FREE
Writing the Unspeakable: A Reading & Discussion with Asian Women Writers
Moderated by Yun Wei
A Virtual Event on Zoom, May 5, 2021, 1:00-2:30 p.m. Eastern/US, presented by the International Women's Writing Guild: A Social Justice Program
Please join us for an inspiring reading of Asian women’s voices in poetry, prose and other genres, including a panel discussion moderated by IWWG member & instructor, Yun Wei. Yun, a Switzerland based writer, will moderate a conversation with panelists and audience on uplifting the voices of Asian women writers. We will explore how writing can be a powerful tool to put the unspeakable into words and action, and how sharing experiences of anti-Asian racism and misogyny can help uncover the courage to heal. "Stones Between Toes, I Walked," is Yun's powerful poem in reaction to the recent horrific events in the Atlanta area, recently published in "Poets Reading the News."
Panelists: Yun Wei (moderator & reader), Usha Akilla, Ada Cheng, Michelle Liu, Sarah Lyu
About the International Women’s Writing Guild
IWWG is a 44-year old nonprofit writing organization supporting women writers in the US and around the world. IWWG has 750 members, with an expanding global membership and a commitment to racial equity and social justice. Please see our statement here.
Yun Wei received her MFA in poetry from Brooklyn College and studied at Georgetown University and London School of Economics. Her poetry and fiction appear in Michigan Quarterly, Shenandoah, Poetry Northwest, Summerset, Wigleaf and many others. She lives in Switzerland. You can learn more about her here.
Panelists
Usha Akella has authored six books that include poetry and musical dramas. Her newest book, I will not bear you sons is published by Spinifex Press, Australia in 2021. She earned an MSt in Creative Writing from the University of Cambridge, UK. She is the founder of Matwaala, first South Asian Diaspora Poets Festival in the US (www.matwaala.com
) and hosts www.the-pov.com, an interview and conversations website.
Dr. Ada Cheng is a professor-turned storyteller and storytelling show producer. She uses storytelling to illustrate structural inequities, engage social critiques, and build intimate communities. Check out her website: www.renegadeadacheng.com
Michelle Liu is a student at Brown University passionate about storytelling. She is the co-founder of Red Envelope Stories and has been featured by The Boston Globe, CBS News, and NPR's All Things Considered. She writes about her personal Asian American experience and shorter works of fiction.
Sarah Lyu is a young adult novelist. Her first book, The Best Lies, was published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers in 2019, and her untitled second is slated for publication in 2023. In her spare time, she paints watercolors and makes YouTube videos to explore one of her biggest passions, mental health. She currently resides in Birmingham, Alabama, with her husband and two dogs. Find out more at www.SarahLyu.com.
