RadicalHapa is Joseph Santos-Lyons

UU Sri Lankan Minister Coming to America!

I am so excited to report that one of my mentors and good friends from my student ministry with the UU Church of the Philippines received his Visa to travel to America this summer.  He will be at GA, and will be visiting several UU congregations across the states.  We'll hopefully have him in Portland for a spell.

Rev. Nihal Attanayake is a former Anglican Priest from Sri Lanka, and new President of the UU Church of the Philippines.  He has been staff director of the Faith in Action Department for nearly a decade, leading church building, partner church, and very innovative social enterprise efforts including microfinance.

Getting a Visa to America from the Philippines, or anywhere in SE Asia for that matter, is so Freakin Hard.  I'm so excited and a little surprised.

Co-Ministers

My generation is stepping up into the co-ministry.  Congratulations!

I-5 Bridge: Community Feedback Time

For years now, government, business and community have been planning to make major changes to the Interstate 5 bridge spanning the Columbia River between Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA.  Environmental Justice activists have been monitoring the situation from nearly the beginning.  There has been some concern about the emphasis on adding more vehicle lanes, and efforts to make it the only alternative to "do nothing".  Still, public officials continue to voice the expectation that the MAX Light Rail will cross.  As a resident nearby, I certainly hope so!

There are 3 Options: #1 No Build - keep the same.  #2 Expand with Rapid Bus.  #3 Expand with Light Rail.   My vote is for (they call them Alternatives) #3.

Anyway, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement has been released.  Deadline to give feedback: July 1st, 2008.  It is all available on the web.  Highlights include:

• The affected area impacts "EJ Populations".  This is a term I haven't seen in policy documents before, but it refers to low income and communities of color.  There is a chapter on "Neighborhoods and Environmental Justice".  Most of the poverty is in Washington, racial minorities in Oregon (Kenton Neighborhood).  Check out their maps.
• Condemnation or "taking" of private property will mostly occur on the Washington side, and some in Oregon's Hayden Island.  Appendix D outlines the "Potential Property Acquisitions".  Always a hot issue that turns out folks.
• Long term they expect air quality to improve.  Even without factors such as toll and mass transit.  CO emissions have dropped steadily over the last 20 years.  This was a major concern of EJ activists.

Leave feedback online or attend one of their upcoming Open Houses May 28-29.

UU in Week of Asian/POC Space

It has been a busy week of community activism.

Last weekend we attended the Filipino-Environmental film Moonrise Film Festival.  My partner was a key organizer, with filipinos and a group new to me - Green Empowerment.  Their program staff who spent time working on water and power issues in rural Filipino villages was very impressive. 

Monday we attended a Mayorial Candidate roundtable with Community of Color delegates from 4 primary groups - Center for Intercultural Organizing, Oregon Action, Latino Network, and the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon-PAC.  We've been involved with the latter, code named APANO-PAC.  Sho Dozono and Sam Adams were invited to meet with about 50 leaders of color.  We had simultaneous Spanish language translation, very impressive!  The first 3 groups are a part of an innovate City of Portland organizing effort to build stronger relationships with communities of color.  Code named: Diversity and Civic Leadership, it is being managed largely by an old friend and organizer Jeri Williams out of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement.

Then Friday was a whirlwind!  I was on local community radio, KBOO 90.7 in Portland, for a Hapa Issues roundtable, talking about Mixed Asian American identity with several good friends.  Professor Patty Duncan of Portland State moderated.  There was a fabulous interview with Kip Fullbeck, who did a wonderful book entitled Part Asian, 100% Hapa, and has Project Hapa online.  It is a great compilation of photos and persons self-written racial-cultural-ethnic identities.  He collected over 1200!  All voluntary.  All self-identified.

Afterwards, a brief baby viewing trip to Western States Center, and then the baby and I went to the monthly gathering of YEPOC (Young Environmental Professionals of Color).  Mostly API folks there, we made some really nice connections in our first visit.

Finally, this morning, to top it all off, we're co-organizing a half day API Vote Training at the NW Health Foundation for activists from several of Portland's Asian communities.  I'm doing some relationship building exercises and childcare, but excited to be with a new cohort of organizers.  This is being sponsored by APANO-PAC, and we're working with leaders from the Viet, Cambodian, Filipino, Chinese and Korean communities.

Cute Sleeping Pose (Pic)

Just like her sister.

Future DJ

We love Rock Band!

Walk About Farraguat Park (Piedmont Neighborhood)

Beautiful afternoon.  We love this garden up the street.  Softball in the park.  This stone wall look is common around our block.

UU Rev. Tse Honored by Harvard

Received my annual invitation to graduation and alumni/ae activities at Harvard Divinity School.  Great to see old friend and activist Rev. Karen Tse of International Bridges to Justice being honored with their First Decade Award.  I can't believe it has been 10 years since she graduated from HDS!

Karen has put her vision as a lawyer and minister into work in starting an amazing global NGO.  The UUWorld did a nice piece on her recently (Spirited Defender).  Karen, if you're reading, Miyka loved the keyboard you got her!

Thanks PNWD Ministers

I got a nice "baby congratulations" card today in the mail, from the ministers gathered at the spring retreat.  It was sweet!  Love the collegiality here.  Thanks to Rev. Maginn for the yummy vege stew and fabulous garlic bread.  Rev. Pomerantz, I promise to take you up on time with the kids!  Thanks Rev. Ayer for sending the card along.

Sharp Asian Blog

Angry Asian Man

Hawai'i Siege?

A tourist destination, the former political and cultural seat of native hawai'i, has been taken over by 60 activists.  News is just coming out.  Another occupation, in the mold of the 1960's?

Go Hawai'ians!

Link: Native Group Occupies Grounds of Palace - New York Times.

HONOLULU (AP) — A group of Native Hawaiians on Wednesday locked the gates of Iolani Palace, the former home of Hawaiian royalty, and took over the grounds.

I'll try and get more news from my network of friends.  Until then, check out this great group of API singers from Hawai'i - Kupa'aina.  An amigo from UO plays in the group, we heard them last year at one of Portland's only Hawai'ian hotspots, Bamboo Grove in SW.