At a time when the multitude of Asian American narratives are left out of mainstream media, hear the personal and professional stories of Asian American creatives who, rather than be hemmed in by what others expected of them, chose the unbeaten path and pursued careers in media, entertainment, and art. More panelists TBA.
 

HOST 

Jaeki Cho
Jaeki is the producer of Bad Rap, a film that follows the loves and careers of four Asian-American rappers trying to break into a world that often treats them as outsiders. The documentary also serves as an allegory for contemporary Asian-American struggles. The first rap records Jaeki Cho heard were by Korean-American duo Drunken Tiger back when he was 10 years old. Ever since then he has become infatuated with music and subculture, dedicating a majority of his adolescence obsessing over anything pertaining to hip-hop. He has written for publications such as Complex, VIBE, Billboard, and worked as an editor for XXL. 

PANELISTS

Hawa Arsala
Hawa is co-founder of agency and think tank, Browntourage, a project based on the conscious consumption and production of culture with emphasis on fringe identity. Browntourage has launched a woman of color focused mixtape series, curatorial projects with the Brooklyn Art Museum and artist Morehshin Allahyari, and currently writes a column for Rookie magazine. Outside of her work with Browntourage, Hawa works in fashion as a creative director and brand strategist.

Kavita Shah
Hailed by the Boston Globe as "a polyglot in more than language alone," vocalist and composer Kavita Shah makes work in deep engagement with the jazz tradition while also addressing and advancing its global sensibilities. Her highly-acclaimed 2014 debut album VISIONS, co-produced by African guitarist Lionel Loueke and released on Greg Osby's Inner Circle Music label, combines her Indian heritage and her background in ethnomusicology with her wide-ranging musical tastes to create a unique and ambitious sound. She has toured throughout the US, Canada and Europe, including performances at the Kennedy Center, Jazz Standard, Blue Note, Duc des Lombards, Art Basel: Miami, Winter Jazz Festival, and Rochester Jazz Festival.

DJ Poon
Poon was born and raised in San Francisco, California. He has been DJing since ’98 (Spintronix), which later led to college radio (KSJS). He then further pursued radio and the promotions team for 4 years (KYLD). In ’10 Poon decided to move to New York to grow as a person and to pursue his dreams. His passion for music and promotions allowed him to become a resident DJ in the Lower East Side of Manhattan for his first 2 years. Poon started organizing club events while interning at MTV. He is a regular at the legendary Fat Buddha bar in the East Village and has been spearheading his own clothing line You Love Poon. 

Poon’s main goal is to gain as much as experience as possible and to inspire along the way.

Jaysn Kim 
Jaysn Kim is currently a senior creative at Publicis North America working with Citi, P&G, and Cadillac. He has produced worked with Samsung, adidas, and has created content for TBS, TNT, HYPEBEAST, and Highsnobiety. Prior to moving to NYC, he lived in Koreatown, Los Angeles, working as a creative director for rapper Dumbfoundead. 
 

Evan Leong
A director and documentary filmmaker. Leong is likely most known for his documentary Linsanity about Jeremy Lin, which made its world premiere at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. He has also directed the documentary 1040: Christianity in the New Asia (2010), and the documentary short BLT Genesis (2002), which tracks the behind-the-scenes making of and trajectory of Justin Lin's film, Better Luck Tomorrow.

Jessica Yuen
Jessica Yuen is a native New Yorker born to a loudmouth and a clotheshorse. She checks off all the Queens kid stereotypes: first-generation, piano lessons, cutting class at Stuyvesant. A Parsons grad and sartorial problem solver, Yuen now tailors and designs for athletes and celebrities including Serena Williams, Carmelo Anthony, Gigi Hadid and the Kardashians. She's currently working on costume design for Linsanity director, Evan Jackson Leong's debut narrative feature, Snakehead. 

Illuminating the arts and life around us, BRIC’s Stoop Series explores music, theater, visual art, media, literature, comedy, and other creative fields, through performances, presentations, participatory activities and dynamic conversations. There’s something different every week!

This spring the Stoop Series includes a special mini-series of How To evenings speaking directly to BRIC’s artist community. These panel discussions bring artists and cultural workers together to share stories about exciting successes and instructive failures in the process of finding resources, collaborating and engaging community around their work.

Venue Information:

The Stoop at BRIC House is a public cultural gathering space featuring free, drop-in programming, and offering a place to sit, observe, and participate in multi-disciplinary work. 

Beginning Nov. 1, 2022, attendees of any BRIC House programming will no longer have to show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter the building. Masks are encouraged but not required in all BRIC operated spaces. If you have questions regarding this protocol, please email Safety@bricartsmedia.org. For our full BRIC House COVID-19 policy, visit: https://www.bricartsmedia.org/safety.