The completion of our residency in Alaska made me realize the full extent of what we do as artists. We are not merely entertainers and educators, we are activists. McLaughlin Youth Center was our last stop before we headed off to the airport. It was a last minute effort and decision for us to visit but we filled it in with a performance excerpt of Refugee Nation and a Q&A with the teens there.
The 25 or so youth at risk of various ethnicities that did attend were so mesmerized by the "Lao Fighter" scene, we were quite amazed at the questions and comments that came up. One girl asked why did we put the two stories in one scene and the other students offered answers including: 1. Same struggle, different time 2. One is fighting in Laos, the other is fighting in the U.S. What they saw truly resonated with them as well as with the adults. We kept a discussion going for almost another hour. The impact is amazing. I truly felt like a good citizen empowering these young minds to think and work to make themselves better people. Mike, Toc, Leilani and I were so fueled by the experience we didn't want to leave. I'd like to thank Principal Catherine Jones for allowing us to share this and to Candace McKenzie for arranging it.
What was awesome was to see 5 Southeast Asian boys 3 Lao, 1 Mien and 1 Cambodian all speak up about how they related to the excerpt and how they saw some piece of their lives portrayed on stage. It gave them hope that they can choose a better path. I think seeing Leilani and I, two artists of Southeast Asian descent, able to accomplish what we've done is a victory for us and for them. I could see it in their faces thinking "Wow, if they can do it, maybe so can I!" Well, I wish you the best my young Lao brothers. I wish you the best.
Now, we are safely back in Los Angeles after such a long plane ride and a great residency. We have so much to close up from Alaska, and so many to things to face in Los Angeles and all at the same time planning to look ahead. Arriving in Los Angeles early yesterday morning at 1:30am to a very foggy weather made me miss the snow. It's no wonder we get sick here in Southern California...there is no season and when you venture outdoors it is deceiving because temperature dips or rises yet visually nothing changes. Sigh...California.
Our next step is to recoup and plan out Refugee Nation for 2008-2010. We really have something special here. I am very much looking forward to the future having learned from the past. I hope those who have read the blogs have enjoyed the entries so far.
The 25 or so youth at risk of various ethnicities that did attend were so mesmerized by the "Lao Fighter" scene, we were quite amazed at the questions and comments that came up. One girl asked why did we put the two stories in one scene and the other students offered answers including: 1. Same struggle, different time 2. One is fighting in Laos, the other is fighting in the U.S. What they saw truly resonated with them as well as with the adults. We kept a discussion going for almost another hour. The impact is amazing. I truly felt like a good citizen empowering these young minds to think and work to make themselves better people. Mike, Toc, Leilani and I were so fueled by the experience we didn't want to leave. I'd like to thank Principal Catherine Jones for allowing us to share this and to Candace McKenzie for arranging it.
What was awesome was to see 5 Southeast Asian boys 3 Lao, 1 Mien and 1 Cambodian all speak up about how they related to the excerpt and how they saw some piece of their lives portrayed on stage. It gave them hope that they can choose a better path. I think seeing Leilani and I, two artists of Southeast Asian descent, able to accomplish what we've done is a victory for us and for them. I could see it in their faces thinking "Wow, if they can do it, maybe so can I!" Well, I wish you the best my young Lao brothers. I wish you the best.
Now, we are safely back in Los Angeles after such a long plane ride and a great residency. We have so much to close up from Alaska, and so many to things to face in Los Angeles and all at the same time planning to look ahead. Arriving in Los Angeles early yesterday morning at 1:30am to a very foggy weather made me miss the snow. It's no wonder we get sick here in Southern California...there is no season and when you venture outdoors it is deceiving because temperature dips or rises yet visually nothing changes. Sigh...California.
Our next step is to recoup and plan out Refugee Nation for 2008-2010. We really have something special here. I am very much looking forward to the future having learned from the past. I hope those who have read the blogs have enjoyed the entries so far.
