An Initiative to Empower & Uplift Asian Creatives in America
Often we see in our communities, the push to stay away from creative avenues. Our project will start as bi-monthly discussion panels to encourage Asian creatives of America to pursue their creative endeavors.
A Monthly Panel to Engage in Insightful Conversations
We believe that Asians & Asian-Americans collectively create a better America. Through EAA, we push to look past the citizenship and will invite Asian creatives who are refugees, study abroad students, H-1B Visas currently residing in the U.S. working in the creative field. We believe this is a valuable piece to our discussions.
A Safe Space to Help Young Asian Creatives Navigate
If you’re feeling lost, unseen, unheard, we are here. EAA’s mission is to create a space where you can learn, discuss, and voice your own experiences. We’re here to listen.
Meet Roland
Roland Keng is a graphic designer who fell in love with the idea of visual storytelling. He sees design as a way of connecting clients and their ideas- guiding them from concept to execution. Having been born and raised in the city of Atlanta, he always tries to embody the rich history and culture of the city into his work.
He has been a member of Kollaboration Atlanta since 2018, having joined as a part of the marketing team for the Empower Conference. Following the event, Roland helped overhaul the visual look for the Atlanta branch’s brand. He recently accepted the position of co-Executive Director and has been working on establishing a stronger network for local Asian American creatives and freelancers.
Meet Ellie
Ellie Tsuchiya (she/her/hers) is the Project Lead for MEND and is passionate about bringing community values to life and organizing to deepen communities relationships with arts and culture. As a result of her experience with traditional economic development strategies, she is highly interested in community driven development and planning processes that prioritize equity and inclusion over economic growth. Ellie is a first generation Japanese American born and raised in Sarasota, Florida. She moved to Atlanta in 2015 to earn her B.S. in Economics from Georgia Tech and has since called Atlanta home. She is currently pursuing a Certificate in Creative Placemaking from the New England College Institute of Art and Design.
Meet Ting
Ting (They/Them) is a self-taught artist based in Mvskoke land (Atlanta, GA). Their artistic practice is primarily inspired by their experiences navigating existence as a Chinese, queer, non-binary femme. Their work aims to amplify the struggles of oppressed communities, honor the life and struggle of their ancestors, provide radical education, and show the beauty of collective resilience through vibrant colors, elements of surrealism, and portraiture.
