Launch Event - Reclaiming Our Narrative: Foundations & Futures
2026-05-09 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | UCLA Luskin Conference Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Foundations and Futures is here! Developed by the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, this Asian American and Pacific Islander Multimedia Textbook includes 50 chapters, 1,500+ media assets, and 250+ ready-to-use lesson plans. This project is designed to transform classrooms into spaces of empathy, critical thinking, and change!
We are excited to be a community partner for this groundbreaking launch, please join us for Reclaiming Our Narrative: Presenting Foundations and Futures on May 9, 2026 at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center. The program will also feature a keynote by Dr. Maya Soetoro, who will guide us in exploring the power of peace education.
At a moment when ethnic studies faces increasing scrutiny and books continue to be banned, we hope that Foundations and Futures can empower educators to uplift, protect, and preserve Asian American and Pacific Islander histories.
🗓 May 9, 2026
⏰10:00am to 3:00pm (Registration check in begins at 9:00am)
📍UCLA Luskin Conference Center Ballroom
🔗Link to register: bit.ly/40LTiT3

Book Talk - Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
2026-05-12 14:30 - 15:30 | UCLA James West Alumni Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
We are excited to host Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg writer and artist Leanne Betasamosake Simpson next month as part of the Department of American Indian Studies’ (DAIS) Special Speaker Series. Hear Leanne speak about her newest book, Theory of Water (2025), and get your signed copy on Tuesday, May 12 at 2:30 at the James West Alumni Center – Founder’s Room.
About the Author:

Leanne Betasamosake Simpson is a renowned Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg musician, writer and academic. She is the author of eight books, including As We Have Always Done (winner of the NAISA subsequent book prize) and the novel Noopiming which was short listed for the Governor General’s Literary Award and the Dublin Literary Prize. Her collaboration with Robyn Maynard, Rehearsals for Living is a National Best Seller and was short listed for the Governor General’s Literary Award for non-fiction. Leanne’s new work, Theory of Water is a national best seller and won the Writer’s Trust Hilary Weston prize for non-fiction. Leanne has lectured and taught extensively at universities across Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe and has over twenty years experience with Indigenous land based education. Leanne is also a musician. Her latest release Live Like the Sky is out now from You’ve Changed Records. Theory of Ice (2021) was named to the Polaris Prize short list, and she was the 2021 winner of the Prism Prize’s Willie Dunn Award, presented to a Canadian trailblazer who has demonstrated excellence within the music video production community. Leanne holds a PhD from the University of Manitoba and is a member of Alderville First Nation.

UCLA Korean American Studies Symposium Series
2026-05-18 17:00 - 19:00 | Online via Zoom
Don’t miss this upcoming virtual symposium featuring insights from leading experts in Anthropology and Asian American Studies. We’ll be diving deep into the historical roots of racial violence and discussing paths toward collective resistance.
Speakers:
Jenny Banh (Fresno State University)
Scott Kurashige (The James and Grace Lee Boggs Foundation)
Kyeyoung Park (UCLA)
Register:
BIT.LY/UCLA-ANTIASIANVIOLENCE2026
