AAPI Rising is a storytelling, workshop initiative to humanize Asian American life in the South and combat xenophobia while building partnerships with social groups, student groups, small businesses and communities in the Greater New Orleans area.

Artist Spotlight Series

The AAPI Rising Artist Spotlight Series is a new project where VAYLA teams up with local artists to capture stories of our community in the south through a Vietnamese American lens.

A New Orleans Story: Bánh Tét by Andrew Bui

Honoring our Vietnamese roots & in celebration of Tết, VAYLA teams up with emerging cinematographer Andrew Bui, a local artist and native son, to bring us along a New Orleans Story on the history and culture behind Lunar New Year Bánh Tét (Vietnamese sticky rice cakes). Watch the film to follow Mama Bui from her kitchen to the Village D’LEst market to see how history is made.

AAPI Rising in the South Speaker Series

An educational speaker series in which we explore questions of identity, place, and empowerment so we can build power and community through a digital platform, offering a connection in the age of social distancing while asking difficult questions. We invite speakers working in Asian American communities as well as Black and Brown communities to discuss their journey and create calls to action for our next generation of leaders.

Upcoming Sessions

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on upcoming events!

Past Sessions

May 28, 2024 | 2pm CST

AAPI Rising in the South Speaker Series
AAPI Rising: Palestine Teach-In

🍉 Join us for a Palestine teach-in in conversation with ‘Alisi Tulua, MS and Nathan Samayo, M.Div. as part of our AAPI Rising series. Moderated by Dr. Jacqueline Thanh, DSW, AM — Executive Director of VAYLA, this virtual event aims to spotlight Pacific Islander/Pasifika voices in the ongoing conversation on decolonization, history, solidarity, and shared liberation.

MAY 28 2PM CST
AAPIRISING Palestine Teach-In
Lessons on decolonization
History, solidarity, and shared liberation
Moderated by
Dr. Jacqueline Thanh, DSW, AM exec director @vaylano 
In conversation with
'Alisi Tulua, MS
Nathan Samayo, M.Div.

April 30, 2024 | 2pm CST

AAPI Rising in the South Speaker Series
AAPI Rising: Palestine Teach-In

🍉 Join us for a Palestine teach-in led by Bianca Mabute-Louie, MA and Reverend Addie Domske, as part of our AAPI Rising series. Moderated by Dr. Jacqueline Thanh, DSW, AM — Executive Director of VAYLA, this virtual teach-in will explore lessons on decolonization with an emphasis on history, solidarity, and shared liberation.

April 30th 2PM CST
AAPI RISING Palestine Teach-In
Lessons on decolonization:
History, solidarity, and shared liberation
Moderated by
Dr. Jacqueline Thanh, DSW, AM exec director @vaylano 
In conversation with
Bianca Mabute-Louie, MA @beyonkz
Reverend Addie Domske @domskeac

March 31, 2023 | 3pm CST

AAPI Rising in the South Speaker Series
AAPI Womxn: Leaders, Culture Bearers, & Storytellers

Celebrate #WomxnsHistoryMonth with VAYLA on Friday 3/31. Join @grandmafun and VAYLA’s Executive Director, Jacqueline Thanh, MSW, as they discuss what it means to be leaders, culture bearers, & storytellers as #AAPIWomxn in the South.

Register via Eventbrite

Photographs of Grandmafun and Jacqueline Thanh

Text says:
AAPI Womxn: Leaders, Culture Bearers, & Storytellers
AAPI Rising in the South Series
Register @ linktr.ee/vaylano
A virtual conversation with Grandmafun & 
our Executive Director, Jacqueline Thanh, MSW

March 31, 2022 | 5pm CST

AAPI Rising: Soul Care
Asian Femme Vigil & Healing Meditation
Facilitated by AAPI Women of VAYLA

March 9, 2022 | 6pm CST

AAPI Rising: Soul Care
Community Medicine & Mindfulness Meditation
Facilitated by Alec Devaprasad, Community Outreach Coordinator

February 2, 2022 | 6pm CST

AAPI Rising: Soul Care
Community Medicine & Mindfulness Meditation
Facilitated by Anthony Johnson, Esq., Deputy Director

December 15, 2021 | 12pm CST

AAPI Rising: Soul Care
Community Medicine & Mindfulness Meditation
Facilitated by Jacqueline Thanh, MSW, Executive Director

August 18, 2021 | 4pm CST

Round Table with VAYLA
Moderated by Jacqueline Thanh, MSW, Executive Director
Featuring:
Anthony Johnson, Deputy Director
Ellen Lu, Program Coordinator
Zachary Lang, Earth Rising Coordinator
Thuy Vu, Special Programs Coordinator

June 21, 2021

Uplifting AAPI Means Dismantling Anti-Blackness

Featured Guests:

Jacqueline Thanh (Moderator) – Executive Director of VAYLA

Kimberly Ha – Artist and Photographer @off.gp

May Wen – Founder of Asians For Justice

Recording: Watch Now

May 17, 2021

The Taste of Resilience & Community

Featured Guests:

Jacqueline Thanh (Moderator) – Executive Director of VAYLA

Stephen Deaderick – Food and Travel Blogger @thenola15

Vivi Nguyen – Founder of Radical Joy Bakery

Recording: Watch Now

August 12, 2020

Intersectionality in the New South

Featured Guests:

Anthony Johnson (Moderator) – Deputy Director of VAYLA

Jacqueline Thanh – Executive Director of VAYLA

Ursula Price – Executive Director of New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice

Mary Moran – Executive Director of Our Voice Nuestra Voz

Recording: Watch Now

May 22, 2020

Journey to Leadership

Featured Guests:

Jacqueline Thanh – Executive Director of VAYLA

Luan Vo – Youth Leader

Recording: Watch Now

May 8, 2020

Leaders in Conversation

Featured Guests:

Jacqueline Thanh – Executive Director of VAYLA

Victoria Huynh – Vice President of the Center for Pan Asian Community Services (CPACS)

Recording: Watch Now

Top