024 Literary Arts Showcas

Arc Gallery & Studios1246 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA

Co-presented by Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco and Oakland Asian Cultural Center

October 25, 2024 6:00 – 9:00PM PDT
$15 / $60 all access (comes with free t-shirt, drink tickets, and more!).

APAture and Litquake are both celebrating 25 years! So we’re teaming up to present the Literary Arts showcase featuring former El Cerrito poet laureate, Maw Shein Win, and we’ll be commemorating the release of her upcoming collection, Percussing the Thinking Jar (2024 Omnidawn Publishing).

Featuring Maw Shein Win with Sam Javellana Hill, Christine Huang, Jennifer Ng, Megan Jade Mock Noble, Noelani Piters, Danielle Shi, and Eden Julia Sugay.

Curated by Diana Fu, Matthew Choi, and Isalina Chow.

Learn More

APAture 2024 Comics/Zines & Illustration Showcase

Arc Gallery & Studios1246 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA

Co-presented by Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco and Oakland Asian Cultural Center

October 27, 2024 2:00-5:00PM PDT
$15 / $60 all access (comes with free t-shirt, drink tickets, and more!).

Fresh off of illustrating, Simone (Penguin Random House 2024), the newest children’s book by acclaimed author, Viet Thanh Nguyen, is our APAture 2024 featured artist in Comics, Zines, & Illustrations, Minnie Phan! Meet our showcase artists at this interactive book, prints, and makers fair.

Featuring Minnie Phan with Cesar Cueva, Jake Gavino, Kathy Huang, Nhien Lee, Lauren Miller, Ipsheeta Furtado, and Alexis Peneda.

Curated by Ngân Vū, Steven Cheung, and Tanza Solis.

Learn More

APAture 2024 Performing Arts Showcase

Joe Goode Annex 401 Alabama St, San Francisco, CA

Co-presented by Joe Goode Annex, Kultivate Labs Balay Kreative, and Oakland Asian Cultural Center November 3, 2024 7:00 – 9:00PM PDT$15 / $60 all access (comes with free t-shirt, drink tickets, and more!).
This performing arts showcase features the works of Teo Lin-Bianco, Tatyana Topasna, Maya Rau-Murthy, Alder & the Kindred, Lily Gee, Taneesh Kaur, D. Kaur, and featured artist Kim Requesto. These works span a wide variety of disciplines—combining spoken word poetry, movement practice, multimedia, and musical performance—and explore the intimacy, vulnerability, and physicality of what Return is and should be.

Curated by David Cao and Matthew Choi.

Learn More

POSTPONED: Visible Mending For Stains & Patches
2024-11-09 13:00 - 15:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
VISIBLE MENDINGFOR STAINS & PATCHES

Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 |
1 PM – 3 PM
2024年11月9日，星期六，下午一点至三点

DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, WE’VE POSTPONED THIS EVENT. We apologize for the inconvenience and will share a new event date soon.
Join us for a mending workshop with the Mending Collective to cover stains and holes using stitching and patching.
• Registration is required.
• Bring only items that need repair.
• Translators are available uponrequest.
• Class is free with a refundable $10 deposit.

This workshop is supported by Stop Waste. Stop Waste helps Alameda County’s businesses, residents, and schools waste less, recycle properly, and use water, energy, and other resources efficiently. They’re a public agency governed by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority, the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board, and the Energy Council. For more information, please visit Stop Waste’s website: https://www.stopwaste.org/about-stopwaste
加入我们的修补工作功，探索手工缝纲，这是一种对衣服，纺织品和我们自己进行 光 精心，而舒缓的修补方式，练习缝纲和修 补以遮盖污渍和破洞。• 人数限制为20人。• 前来我们的中心 进行登记。•我们将提供修补工具，但请携带需要 修补的物品。• 如果需要翻译，请于开放时间调(周三至周六，十二点至五点) 510-637-0455。 课程是免费的，但我们要求支付10美元，当你参加工作坊时将全数退还。

Register

Celebrating Asian American Artists from Creative Growth Exhibition
2024-11-14 12:00 - 2025-01-18 17:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Celebrating Asian American Artists from Creative Growth

Exhibition Dates:
Nov. 14, 2024 – Jan. 18, 2025
Creative Growth, a non-profit organization based in Oakland, fosters the inclusion of artists with developmental disabilities in the contemporary art world. Through a supportive studio environment and gallery representation, they strengthen both individual creativity and community connections.
At OACC, we are committed to making the arts accessible to everyone and are honored to showcase the incredible work of local Asian American artists affiliated with Creative Growth.
This exhibit is available to view Nov. 14, 2024 – Jan. 18, 2025 during OACC’s business hours (Wed – Sat, 12 PM – 5 PM).
Artists in this exhibition:
Aurie Ramirez, Alice Wong, Ying Ge Zhou, Christine Szeto, Kristian Cheek, Nathaniel Jackson, Diana Lo, Brian Nakahara, Kathy Zhong, and Steven Pho.
For information on purchasing artwork: gallery@creativegrowth.org.
*Flyer artwork is “YGZ 429” by Ying Ge Zhou.

SOLD OUT: Celebrating Our HeART-filled Heritage: Sounds of Greater Khorasan — Afghan and Tajik Poetry and Music
2025-01-12 12:30 - 16:30 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Celebrating Our HeART-filled Heritage: Sounds of Greater Khorasan
Afghan and Tajik Poetry and Music

Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025 1:30 PM Calligraphy Demonstration,
2 PM Concert
FREE
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT

Join us for an uplifting afternoon of traditional music and poetry with master musicians from Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Featuring Homayoun Sakhi and Maruf Noyoft.

The concert will be preceded by a calligraphy demonstration by a master traditional Islamic calligrapher, Hakim Karimzada.

Register

Meet the Musicians

Homayoun Sakhi is an Afghan rubab maestro born in Kabul to a renowned musical lineage. From age ten, he immersed himself in mastering the national instrument, the double-chambered rubab, under his father’s tutelage in the traditional ustâd-shâgird apprenticeship.
In 1992, he and his family sought refuge in Peshawar, Pakistan, following the chaos of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. There, Homayoun’s exceptional talents gained recognition, making him a popular entertainer known for his diverse repertoire.
In 2001, he relocated to Fremont, California, home to the largest Afghan community in the US. There, he introduced his refined rubab style, quickly becoming a local musical leader and earning national and international acclaim as a performer, teacher, and composer.

Maruf Noyoft, a native of Badakhshan, Tajikistan, embarked on his journey into the world of traditional Central Asian music at the University of Art and Culture of Tajikistan. There, he honed his craft on the Badakhshani Setor while also mastering instruments such as the Rubab and Daf under the guidance of local virtuosos. Driven by a deep appreciation for poetry and a desire to uncover the layered meanings within mystical Persian verse, Maruf expanded his artistic repertoire by learning to sing these profound compositions, completing a harmonious fusion of music and poetry.

After immigrating to the United States, Maruf remained deeply committed to his art. For many years, he was the sole performer and vocalist representing Badakhshan’s mystical musical heritage, keeping its rich traditions alive and resonant in a new cultural landscape.
Calligraphy Workshop

Abdul Hakim Karimzada, born in Afghanistan, is a DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) and master calligrapher with over 30 years of experience in different types of calligraphy and fine writing, such as traditional and modern scripts. He started calligraphy in the Herat Province of Afghanistan by learning different writing styles, including Nastaliq, Kofie, Naskh, and Thuluth scripts. He went on to create thousands of works by using these scripts. He also invented a new fine writing called Nilofar over the course of his calligraphy life.

Karimzada is a senior board member and trainer at the Herat Calligraphy Association.⁠ He has taken an active part in various calligraphy exhibitions inside and outside of Afghanistan and many solo exhibitions of his work. He has won numerous awards for his art and the collections of his calligraphy works.

Learn more about Karimzada’s work at hakimkarimzada.com.⁠

The March Fong Eu Story: An Authorized Biography of an Unauthorized Woman. Book Talk with Author Tim Vandehey and Editor Pattie Fong.
2025-01-18 13:00 - 14:30 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
The March Fong Eu Story: An Authorized Biography of an Unauthorized Woman

Book Talk with Author Tim Vandehey and Editor Pattie Fong
Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 | 1 PM | FREE
Join us for the release of The March Fong Eu Story: An Authorized Biography of an Unauthorized Woman, a biography celebrating the life of Asian American pioneer, political icon, and California’s Secretary of State, March Fong Eu.
March Fong Eu was the first woman and Chinese American in many arenas. She was head of a UCSF division, the Alameda County Board of Education, the California State Assembly, and the California Secretary of State. With deep roots in Alameda County, Eu rose from being born in the back of a Hanford hand laundry to non-English-speaking parents to serving as a United States Ambassador. This program will include individuals sharing memories of Eu’s passions and work.

Register

Meet the Speakers

Tim Vandehey, author of The March Fong Eu Story: An Authorized Biography of an Unauthorized Woman, is a native Californian, New York Times bestselling ghostwriter, and editor. He is also the co-author of Swipe: Why We Don’t Finish What We Start. Today, he lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with his wife, daughters, and an inappropriate number of beagles.

Pattie Fong, editor of The March Fong Eu Story: An Authorized Biography of an Unauthorized Woman, a retired deputy district attorney, is a niece of March Fong Eu, who, as a kid, spent summers in the Capitol “going to work” with Auntie March, accompanied her to the 1972 Democratic convention (Clinton’s first nomination), traveled with her and Henry Eu on their first trip to Micronesia for the ambassadorship and all the events and dinners in between. Fong is the book’s final editor.

From Chinatown to West Oakland: Community Portraits of Healing
2025-01-30 12:00 - 2025-05-01 17:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
From Chinatown to West Oakland: Community Portraits of Healing

Exhibition Dates:
Jan. 30, 2025 – May 1, 2025
“There is actually a collective historical trauma that we hold, and we carry… and that we are also trying to recognize and heal for our future generations…”

In this new photo exhibition titled From Chinatown to West Oakland: Community Portraits of Healing, Oakland community members share their experiences of pain and trauma, as well as their expressions of hope and humanity.

Join Asian Health Services and Baywell Health on Friday, February 21, 2025, for the opening reception of their new photo exhibition based on the Asian-Black Racial Healing Project. The two community health centers launched this project in 2021 in response to the heightened violence experienced by both communities. Over 1,000 Asian and Black Oakland community members engaged in interviews and delved into conversations on race, violence, and healing. This exhibition and event celebrates our communities and our collective desire for connection, safety, and healing across cultures.

Register for the opening reception

About Asian Health Services
Asian Health Services, founded in 1974, provides health, social, and advocacy services for all, regardless of income, insurance status, immigration status, language, or culture. Their approach to well-being focuses on “whole patient health,” which is why they provide not just primary care services but include mental health, case management, nutrition, and dental care to more than 50,000 patients in English and 15 languages.

Website: https://asianhealthservices.org/our-mission/
About Baywell Health
Founded by four African-American mothers fifty years ago amid the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, Baywell Health’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of its communities by providing the highest quality of health care and treatment for its diverse patient population throughout Alameda County. Each clinic’s health center strives to be a hub for health, compassion, engagement, and inspiration.

Website: https://westoaklandhealth.org/

Lunar New Year x Black History Month 2025: Celebrating Asian & African-American Solidarity
2025-02-01 11:00 - 16:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Lunar New Year x Black History Month 2025: Celebrating Asian & African-American Solidarity
Saturday, February 1, 2025
11 AM – 4 PM
FREE

REGISTER

Join us on Saturday, February 1, 2025, as we partner with the Malonga Arts Residents Association (MARA), Eastwind Books of Berkeley, Marcus Books, and the Alameda County National Council of Negro Women for the Oakland Asian Cultural Center’s third annual Lunar New Year x Black History Month Community Celebration.
We are so excited to welcome our community back for another celebration of Asian and African-American solidarity through art, music, and dance, including an incredible lineup of Black and Asian martial artists, musicians, and dance groups, including Dimensions Dance Theater, Destiny Arts Center, Amihan, the Great Wall Youth Orchestra, and others.
In addition to a full day of performances, we are bringing back:
A local vendors’ marketplace
Children’s Zone with Eastwind Books of Berkeley and Marcus Books
An exhibition on Black and Asian solidarity
This event is part of OACC’s ongoing Open E.A.R.S. for Change initiative, which started in 2020 to build stronger relationships among local APIA and Black communities.
This event is funded by the CA State Grant for Stop the Hate (CDSS), the Zellerbach Family Foundation, and the City of Oakland’s Cultural Funding Program, and sponsored by Dr. Raymond L. Eng.
Getting to OACC:
There is an underground parking lot below the Pacific Renaissance Plaza. There are two entrances to the parking lot; one located on Franklin & the other on Webster. Parking is $3 per hour. To get to our suite, take the elevator to the 2nd floor. OACC is the first suite on the left when you leave the elevator.
The area has multiple bus lines, and we are within walking distance of 12th Street BART and Lake Merritt BART station.
There are also a few other parking lots nearby:
Aki Parking
435 8th St (4-minute walk to OACC)
$3 an hour, $10 for the day
East Bay Parking
726 Harrison St, Chinatown (8 minute walk to OACC)
$4 an hour
Douglas Parking Lot #475
420 Washington St Old Oakland (13-minute walk to OACC)
$4 an hour
PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Program Emcee

Miko Lee
Miko Lee is an activist, storyteller, and educator. She believes in the power of stories to amplify voices. Miko is the Director of Programs for Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality and is the lead producer of APEX Express on KPFA Radio, focused on AAPI activists and artists. She is also on the National Advisory Committee of Teaching Artists Guild. Miko’s career has been rooted in the nonprofit world, first as a theater actor, director and writer and then as an artistic director and an arts education leader.
Performer Spotlights

Photo by Edward Miller Photography
Dimensions Dance Theater (DDT)

Under the artistic leadership of co-founder Deborah Vaughan, Dimensions Dance Theater is one of the oldest contemporary dance companies in the U.S. At 52 years old, DDT has become widely recognized for its presentation of traditional dances and contemporary choreography drawn from African, Jazz, and Modern dance idioms. The diversity and inclusiveness of DDT’s repertoire are unique to the company and have contributed greatly to its reputation for innovative dynamism.

Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company (DAYPC)
Based in Oakland, California, the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company (DAYPC) is a diverse group of teens collaborating with professional artists to create dynamic, original dance and theater productions.

Cal VSA Lion Dance
Cal VSA Lion Dance, founded in 2012 through the Vietnamese Student Association’s Culture Show, is UC Berkeley’s one and only student-run lion dance team. Earnestly serving the local Bay Area for the past 11 years, they’ve developed a tight-knit team of students and alumni connected by culture, passion, and camaraderie.

Photo by William Lee
Carla Service Dance-A-Vision Entertainment Group
Carla Service is a performer, choreographer, teacher, booking agent, and, for over thirty years, a mentor to Oakland youth. She helps them find empowerment through dance.
Carla’s Dance-A-Vision school is about more than steps, technique, choreography, and performance; it’s about positive relationships, fostering communication, and building confidence and self-reliance.

Voices Of A Dream (VOAD)
VOICES OF A DREAM (VOAD) stands as one of today’s most compelling a cappella ensembles, masterfully preserving and reimagining the profound legacy of African American spirituals under the dynamic leadership of Amikaeyla Gaston. VOAD creates an immersive tapestry of sound that honors the African American spiritual tradition while speaking powerfully to contemporary audiences. Their performances offer more than music – they provide a transformative journey through history, heritage, and healing.
Singers include Amikaeyla Gaston, Amber McZeal, Karen A. Smith, Elizabeth Sayre, and Rashida Oji.

The Great Wall Youth Orchestra
The Great Wall Youth Orchestra is part of the Purple Silk Music Education Foundation. They are an Oakland-based, non-profit organization that supports music education for youth. Their mission is to give students in their community the chance to learn from professional musicians, perform in public, and become skilled musicians themselves. Their program includes lessons from performing artists, teaching music theory, playing in a Chinese orchestra, and performing in the Bay Area and beyond.

Kkirikkiri
Kkirikkiri is a community-based Samulnori group. Samulnori is a performance practice based on traditional percussion music from farming communities in Korea. In addition to Samulnori, Kkiikkiri is dedicated to learning, sharing, and celebrating other Korean and Korean-American traditions and culture.

Amihan
Amihan (translates to harvest wind) is a self-taught poet, producer, and musician born & raised in San Francisco, reppin the Excelsior district. She was named after the peasant women’s organization based in the countryside of the Philippines. Rooted in their struggle for land and freedom, Amihan’s music fuses hip-hop & rnb flows with chants of the people.

Toishan Benevolent Association
The Toishan Benevolent Association has served the greater Bay Area community for the last 22 years with different cultural programs. They promote Chinese ethnic culture in different forms of performances: lion’s dance, dragon dance, traditional art dance, tai chi demonstration, kung fu demonstration, and youth kung fu.

VSCK Filipino Martial Arts
VSCK Filipino Martial Arts was created by the late and great ancestor, Maestro Sonny Umpad. The VSCK Global Oakland chapter is led by Guro Jay Jasper Pugao, a direct student of Maestro Sonny. Jay has been teaching and working with youth in the Oakland community, the greater Bay Area, nationally, and internationally since 2003, integrating martial arts for empowerment, culture, wellness, restorative justice, situational awareness, and self-defense.

"The Camps America Built" - Honoring Day of Remembrance 2025
2025-02-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
The Camps America Built – Honoring Day of Remembrance 2025

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025
6:30 PM
FREE
Join us for the unveiling of The Camps America Built, an immersive portrait project exploring the resilience of Japanese Americans who were incarcerated in camps during WWII. Since 2022, photographer and National Geographic Explorer Haruka Sakaguchi has traveled to all 10 camps and photographed over 80 Japanese Americans as they made pilgrimages to their former camps to reflect on this dark chapter in U.S. history.
This special event will feature a live presentation introducing the project and a screening of the short documentary Loyal American (2025, 9 min.)—directed by Haruka and produced by National Geographic Society’s Impact Story Lab. A Q&A with Sakaguchi and the film’s protagonist will follow the screening.
This event is co-presented by the Oakland Asian Cultural Center and the National Geographic Society.
In addition to an in-person event, we will be live-streaming this event. To receive the Zoom link, please register for this event and click the live stream option. We will email you the live stream link the week of the event.
*This event was formally titled “Campu: An American Story,” but it remains the same program despite the title change. We apologize for any confusion.

Register

Meet the Speakers

Haruka Sakaguchi (b. 1990) is a Japanese documentary photographer based outside of New York City. She was born in Osaka, Japan and immigrated to the U.S. with her parents when she was three months old. Haruka’s documentary work focuses on cultural identity and intergenerational trauma. Her clients include The New York Times, National Geographic, Time Magazine, ProPublica, The New Yorker, Smithsonian Magazine, BBC News, Bloomberg Businessweek, NPR, Newsweek and The Washington Post among other publications.

Henry Kaku’s (sansei) entire family was deported and sent to Japan after WWII. Although they were born in California, his family lost their U.S. Citizenship during this time. It was not until 1956 that Henry became a U.S. Citizen at 8 years old, and his family returned to California.
Henry is now the Speakers Bureau Chair for the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League (JACL).

"The Memory of Taste": Book Release Event with Chef Tu David Phu
2025-03-01 14:00 - 15:30 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
The Memory of Taste Book Release Event with Chef Tu David Phu

Saturday, March 1, 2025 | 2 PM | FREE
Join us for a heartfelt community event as Chef Tu David Phu returns to Oakland, the place where his culinary journey began. In partnership with the Oakland Public Library and the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Chef Tu David Phu will celebrate the release of his new book, The Memory of Taste, with an insightful panel discussion centered around diasporic communities and their food, facilitated by Bryant Terry. Followed by a raffle with exciting prizes, including five copies of The Memory of Taste.
This event is a tribute to the vibrant Oakland community and its profound impact on Chef Tu David Phu’s life and career. Let’s come together to celebrate food, culture, and community in the heart of Oakland. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with a local culinary icon and take home a piece of his culinary artistry.
Purchase your copy of The Memory of Taste signed by Chef Tu David Phu and have a chance to meet him in person.
Eastwind Books of Berkeley will be selling copies of The Memory of Taste at this event, and the Oakland Public Library will have copies available to check out.
This event is co-presented by the Oakland Asian Cultural Center and the Oakland Public Library.

Register

Meet Chef Tu David Phu

Chef Tu David Phu, a San Francisco Chronicle Rising Star Chef, embodies a culinary narrative deeply inspired by his heritage and the resilient spirit of his refugee parents. His journey from his mother’s Oakland garden to the pinnacle of culinary acclaim is a testament to his profound connection to his Vietnamese roots and culinary expertise. A two-time TEDx speaker and Top Chef alumnus, Chef Phu’s prowess extends beyond the kitchen to impactful storytelling, notably through his Emmy-nominated PBS film Bloodline. His forthcoming cookbook, The Memory of Taste, is eagerly anticipated as a homage to his family’s legacy, promising a collection of recipes and stories celebrating his birthright and culinary innovation.
Meet Bryant Terry

*Photo by Carlos Chavarria
Bryant Terry is a multidisciplinary artist, James Beard Award-winning chef, publisher, and author. His work is rooted in ancestral inspiration and encourages people to pursue a more healthful, just, and sustainable world. He has authored five highly acclaimed cookbooks, San Francisco Magazine recognized him as one of the 11 Smartest People in the Bay Area Food Scene and by Fast Company as one of “9 People Who Are Changing the Future of Food.” Regarding his food justice activism, Terry’s mentor Alice Waters says, ‘Bryant Terry knows that good food should be an everyday right and not a privilege.’ From 2015 to 2022, he served as the inaugural Chef-in-Residence at the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco, where he curated innovative public programming blending food, farming, health, activism, art, and culture.

Gumamela: An Intimate Preview. Florante Aguilar with Cascada de Flores and Special Guests Charmaine Clamor, Jorge Mijangos, and Greg Kehret
2025-03-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Gumamela: An Intimate Preview. Florante Aguilar with Cascada de Flores and Special Guests Charmaine Clamor, Jorge Mijangos, and Greg Kehret

Friday, March 7, 2025
7 PM
FREE
Join us to experience a musical exploration of the Mexican-Filipino connection featuring Florante Aguilar with Cascada de Flores and special guests Charmaine Clamor, Jorge Mijangos, and Greg Kehret.

The Gumamela project is a collaboration born from the shared passion of Cascada de Flores and Florante Aguilar for the traditional music of their respective homelands, Mexico and the Philippines. This project celebrates the striking musical parallels that connect the two cultures—an unexpected discovery that began with a chance meeting between these artists.

Register

More about the Gumamela Project

Photo by Robert Lee
Gumamela, a hibiscus flower in Tagalog, flor de jamaica in Mexico, is an exploration of the musical connection between Mexico and the Philippines as envisioned by Florante Aguilar and the San Francisco Bay Area ensemble Cascada de Flores.

The Gumamela project is a collaboration born from the shared passion of Cascada de Flores and Florante Aguilar for the traditional music of their respective homelands, Mexico and the Philippines. This project celebrates the striking musical parallels that connect the two cultures—an unexpected discovery that began with a chance meeting between these artists.

These similarities trace back to the historic Manila Galleon trade, a Pacific shipping route that linked Manila and Acapulco for over 300 years. Under Spanish colonial rule, these ships carried not only goods but also culture, weaving together the musical traditions of two distant lands. Though the trade route has long since ceased, its cultural impact endures.

In Gumamela, the musicians begin immersed in the songs and danceable rhythms that the cultures share: the serenading Philippine haranas alongside the romantic danzas of Latin American, jotas, rondalla, and kumparsa paired with Mexico’s son and jarabe, and of course, the boleros!

As the project blossoms, so does the creativity of its arrangements and the inspiration of its compositions. Like its namesake, the hibiscus flower (Gumamela in Tagalog), the collaboration flourishes into a dynamic album and concert. The music is more than a celebration of shared heritage—it is a living testament to the enduring bonds of two cultures brought together across oceans and centuries. Even today, it inspires the creativity of its descendants here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

"Not Your China Doll: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong." Book Release Event with Katie Gee Salisbury
2025-03-22 13:00 - 15:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Not Your China Doll: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong

Book Release Event with Katie Gee Salisbury

Saturday, Mar. 22, 2025
1 PM
FREE
Set against the glittering backdrop of Los Angeles during the gin-soaked Jazz Age and the rise of Hollywood, Not Your China Doll: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong celebrates the first Asian American movie star, bringing an unsung heroine to light and reclaiming her place in cinema history. Join us on March 22, 2025, at 1 PM as we welcome author Katie Gee Salisbury for a book talk and signing highlighting this exciting new biography.

This event is presented by the Oakland Asian Cultural Center and Eastwind Books of Berkeley.

Register

Meet the Author

Katie Gee Salisbury is the author of Not Your China Doll, a new biography of Anna May Wong, Hollywood’s first Asian American movie star. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Believer, the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, and elsewhere. She was a finalist for the Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship in 2021 and gave the TED Talk “As American as Chop Suey.” She also writes the newsletter Half-Caste Woman. A fifth-generation Chinese American who hails from Southern California, she now lives in Brooklyn.

All Mixed Up! A Mixer Celebrating Multi-Racial Identity
2025-04-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
All Mixed Up! A Mixer Celebrating Multi-Racial Identity

Friday, Apr. 11, 2025
7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
$20 – $30
Join us on Friday, April 11, 2025, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM, for “All Mixed Up! A Mixer Celebrating Multi-Racial Identity,” a mixer celebrating the diversity, creativity, and unique experiences of multiracial individuals in the AAPI community and beyond. This 21+ event will feature:

A performance by Jamee of the band MICHELLE
Live DJ sets by DJ Del
Vendors including two-minute portraits by Oakland-based artist Cristina Edwards, live tarot reading with Seba, CLUB CHAZU, Sugar Cane Apparel, and more
Light food from Noor Indian Fusion Kitchen, Comal, Gus’s Fried Chicken, Asian Box, Sakura Bistro, Co Nam, and more
Drinks, including our signature cocktail, a Sake Lychee Martini
And meaningful conversations centered on multiracial identity
Whether you want to connect, share your story, or enjoy a fun night out, “All Mixed Up!” is a space to explore, celebrate, and build our multi-racial community.

This event is sponsored and facilitated by the Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC) and ASIAN, Inc., in partnership with Mixed Asian Media (MAM), Mixed Kids Meet Ups, Mixed Present, the Lunar Collective Bay Area, and ACE Next Gen Bay Area.

Ticket Prices:
$20 Ticket includes: Access to live music, vendors, a Photo Booth, and light food
$30 Ticket includes: Access to live music, vendors, a Photo Booth, light food, and one Sake Lychee Martini.

Get the Party Started Early!Join us next door at Sakura Bistro for our “All Mixed Up” Happy Hour Special before the mixer!
4:30pm – 7:30pm Sushi • Tapas • Beer • Wine • Sake

Show your “All Mixed Up” email confirmation to a Sakura staff member to receive a special discount off drinks and food. Come mix, mingle, and enjoy discounted delicious bites and drinks from a small Oakland business — the perfect warm-up before the main event!

Get tickets

Meet the Performers

Photo by Matt Infante
Jamee
Jamee is a queer, Korean-American musician based in New York City. She has been a singer/songwriter in the indie-pop collective MICHELLE for over six years. Jamee has completed ten major tours with MICHELLE, both nationally and internationally, including four support tours for major artists such as Mitski, Arlo Parks, Still Woozy, and Gus Dappertons. Jamee has recently launched her solo artist project, releasing her debut single ‘Unfold’ off of her upcoming EP ‘Crawling Out the Deep End.’

DJ Del
Originally from NYC, Del is an Oakland based DJ legend. Her original interest in music was sparked by an older brother’s obsession with vinyl, and a mother who forced her into playing instruments at a young age. DJ Del’s sets are heavy with hip hop, club music, baile funk, tech house, garage, hard techno, and dubstep but are mainly influenced by whatever she got off soundcloud that week.

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/inebriatedfelon.

Visible Mending For Stains & Patches
2025-04-19 12:00 - 14:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
VISIBLE MENDING
FOR STAINS & PATCHES

Saturday, Apr. 19, 2025 |
12 PM – 2 PM
Join us for a mending workshop with the Mending Collective to cover stains and holes using stitching and patching.
• Registration is required.
• Bring only items that need repair.
• Translators are available upon
request.
• Class is free with a refundable $10 deposit.
This workshop is supported by Stop Waste. Stop Waste helps Alameda County’s businesses, residents, and schools waste less, recycle properly, and use water, energy, and other resources efficiently. They’re a public agency governed by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority, the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board, and the Energy Council. For more information, please visit Stop Waste’s website: https://www.stopwaste.org/about-stopwaste
加入我们的修补工作功，探索手工缝纲，这是一种对衣服，纺织品和我们自己进行 光 精心，而舒缓的修补方式，练习缝纲和修 补以遮盖污渍和破洞。
• 人数限制为20人。
• 前来我们的中心 进行登记。
•我们将提供修补工具，但请携带需要 修补的物品。
• 如果需要翻译，请于开放时间调(周三至周六，十二点至五点) 510-637-0455。 课程是免费的，但我们要求支付10美元，当你参加工作坊时将全数退还。

Register

Celebrating Our HeART-filled Heritage: "The Rebirth of Apsara: Beyond Genocide." A Performance by Charya Burt Cambodian Dance.
2025-04-19 15:00 - 17:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Celebrating Our HeART-filled Heritage: The Rebirth of Apsara: Beyond Genocide

A Performance by Charya Burt Cambodian Dance

Saturday, Apr. 19, 2025
3 PM
FREE
The Rebirth of Apsara: Beyond Genocide is an adaptive multi-media dance and theatre work observing Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Day and the 50th Anniversary of the beginning of the Khmer Rouge Genocide. The piece will honor genocide survivors, the resilience of the Cambodian spirit, and how Cambodian arts have been, and continue to be, transmitted from generation to generation.

The Rebirth of Apsara: Beyond Genocide investigates the relationship between art and war, exploring how Khmer classical dance, particularly Apsaras, fabled female celestial beings, has embodied the essence of Cambodian culture from ancient mythology to its post-genocide resurrection.

Mirroring her own life’s journey as an artist to explore the impact Apsara has had on both Khmer civilization and Cambodian artists of today, Charya Burt sets her re-imagined classical dance gestures to music by renowned Cambodian-American composer Chinary Ung and traditional Khmer pin-peat. The performance is all tied together by a live soundscape by Marimba Lumina virtuoso Joel Davel and an engaging video backdrop designed by Hsuan-Kuang Hsieh.

Joining Charya’s tour de force performance on stage will be dancer Chakra Sokhomsan and select Bay Area Cambodian community dancers.

A talkback with the artists and genocide survivors will follow the performance, moderated by Mory Chhom.

OACC’s “Celebrating Our HeART-filled Heritage” Asian American & Pacific Islander performing arts series will provide a platform for local Asian and Asian Pacific Islander culturally relevant artists that inspire intergenerational and cross-cultural exchange. This program series is sponsored by Matson, the Bank of Marin, and Dr. Raymond L. Eng.

Register

Meet the Production Team
Charya Burt: Creator, Choreographer, Lead Performer

Charya Burt is an acclaimed master dancer, choreographer, vocalist, and teacher of Classical Cambodian Dance. After the Khmer Rouge genocide, Burt trained extensively with Cambodia’s foremost surviving dance masters, eventually joining the dance faculty of Cambodia’s Royal University of Fine Arts. The Rebirth of Apsara, her recent Hewlett 50 Arts Commission, premiered in 2024 at Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center.

An inaugural Dance/USA and 2022 Americans for the Arts Johnson Fellow and Isadora Duncan Award recipient for Individual Performance, Burt has performed her original works nationwide at venues including Jacob’s Pillow, San Francisco Opera House, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and many others. Her recent choreographic works include Beautiful Dark (2024), about the relationship between colorism and perceptions of beauty, Silenced (2018), Of Spirits Intertwined (2018), and Heavenly Garden (2016).

A true culture bearer, Burt’s mission is to continue preserving and renewing her art form, elevating the professionalism of community dance groups, and creating innovative new works firmly rooted in tradition. She is the founding artistic director of Charya Burt Cambodian Dance, based in the San Francisco North Bay.
Chinary Ung: Composer
“Louk Kru” Chinary Ung was born in Cambodia and spent his early childhood in Prey Lovea, a small village surrounded by rice paddies. His first exposure to Western classical music was as a teenager, and he was so drawn to it that he came to New York in 1964 to study clarinet performance (at the Manhattan School of Music) and, later, composition with Chou Wen-Chung at Columbia University. During the Cambodian genocide, where nearly 2 million people died, Ung feared that the country would lose its precious musical heritage because the Khmer Rouge regime targeted artists. He devoted himself to learning the neat-ek, the Cambodian xylophone, and performing traditional pin peat music (the Cambodian gamelan ensemble) throughout the United States.
Kalean Ung: Writer
Performer and playwright Kalean Ung is an award-winning Cambodian-American multi-disciplinary theater artist whose professional career ranges from Shakespeare to experimental theatre to contemporary opera and solo performance. She has performed at The Kirk Douglas Theatre, Disney Hall, REDCAT, and The Getty Villa, among others, collaborating with critically acclaimed theatre and opera companies, including Critical Mass Performance Group, The LA Philharmonic, Rogue Artists Ensemble, Independent Shakespeare Company, and CalArts’s Center for New Performance. Kalean’s voice acting can be heard as the lead in Denis Do’s award-winning, animated feature about the Cambodian genocide, FUNAN.

For this adaptation, additional story development and text by Charya and Rob Burt.
Joel Davel: Musical Director/Performer

Joel Davel (Musical Director) is an accomplished percussionist whose performances and compositions range from classical to highly experimental. Davel is known for his many appearances in theatrical productions, for many performance collaborations with composer Paul Dresher and Vân-Ánh Võ and for his 20 year association with electronic music designer Don Buchla. Davel is the music director and composer for dNaga Dance Company and PCB designer for Buchla. He performs on the Marimba Lumina, an instrument he built and co-designed. Davel holds a Bachelor of Music from Northern Illinois University and MFA from Mills College.
Chakra Sokhomsan: Dancer

Born and raised to Khmer refugee parents, Chakra is an activist, artist, and educator. The Cambodian community in Chakra’s hometown, Long Beach, CA, helped develop his passion for the arts. He carries over ten years of Khmer Classical Dance training under Prumsodun Ok, Charya Burt, Sophiline Cheam Shapiro, and Reaksmey Lath. Recently, Chakra graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Dickinson College. He has also worked and performed with Alessio Trevisani, Sarah Skaggs, Pilobolus, the American Dance Festival, and more. Currently he is a teaching artist with the Modern Apsara Company in Long Beach, CA.
Rob Burt: Director

Rob Burt, Executive Director of Charya Burt Cambodian Dance, is a theatre director, producer, and educator. A theatre teacher for over 35 years, he directed and produced over 100 theatrical productions, many for his award-winning playwriting program at Elsie Allen High School in Santa Rosa, California. The school’s 350-seat theater was named in his honor in 2017. From 1990-1992, Burt taught playwriting at the University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, producing original plays with actors from Cambodia’s National Theatre. Here, he met his future wife, Charya, who was on the university’s dance faculty. In 1993, he helped Charya establish her U.S. dance company and has been her creative partner ever since.
Charya Burt Cambodian Dance Company:
Charya Burt
Chakra Sokhomsan
Hannah Chea
Baron Lim
Moragaut Souet Samounn
Sydnee Thy
Meet the Moderator

Mory Chhom is a Cambodian American and a dedicated public health leader with nearly 20 years of experience serving immigrant and underserved communities. Currently serving as the Director of Population-Focused Prevention and Early Intervention, she oversees culturally and linguistically responsive programs that promote wellness and equity. She serves on the board of the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants and the Editorial Board for Health Promotion Practice.

"Silencing the Drum: Religious Racism and Afro-Brazilian Sacred Music," a Book Talk and Dynamic Presentation with Author Dr. Umi Vaughan.
2025-04-27 14:00 - 16:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Silencing the Drum: Religious Racism and Afro-Brazilian Sacred Music, A Book Talk and Dynamic Presentation with Author Dr. Umi Vaughan

Sunday, Apr. 27, 2025
2 PM
FREE
Join us on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 2 PM, for “Silencing the Drum: Religious Racism and Afro-Brazilian Sacred Music, a Book Talk and Dynamic Presentation with Author Dr. Umi Vaughan.” This talk will cover Brazil’s rich African legacy and troubling current events, punctuated by live Afro-Brazilian drumming and dance. A Q&A and book signing will follow the presentation.

Register

Meet the Author

Umi Vaughan is an independent artist and scholar who conducts research, creates photo-based visual art, performs music and dance, and publishes work that examines the evolution and meanings of music/dance traditions across the African Diaspora. He holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Michigan and was formerly a professor of Africana Studies at California State University Monterey Bay. He is the author of Carlos Aldama’s Life in Batá: Cuba, Diaspora, and the Drum (Indiana University Press) and Rebel Dance, Renegade Stance: Timba Music and Black Identity in Cuba (University of Michigan Press). To learn more, visit UMIART.ART.
Dr. Vaughan is proud to share his latest work, Silencing the Drum: Religious Racism and Afro-Brazilian Sacred Music (co-authored with Dr. Danielle N. Boaz).

Satr-e Rahayi: An Exhibition of Calligraphy Works by Hakim Karimzada
2025-05-16 12:00 - 2025-08-09 17:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Satr-e Rahayi:
An Exhibition of Calligraphy Works by Hakim Karimzada

Exhibition available to view May 16, 2025 – Aug. 9, 2025, during OACC’s business hours
“Satr-e Rahayi” (Line of Liberation) is the title of this solo exhibition showcasing Hakim Karimzada’s latest collection of calligraphy works. The name was chosen because the pieces in this collection represent a fusion of traditional and modern calligraphy. The conventional boundaries and constraints of classical calligraphy have been intentionally broken, allowing for a freer, more expressive approach to the art.
This sense of freedom opens new realms for artistic exploration, making the creative process more natural and authentic. It invites the artist’s mind to expand and flow more openly, enabling the creation of a collection that is spontaneous and deeply emotional. The artist seeks to convey a vivid sense of passion and artistic feeling to the audience through dynamic curves and movements of letters and words.
In doing so, the works not only transmit emotional depth and beauty but also contribute to a broader atmosphere of artistic serenity—one that fosters peace, friendship, empathy, and a shared appreciation of culture. It’s a creative journey that aspires toward well-being, love, and a profound respect for the universal value of art in our contemporary world.
Art, by its very nature, belongs to all people, transcending borders and backgrounds. Every human being has the right to experience and enjoy artistic expression. Hakim is truly delighted that at this moment in time, in this beautiful space, he has the opportunity to share a glimpse of life through the lens of beauty and artistic reflection—with those who appreciate and cherish art.
This exhibition is available to view during OACC’s business hours (Wed – Sat, 12 PM – 5 PM).
About the Artist

Abdul Hakim Karimzada, born in Afghanistan, is a DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) and master calligrapher with over 30 years of experience in different types of calligraphy and fine writing, such as traditional and modern scripts. He started calligraphy in the Herat Province of Afghanistan by learning different writing styles, including Nastaliq, Kofie, Naskh, and Thuluth scripts. He went on to create thousands of works by using these scripts. He also invented a new fine writing called Nilofar over the course of his calligraphy life.
Karimzada is a senior board member and trainer at the Herat Calligraphy Association.⁠ He has actively participated in various calligraphy exhibitions inside and outside of Afghanistan and many solo exhibitions of his work. He has won numerous awards for his art and the collections of his calligraphy works.
Learn more about Karimzada’s work at hakimkarimzada.com.⁠

"Daryo’s All-American Diner": An Anti-Asian Hate Play
2025-05-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Daryo’s All-American Diner: An Anti-Asian Hate Play

Sunday, May 18, 2025
2 PM
FREE
Daryo’s All-American Diner is a full-length play that follows May Daryo, a struggling 40-something-year-old Asian-American diner co-owner whose life is transformed after a violent attack on her family during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Presented with natural comedy wit and heartfelt drama, and set in Fremont, CA, Daryo’s All-American Diner explores how something positive and hopeful can come from a traumatic act of violence.

Daryo’s All-American Diner is written by Conrad A. Panganiban and directed by Mallory Somera, featuring Joe Cascasan, Jake Fong, Jacinta Kaumbulu, Jamie Nallas, Mark So, and earLena Somera.

Register

About the Playwright

Conrad A. Panganiban (he/him/his) is an award-winning Filipino American playwright representing the San Francisco Bay Area. His plays include Daryo’s All-American Diner, Welga, and River’s Message. Conrad’s work has been performed around the world, including Bindlestiff Studio, CIRCA Pintig, and Silliman University in the Philippines.

Awards include: Best Play of 2023, Daryo’s All-American Diner (BroadwayWorldAwards Chicago), Susan Fairbrook Playwright Fund Awardee (TheatreWorks Silicon Valley), 2023 New Voices in Comedy Writing Fellowship (Killing My Lobster), and a National Ten-Minute Play Festival Finalist (Actors Theatre of Louisville).

Mending Circle
2025-06-06 12:00 - 14:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Oakland Asian Cultural MENDING CIRCLE

Date & Time: Friday June 6, 2025 at 12pmAddress: 388 9th St. Suite 290Oakland, CA 94607
Cost: FreeBring: Items that need repair

Join us as we start an ongoing Mending Circle on Friday June 6, 2025 at 12pm. This group will meet on the first Friday of each month and is free to attend. There will be no instructor, but we will provide basic materials inlcuding thread, needles, a sewing machine and some patches will be available. Please bring items that you would like to repair.

[Cancelled] Celebrate Pride with OACC!
2025-06-07 19:30 - 21:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Roots, Water, Bloom: A Queer Trans Asian Pacific Islander Experience Saturday, June 7 has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances.

Roots, Water, Bloom: A Queer Trans Asian Pacific Islander Experience

Saturday, June 7
7:30pm – 9:00pm
Tickets: $15

*Masking required for this performance when not actively eating or drinking*
Featuring King LOTUS BOY, Piss E Sissy and DJ Del.

Drag performances with multimedia video projection, music, lip syncing and DJ set.

King LOTUS BOY is a transgender, unapologetically disabled, neurodivergent, and chronically illUSTRIOUS, Chinese-American drag king based in occupied Lisjan Ohlone Land. As an ANTI-disciplinary artist, LOTUS Boy explores gender fluidity, accessibility, sustainability, joy, and healing from trauma–through any medium. LOTUS BOY is on the Board of Directors for Oaklash, the Bay Area’s drag festival, and the SPM Disability Justice Fund which supports projects led by disabled BIPOC.

Piss E Sissy is a proud Indigenous performer, Kānaka Maoli (Native people of Hawai’i), māhū ((Third Gender in Native Hawaiian Culture), and drag hottie. Currently based in Huachin, he brings high energy, campy, slutty, slimy, and a perversely political act to stages around the Bay area.

DJ Del Originally from NYC, Del is an Oakland based DJ legend. Her original interest in music was sparked by an older brother’s obsession with vinyl, and a mother who forced her into playing instruments at a young age.

OACC Summer Showcase!
2025-06-14 13:00 - 15:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Oakland Asian Cultural Center Summer Showcase

Saturday, June 14, 2025
1:00 – 3:00 PM
FREE
Oakland Asian Cultural Center invites you to our upcoming Summer Showcase! Our open house will feature 10 free performances and is an opportunity to learn about the classes offered at OACC year-round. Snacks and prizes will also be available.

Performances include:

Shabnam Bellydance School
DANCE-A-VISION with Carla Service
MPWRD Collective
Patty Chu’s Chinese Folk Dance Group
Kkiri Kkiri Samulnori
AYPAL Building API Community Power
Taekwondo with Master Sim
Chinese Music Lessons
Toishan Benevolent Association
Johnny Jang Martial Arts

Register

Changing Perspectives on Japanese American Incarceration
2025-06-21 09:00 - 17:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
CHANGING PERSPECTIVES ON JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION
Oakland Asian Cultural Center
June 21st & 22nd
9am – 5pm, Doors open at 8am

Address: 388 9th St. Suite 290
Oakland, CA 94607
With speakers:
• David Inoue
• Alice Yang
• Frank Abe
• Satsuki Ina
• Andrew Leong
• Eric Muller
• Barbara Takei
• Mike Ishii
• Nancy Ukai
• Greg Robinson
…and many more

Cost: Free

Register

Changing Perspectives on Japanese American Incarceration - Day 2
2025-06-22 09:00 - 17:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States

Taking Root: Southeast Asian Stories of Resettlement in Philadelphia film premiere and panel
2025-08-02 15:00 - 17:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Saturday, August 23-5 pm
FREE
Join us for the premiere of Taking Root, a community-organizer produced documentary series. Taking Root amplifies the untold stories of Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian refugees who resettled in Philadelphia after the U.S. Wars in Southeast Asia (commonly known as the “Vietnam War”).

Directed by Oanh-Nhi Nguyen and co-produced by VietLead, the series unpacks the refugee experience, provides critical historical context for Southeast Asians in the U.S., explores the intergenerational impacts of the “Vietnam War,” and calls present and future generations to engage in racial and economic justice.

Although set in Philadelphia and told through the perspective of 15 Southeast Asian community leaders, these are universal stories of rebuilding roots after experiencing displacement. Many groups across the U.S. can connect their own lived experiences to these tales.

This event is presented by the Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC), the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI), New Light Wellness, and the Asian Prisoner Support Committee (APSC), and is sponsored by VietLead.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with VietLead’s co-executive director, Lan Dinh.

About the Panelists

Lan Dinh is the co-executive director of VietLead, and co-producer of Taking Root. At VietLead, she helps build leadership and power within Philadelphia’s Vietnamese and Southeast Asian communities through cultural celebration, youth organizing, and advocacy against deportation and displacement. Born in a Thai refugee camp and raised in West Philly, Dinh draws on her lived experience to center healing, land, and community in her work.

Register
