Saint Cloud State University is hosting Social Justice Week and Lao American Catzie Vilayphonh of the spoken word duo Yellow Rage came to visit the Twin Cities on November 15-16th.
Using the arts, her mission was to talk with community members about the roles and history of Asian Americans and how to address issues of racism, sexism, discrimination and community injustice. Vilayphonh is a Pennsylvania-based artist who has performed nationally.
Vilayphonh had a chance to see the Hmong and Lao businesses along University Avenue in Saint Paul and met with Lao American writer Saymoukda Vongsay. She met with Asian American student leaders and addressed the potential of a Lao Writer's Summit in August, 2010.
At a very young age, Catzie chose to break the mold by refusing to conform to the stereotypes about Asians. Her popularity as a spoken word performer in Yellow Rage exploded after an appearance on Russell Simmon's Def Poetry Slam.
Today, she raises awareness issues confronting Asians by performing her spoken word poetry with humor and innovation. She has been the Fashion Director for two.one.five magazine where she also does her weekly column Catz Out The Bag with everyone from designers to directors and artists to actors. She will be returning to the Twin Cities to visit in January, 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment