In partnership with the Neon Pacific Initiative at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, join Nevada Humanities on December 14 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the UNLV Beverly Rogers Literature and Law Building (RLL) Room 101 for a program celebrating AAPI food stories and creativity in southern Nevada. Enjoy a comforting bowl of pho while a Vietnamese chef shares their experiences, and engage in an interactive writing workshop guided by AAPI writers about food, storytelling, and identity.
Moderated Conversation and Q&A | 5:00 pm - 5:50 pm
Join us to celebrate Asian American culture and AAPI voices through food and poetry! Listen to a local chef in conversation with Dr. Mark Padoongpatt (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) and learn more about the importance of AAPI storytelling, food, culture, and community in southern Nevada.
A tasting sample of pho will be provided for all participants in addition to a sensory guide in preparation for the group activity and conversation taking place after the conversation.
Poetry Readings and Group Activity | 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Following the conversation, stick around for poetry readings, a group discussion, and an activity led by local AAPI creatives Niko Mendoza and Mei-Mei Mijares.
Space is limited and registration is required.
This program is a part of the Neon Pacific Initiative (NPI) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, a Mellon Foundation grant-funded project that aims to expand, enhance, and elevate the history, culture, and lived experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in southern Nevada.
Mei-Mei Mijares has more hometowns than you. She spent her childhood on army bases across Texas, Tennessee, California, and Germany. She grew up with a book in her hands, including the time she fell and broke her leg in ninth grade. After graduating high school as class valedictorian, she went to UC Santa Barbara for her degree in English and a minor in German. Mei-Mei currently resides in Las Vegas pursuing a Master's in Couple & Family Therapy at UNLV. You can find her singing karaoke, enjoying D&D, playing pickleball, or painting magical landscapes. Her debut novel Unabashed is a conversation between her past and present self.
Niko Mendoza is a Las Vegas-based artist and activist creating written and visual artworks that explore nature, nostalgia, and identity with humor, curiosity, and a sprinkle of sarcasm. An irregular in local exhibitions, Niko’s work is a joyful rebellion against perfectionism and "growing up," and a practice in simply growing both as an individual and as a community.
