Running Home documentary examines human trafficking, marathon running in Laos

For Portland residents, Running Home is a new documentary premiering on June 6th looking at the philanthropic efforts of Nang Nonnarath Dunn to build a better future for at-risk Lao youth overseas and to fight human trafficking. Many of us had a chance to meet her during the National Lao American Symposium and Writers Summit in Minneapolis in April. You can see the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn9_ZmUw1ng&feature=youtu.be

Re-Imagining the Kinnaly

The Kinnaly is one of the key figures of Lao traditional culture, present in our myths, legends, and many architectural elements. It has roots in Hindu and Buddhist tradition, with many elements of Lao culture now reflected in the stories we pass on to the next generation. 

Artist Nor Sanavongsay and I have been working together for the last year on a project to expand our visual vocabulary regarding the Kinnaly and how they might be depicted within a more modern, imaginative and inclusive perspective. 

Some examples are below, but you can also visit Nor's tumblr at http://artofnor.tumblr.com where he is also posting examples from many other exciting projects he is working on.

"The Last War Poem" to be featured on 40 & Forward

One of my classic pieces, "The Last War Poem," was originally featured in the anthology Bamboo Among the Oaks in 2002 and later in DEMONSTRA in 2013.  It will be reprinted online later this month at 40 & Forward, the new blog of the Southeast Asian Resource Action Center in Washington D.C.

The poem is one of my early efforts to examine the journey of Lao and Hmong veterans of the secret war for Laos between 1954-1975, and in many ways was an early example of what would come to be my signature style with poetry over the last decade.

Appearing at the Oakland Book Festival, May 31st

I, Nor Sanavongsay and Krysada Panusith Phounsiri will be at the Sahtu Press table at the Oakland Book Festival on Sunday, May 31st.

The Oakland Book Festival is a one-day, annual literary event. Dedicated to books, ideas, and the pleasures of literacy, it aims to serve the reading public, to encourage debate, and to celebrate the City of Oakland. It will host more than ninety writers in 2015 and is free and open to the public with over 40 events planned during this time.

We hope to have many exciting books for you including copies of DEMONSTRA, A Sticky Mess, and Dance Among Elephants. We hope to make this an exciting way for you finish up National Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! If you have any special requests or questions in advance, let us know and we'll do our best to address those!