AAPIs, Literature, and Kundiman

Tell us about Kundiman

Kundiman is a nonprofit organization based in New York City that nurtures writers and readers of Asian American literature. We have, right now, three main programs; we have a retreat which has been going since our inception in 2004. We also have regional groups across the country - we have about ten regional groups that do different meetings, salons, workshops, and other types of activities that are more regionally focused.

Tell us a little bit about how you connected with A4; what role has the alliance played in supporting you, or Kundiman, or both?

So we first really got connected with A4 during a program several years ago called “Race Forward,” a so-called race for racial equity. It was for racial equity in the arts lab and we were part of a cohort that was connected with A4. And so we kind of spent several months together, really intensively talking. And so A4 was very generous during that time and provided us a resource as we did a project called “Go in the Body, " and it helped that A4 offered up free workshop space because we don't have space ourselves. It was really great to connect to different people at A4 during that time.

I could just say more recently Lisa [Gold, A4’s current Executive Director] has been convening arts leaders to build a coalition and to create advocacy around the arts, especially around smaller arts organizations. So just plugging in, being part of a more united voice, as well as deepening or connecting us to other people who are at these organizations. It's been great.

Do you have a fond memory of working in collaboration with A4 that you'd like to share?

I think just meeting everybody, you know, from podcasters, to dance organizations, to people [working at] museums; that's been really great in terms of collaborating with A4 in the past. Just being able to [connect], since we're a very specific organization, being Asian American writers, just being able to connect to folks who work across different artistic disciplines [has] been lovely.

What are some hopes for the future that you have for Kundiman and AAPIs in literature?

I think we have a strong desire to continue to develop and strengthen our relationships with other communities of color. Especially… making sure that other organizations that serve other communities of color are also well resourced, so that they can really serve their communities better, [working] towards a total goal of greater racial equity and solidarity. So, for us, we are trying to put greater focus [on] developing programs at Kundiman that really honor our deep roots with Black, Latin, Arab, and Indigenous groups. And we want to continue to be kind of a resource for folks as far as AAPIs in literature.

To learn more about Kundiman, or to support their efforts, visit their website:

http://www.kundiman.org/