More on: UCB
UC Berkeley, Guest Speaker
Nov 04, 2010
» Engagements
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
Presented at Dr. Siri Brown’s Ethnic Studies class on “Other: an Asian Pacific Islander Prisoners’ Anthology” and prison life, to approximately 150 students.
2009 Reflections
Jan 02, 2010
» Reflections
Dearest family, friends and supporters:
Happy new breath! Happy New Year! Happy new decade!
I remember standing in the 49er’s Linebacker room sharing a message with about twenty NFL football players, “You’re one bad decision away from being locked up in prison or six feet under.” We all have to be accountable to our actions. There is no exception.
I remember an immigrant youth lying on a gurney in the hospital emergency room pleading with me, “Can I leave the hospital? I don’t want to be here. My family doesn’t have money.” He didn’t think of that when he decided to engage in a group fight. There is a consequence to every action.
I remember the day an African American man robbed and dragged my 74 year old mother on the concrete ground in board daylight. As she lies in the emergency room in the hospital, I reasoned with myself, “Here I am advocating for the rights of the African Americans, Latinos and APIs in the community, why does it has to be an African American who hurts my Mom? Then again, I did not think about my victims’ feelings when I committed my crime. Who am I to judge others?” There’re many reasons why people do what they do. It’s what I am going to do, that matters. Forgiveness is not easy, but it is necessary.
I remember standing on the stage in the Laney College auditorium with my poet friend SKIM performing our collaboration of “Breath is Life” to celebrate my birthday with friends and community members. I’m reminded that community is how we include and embrace each other. (more…)
UC Berkeley, Guest Speaker
Nov 03, 2009
» Engagements
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
Presented at Dr. Siri Brown’s Ethnic Studies class of approximately 75 students
UC Berkeley ACLU, Guest Speaker
Apr 29, 2009
» Engagements
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
Spoke about prison and parole policy with Professor Jonathan Simon, to approximately 15 students
Breaking the Chain, Keynote Speaker
Apr 14, 2009
» Engagements
University of Berkeley,
Berkeley, CA
Spoke at theSoutheast Asian Student Coalition‘s Annual benefit concert, on transforming the criminal justice system, to approximately 100 people
“Breaking the Chain”
The significance of the theme is a bold statement to break the chain of rising statistics in criminalization and police brutality in our communities. It is to break the silence of unjust acts and to promote social change in the criminal justice system. We addressed issues of rising statistics in criminalization and police brutality, hoping to promote social change in the criminal justice system.
UC Berkeley, Guest Speaker
Feb 25, 2009
» Engagements
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
Spoke about the Prison Industrial Complex and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, at Professor Alan Ross’s Political Science class, to approximately 385 people.
UC Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law, Guest Speaker
Feb 12, 2009
» Engagements
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
Spoke about U.S. immigration policy, to Professor Bill On Hing’s class of approximately 85 people.
UC Berkeley Boalt Hall Law School, Guest Speaker
Mar 21, 2007
» Engagements
Guest speaker at UC Berkeley Boalt Hall law school for discussion on Restorative Justice. Â With: Eric Yamamoto, Professor Mary Louise Frampton, Jane Kim, Lee, Maria, Seth, Mika, Willoughby, Elan, John, Phillip, Sandra Kim, Susan Sarrano, Nakisha
UC Berkeley Boalt Hall Law School, Guest Speaker
Mar 13, 2007
» Engagements
with Helen Zia, Victor Huang, and Ivy Lee, to 23 students.
