(ex)CHANGE: History Place Presence

(ex)CHANGE: History Place Presence launches at Asian Arts Initiative, supported by The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage.

Prompted by racially motivated hate crimes, such as the beating and murder of Vincent Chin, composer Byron Au Yong and lyricist Aaron Jafferis meet with Asian American activists in Philadelphia and other cities throughout the United States.

Through community research, interviews, writing, and workshops, they will create songs for organizing events to build solidarity and energize people to continue fighting oppression.The project has the working title Activist Songbook.

Research begins in October 2017 with initial performances rolling out as part of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center National Convening and Asian Arts Initiative's 25th Anniversary from May 3-6, 2018.