May 2021 Newsletter
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Table of Contents One of the most anticipated events in the spring term, Cabaret is an annual international variety featuring music, dance, and fashion from around the world. Although this year's event was virtual, the strong energy and amazing talent was still present. We interviewed Diego Leon, Community Building Chair of Lawrence International, to talk to us about his experience in organizing and performing Cabaret 2021. Cabaret 2021 How was the preparation and organization for this year's Cabaret? The preparation and organization of this year’s cabaret were very challenging but a very rewarding job, especially because of the pandemic, like lots of other things we’ve grown too familiar with in the past year. I was constantly moved by my fellow board members’ efforts to make things happen regardless of how busy they were. We are very proud of the result regardless of the challenges that we encountered. How was performing for an event like this? It was very exciting and a little bit scary. It felt good to be able to experience an event of this kind after so many restrictions, a truly refreshing experience that demonstrates the power of art and the beauty of diversity. Why did you choose to perform the song you performed? I chose to perform one of my favorite Salsa songs because I wanted people to get exposure to the hypnotizing grooviness of Salsa music as a means of representing my culture. I also chose along with awesome violinist Ellie Lutterman, the song Freddie freeloader by Miles Davis to honor Blues and Jazz music, which are among the biggest cultural treasures of this country. What is something that you want this campus to know about your culture? More than my own culture I want people to be fascinated by how diverse and interesting human beings are, our diversity make us beautiful. DIVERSITY AND INTERCULTURAL CENTER May 2021 Monthly Newsletter Page 1 Senior Spotlight - Mani Duhe Cabaret 2021 Senior Spotlight - Martina Pelmore 1 2 2 AAPI Heritage Month - Taylor's interview The Posse Journey...What's Next? 5 AAPI Heritage Month - PaNhia's interview Something here? 4 3 6 May Birthdays 6 Upcoming Events Motivation Quote 6 6 Final words? I hope everyone enjoyed Cabaret!! Diego Leon By: Arlet Montalvo
Transcript of May 2021 Newsletter
Table of Contents
One of the most anticipated events in the spring term, Cabaret is an annual international varietyfeaturing music, dance, and fashion from around the world. Although this year's event was virtual,the strong energy and amazing talent was still present. We interviewed Diego Leon, CommunityBuilding Chair of Lawrence International, to talk to us about his experience in organizing and
performing Cabaret 2021.
Cabaret 2021
How was the preparation and organization for this year's Cabaret?The preparation and organization of this year’s cabaret were very challenging but avery rewarding job, especially because of the pandemic, like lots of other things we’vegrown too familiar with in the past year. I was constantly moved by my fellow boardmembers’ efforts to make things happen regardless of how busy they were. We are
very proud of the result regardless of the challenges that we encountered. How was performing for an event like this?
It was very exciting and a little bit scary. It felt good to be able to experience anevent of this kind after so many restrictions, a truly refreshing experience that
demonstrates the power of art and the beauty of diversity. Why did you choose to perform the song you performed?
I chose to perform one of my favorite Salsa songs because I wanted people to getexposure to the hypnotizing grooviness of Salsa music as a means of representing myculture. I also chose along with awesome violinist Ellie Lutterman, the song Freddie
freeloader by Miles Davis to honor Blues and Jazz music, which are among thebiggest cultural treasures of this country.
What is something that you want this campus to know about your culture?More than my own culture I want people to be fascinated by how diverse and
interesting human beings are, our diversity make us beautiful.
D I V E R S I T Y A N DI N T E R C U L T U R A L C E N T E R
May 2021 Monthly Newsletter Page 1
Senior Spotlight - Mani Duhe
Cabaret 2021
Senior Spotlight - MartinaPelmore
1
2
2
AAPI Heritage Month - Taylor's interview
The Posse Journey...What's Next?5
AAPI Heritage Month - PaNhia's interview
Something here?
4
3
6
May Birthdays6
Upcoming Events
Motivation Quote6
6
Final words?I hope everyone enjoyed
Cabaret!!
Diego Leon
By: Arlet Montalvo
May 2021 Monthly Newsletter Page 2
Martina Pelmore
Mani Duhe
Senior SpotlightBy: Arlet Montalvo & Monique Johnson
What is your favorite moment at Lawrence University?
My favorite moment at Lawrence was this year for mybirthday. I was able to safely (and of course abiding byCOVID rules & the pledge) celebrate. I was very appreciativeof the people that were able to celebrate with me.
What is your proudest moment at Lawrence?
My proudest moment was getting all A’s last term. Winterterms are usually the most difficult anyway, but that Winterterm I overloaded. That was one of the hardest schedules andtimes, but I got through it.
Words of encouragement to your peers.
Specifically to the seniors: We made it. Celebrate it. Wedeserve it.
What is your favorite moment at Lawrence University?Language Immersion at Bjork weekends have been the mostfun and educational events for me.
What is your proudest moment at Lawrence?Every moment when I tried something new, even if I wasanxious and unsure.
Words of encouragement to your peers.1) You're not the only one. 2) Getting an D or an F isn't the end of the world. 3) You've made more progress than you think you have.
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What is important about Asian American Heritage for you?
For me, community, culture,tradition, and honor are allimportant aspects of Asian
American Heritage. Everybodylongs for a sense of community
and it is especially important thatI find that community with otherswho share that Asian AmericanHeritage at a predominantlyWhite school in Wisconsin.
Culture and tradition are alsoimportant to me because my
Asian Heritage is so central to myidentity and the ways I have
grown up. In addition to that, Irecognize the struggles that myancestors had to overcome for
me to have grown up where andhow I did, and so honor is also a
very important part of AsianAmerican Heritage for me.
Why is it important to educate the outside community about AsianAmerican & Pacific Islander Heritage?
It is important to educate the outside community about Asian AmericanHeritage because recognizing and understanding the historical struggles that
different ethnic groups had to go through allows us to build empathy foreach other so that we can live as one community. Overtime, in the USAespecially, Asian culture (music, food, spiritual traditions, TV/movie) has
made its way to mainstream media and has gained many non-Asianappreciators. For the non-Asian audience to truly appreciate the culture theyare partaking in, it is important to understand the history of the culture, aswell as recognize why that history is still relevant today. Partaking in Asian
traditions, while neglecting to educate yourself on its history and significanceturns Asian culture into a novelty, which, in turn, dehumanizes the Asian
American Experience. The same is true for any culture other than your own.Furthermore, history loves to repeat itself and many, if not all, issues thatwere central to Asian Americans of the past remain the same today. We
cannot expect or fight for change without recognizing previous issues andattempts at change.
What would you say is one of your favorite traditions from your culture?This is a really tricky question because I have a very mixed ethnic backgroundand I was also born and raised in Hawai’i, a place where traditional American
race roles are reversed and, at times, unapplicable. My Asian AmericanHeritage (out of my nine ethnicities) hails from Japan, The Philippines, Korea,and Taiwan and so my family will often mix and combine different traditions
from each culture. That being said, my favorite tradition is probably justhaving family dinners with different food from each culture represented or
even mixed together. For example, we’ll have sushi (Japan), lumpia(Philippines), japchae (Korea), and bubble tea (Taiwan) all at one gathering.
This is not an uncommon practice in Hawai’i, as a large amount of thepopulation is also mixed. The mixed-ness is one of my favorite traditionsbecause it allows me to appreciate and celebrate the differences and
similarities between my different cultures. It also helps me feel connected tomy culture, something I have previously struggled with, because of how mixed
my identity is.
Asian American Pacific IslanderHeritage Month
To honor this year's AAPI Heritage Month, we interviewed two amazing students at LU, PaNhia Vangand Taylor DeCastro to share with us their experiences, cultures, and pride for their cultural heritage.
Taylor DeCastro
By: Arlet Montalvo
What can people outside of your community do to be ally’s to your community,especially during this month?
I cannot speak for the whole Asian American & Pacific Islander community. However, I will make some
suggestions based on what community members have all similarly expressed. Some of these includeshowing up and supporting your local AAPI organizations during protests. Additionally, learning thehistory of AAPIs and problems of the model minority myth would be beneficial in understanding the
complexity of our community. Lastly, if you can, please donate to national and local AAPI organizations,especially at this time, when there is a rise of anti-Asian hate crimes!
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Is there a particular memory that you have of celebrating your culture that isspecial to you?
In my culture, we always celebrate Hmong New Year around the end of November. When this
happens, many of us would dress up in our traditional clothes and go celebrate withfamily/friends/loved ones. We would eat lots of delicious food, dance, sing, and take lots of familypictures. I hope that we can celebrate Hmong New Year at some point at Lawrence since there is
a large population of Hmong people in the Appleton region.
How essential is it that the younger generations in yourcommunity understand your heritage?
I think it is important for the younger generation to know their heritageand roots because it is a part of their identity. I know it can be extremely
hard and discouraging at times to maintain one’s heritage especiallywhen you live in a society that may not be your ancestral homeland. Forexample, many of the Hmong younger generations such as myself cannotspeak or read in their language fluently because of assimilation, as well
as other factors. Despite this, as long as we are trying to learn ourlanguage and culture then it is building blocks in helping us connect
closer to our heritage.
PaNhia VangBy: Monique Johnson
Asian American Pacific IslanderHeritage Month
Motivation
DIFFICULT DOESNOT MEANIMPOSSIBLE
By: Monique Johnson
Upcoming EventsMay 4th – Missing Murdered IndigenousWomen Girls & 2 Spirit People Awareness @3pm, Main Hall GreenMay 8th – Holi Celebration @ 12pm, OrmsbyLakeMay 11th – D&IC Virtual Game Night @ 4pm,ZoomMay 23rd – Pride Fair @1pm, Main Hall Green May 26th – D&IC End of the Year Celebration@ 6pm, Somerset
JELANI LOURIC KATIE TOMI EMILY LEE PASSION ALAN KASANDRA SAVON OMAR MATTHEW MIA NORA JOJO KELVIN RUBY ADJEDMAA WALKER MAYA SHARON EDER EVAN JANAI AASMA ALLEACYA LAYNE ANAYELI YAZMIN IVAN ISMAEL IAN EMILIA LUPE HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ALL!!
May Birthdays
May 2021 Monthly Newsletter Page 5
