Events
Public Events
Scholar Speak: Your Guide to Language Scholarships in Asia
Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 8:00 PM EDT - 9:00 PM EDT
Scholar Speak is an enlightening event, where panelists demystified the process of securing language scholarships in Asia! This virtual event is your ticket to unlocking valuable insights and insider tips from experienced language scholars.
Whether you’re a student or recent graduate, this event is tailored to provide you with the guidance and resources needed to pursue language scholarships in Asia. From navigating the application process to understanding program experiences and exploring career benefits, our panel discussion covers it all.
Countering AAPI Discrimination and its Intersections with U.S. Foreign Policy
Monday, May 22, 2023 at 3:00 PM EDT -4:15 PM EDT
Since the early history of the United States, America has been engaged in Asia and home to Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. The arc of the United States’ history is filled with legacies of both rising opportunity for and deepening discrimination toward AAPI communities that often intersected with shifting tides in U.S. foreign policy toward Asia. As the United States emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic—and the spike in AAPI hate crimes that came with it—and adopts a more assertive foreign policy towards China, how can the U.S. foreign policy community further counter AAPI hate and discrimination?
Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) commemorated AAPI Heritage Month with a keynote address by Ambassador Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative and Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI), and a panel discussion exploring ways to counter AAPI hate and discrimination and its intersections with U.S. foreign policy in Asia.
This event will feature NABEA Co-founder and COO, Chadwick Eason, in solidarity with the AAPI community
How Schwarzman Scholars Shapes Careers: An Information Session & Panel with NABEA
Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 7:30 PM EDT -8:30 PM EDT
NABEA hosted a joint event with Schwarzman Scholars. Panelists Amani Core, Chayla Cherry, Damian Murray, and Raven Witherspoon–all Scholars, and members of NABEA–shared their experiences with the program and describe how it shaped their professional trajectories. The panelists, who are all members of NABEA, represented various sectors and provided attendees an understanding of how becoming a Schwarzman Scholar can help them incorporate Asia into their own careers no matter their area of interest.
Schwarzman Scholars is a program for the next generation of young leaders, anchored in a fully-funded 10-month master’s degree in Global Affairs at Beijing’s Tsinghua University. The experience encompasses unparalleled opportunities in and outside the classroom, including extensive leadership training, a network of senior mentors, optional internships, career development, and travel seminars around China. Schwarzman Scholars prepares young leaders for a world where China plays a vital role. Scholars learn from world-class faculty and guest speakers about the emergence of China as an economic and political force through a rigorous and dynamic core curriculum.
Crossing Cultures with Instagram and Tiktok: A Conversation with Ryan Alexander Holmes
Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at 7:30 PM EDT - 8:30pm EDT
NABEA hosted a chat with Ryan Alexander Holmes, a Chinese-African American Content Creator and Actor with over 52,000 followers across the U.S. and Asia. Ryan shared his incredible story growing up in a Black and Chinese family, discussed how he navigates these two cultural spaces, and offered best practices for generating content that celebrates harmony and multiculturalism. The event was moderated by Leland Lazarus, Special Assistant-Speechwriter at United States Southern Command.
K-pop and Black Culture: The Influence of Black America on the Korean Music Industry
Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at 7:30 PM EDT - 8:30pm EDT
Panelists discussed how South Korean popular music, or K-pop, has become a global phenomena in the past decade, and the ways in which it has been influenced by Black culture, and how the K-pop industry and its fandom have engaged with the Black diaspora over the years.
NABEA brought together two experts for this special discussion: Dr. Crystal Anderson, Affiliate Faculty at the School of Art and African and African American Studies and Robert Augustine, Founder of Arimé.
Can America Lead in Asia? A CSIS-NABEA Conference
Tuesday, April 12, 2021 at 4:30 PM EDT -6:15 PM EDT
The Center for Strategic & International Studies and the National Association for Black Engagement with Asia (NABEA) hosted a conference on U.S. leadership in Asia.
The first panel on diplomatic engagement was moderated by Dr. Michael Green, and featured former Ambassador Charles Ray, former Ambassador Aurelia Brazeal, and former Ambassador Harry Thomas. The second panel on economic statecraft was moderated by Mr. Matt Goodman, and featured Mr. Marc Mealy, from the US-ASEAN Business Council, and Ms. Terri Batch, from the U.S. Department of Commerce. See more details about the event and the recording below.
The State of Racial Discourse in China
Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 7:30 PM EDT - 9 PM EDT
The State of Racial Discourse in China focused on attempting to assess the mainstream understanding of race and racial identity within China and reflecting on how the gaps between American and Chinese perceptions of these issues may continue to impact how Beijing is viewed abroad.
Panelists analyzed contemporary examples of discrimination and racism in China–particularly those against Black peoples– in order to explore how such incidents have affected perceptions of China within the US and on a broader scale.
Panelists included Leland Lazarus, Speechwriter at U.S. Southern Command; Leslie Nguyen-Okwu, Asia Correspondent for Quartz; and Tabatha Anderson, Research Assistant at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The moderator leading the discussion will be Alex Foote, Sustainability Associate Analyst at PepsiCo.
This was the third and final session in a three-part series titled The Black American Identity in China. It was hosted by NABEA and Black China Caucus.
Black Identity in the Context of Chinese History
Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 7:30 PM EDT - 9 PM EDT
What is China’s exposure to Black people and how is race handled in China today? What are popular misconceptions and how did they originate?
Black Identity in the Context of Chinese History explored how China’s culture and history relate to Black identity and the broader understanding of race. Panelists also provided insight into how being in China can shape views of one’s own Black identity.
The event featured Kori Cooper, J.D. Candidate at Columbia Law School; Amani Core, China Intern at Albridght Stonebridge Group; and Aisha Udochi, Doctoral Candidate at Howard University. It was moderated by Dr. Keisha Brown, Assistant Professor at Tennessee State University.
This was the second session in a three-part series titled The Black American Identity in China. It was hosted by NABEA, Black China Caucus, and supported by Spill Stories.
Studying Abroad in Asia
Monday, March 22, 2021 at 7:30 PM EDT - 8 PM EDT
Aimed at current undergraduate and graduate students, Studying Abroad in Asia provided a view into the wide ranging possibilities of studying abroad in Asia. Attendees heard humorous anecdotes about panelists’ experiences living in a variety of countries in Asia and got first-hand insight into the many internship and career opportunities available for those interested in traveling to Asia.
The event featured Lesley Ells, Assistant Director of Admissions at Lesley University; Cheyanne Harris, Civil Engineer at Brown and Caldwell; and Alexis Snyder, MA Asian Studies Graduate Student at the Elliott School of International Affairs at GWU. The event was moderated by Maraina Montgomery, Assistant Director for Study Abroad at Howard University.
ASEAN in an Era of Great Power Competition
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 8 PM EDT - 9 PM EDT
What has been the effect of recent U.S. domestic politics on the U.S.-ASEAN relationship? Where will the relationship go from here given U.S.-China relations?
ASEAN in an Era of Great Power Competition explored the current and future state of ASEAN nations and their relationships with the U.S. during a time of shifting power dynamics.
The event featured Marc Mealy, Senior Vice President for Policy at the US-ASEAN Business Council, and is moderated by Dr. Michael Green, Director of Asian Studies and Chair in Modern and Contemporary Japanese Politics and Foreign Policy at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.
This event was hosted in collaboration with the Georgetown School of Foreign Service. You can find the recording below.
Thriving While Black in China
Monday, February 22, 2021 at 7 PM EDT - 8 PM EDT
How does Chinese society society define racial identity? How do you engage with people that do not understand the history of African-Americans, or see yourself in Chinese society?
Thriving While Black in China explored themes of living in modern-day Chinese society as a Black American. It not only provides insight into how several African-Americans found themselves working and living in China but also examples how history has shaped Chinese society’s response to African-Americans in present day.
The event featured Tone Twisted, artist and creative; Shirley Martey Hargis, Deputy Program Manager, China Technology Transfer & Emerging Technologies/ Senior Advisor, China at Oxford Diplomatic Society; and N. Rashad Joes, U.S. Foreign Service Officer
This was the first session in a three-part series titled The Black American Identity in China. It was hosted by NABEA, Black China Caucus, and supported by Spill Stories.
Careers in Government: Navigating the World of Political Appointments
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 7 PM EDT - 8 PM EDT
Given the increased interest in careers in government on the political appointment career path during government transition periods, NABEA hosted an event on how the political appointment process works. The event helped attendees better understand political appointment careers and the political appointment process through three experts who have experience participating in the process and have served at senior levels of government.
The event featured Mona Sutphen, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff; Randall Schriver, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs; and Dewardric McNeal, former Special Assistant to Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia and China Country Director.
America and the Indo-Pacific: Perspectives from the Field
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 8 PM EDT - 9 PM EDT
As Asia continues to move to the forefront of economic, political, and cultural influence in the global landscape, it is increasingly important to ensure underrepresented voices, particularly Black voices, are heard and at the table in U.S.-Asia discourse. Only when historically marginalized voices are included in the conversation can it be said the face of U.S. engagement with Asia is as diverse as the U.S. itself. America and the Indo-Pacific: Perspectives from the Field was a conversation with Ambassador Harry Thomas, one of the United States’ highest-ranking, Black diplomats to the Indo-Pacific, on U.S. relations with the Indo-Pacific–specifically South and Southeast Asia–and his diplomatic career in the region.
Community Events
The Rohingya Crisis: A Conversation on Human Rights, Foreign Policy, and Myanmar's Future
January 27, 2022 at 8 PM EDT - 9 PM EDT
In The Rohingya Crisis, NABEA member and Southeast Asia expert Danielle Fallin explored the Rohingya crisis ongoing within the region, including the history of the Rohingya identity in Myanmar, foreign policy, and where things stand after the 2021 military coup that plunged Myanmar’s formerly-civilian run political infrastructure into chaos.
The Politics of Who Can Say What and Why: Post-WWII Censorship in Japan
Thursday, August 19th, 2021 at 8 PM EDT - 9 PM EDT
In The Politics of Who Can Say What and Why, NABEA member and Princeton PhD candidate Jessica LeGare led a roundtable discussion on her work with postwar censorship and literature in Japan, as well as answered questions on how the topic relates to and differs from more recent times.
China & The Caribbean: Where the Relationship is Now and What it Means for US-China-Caribbean Relations
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 at 7:30 PM EDT - 8:30 PM EDT
In China & The Caribbean, Rasheed Griffith, host of the ‘China in the Caribbean Podcast‘, discussed the evolution and implication of the US-China-Caribbean relationship amid China’s increased development finance provided under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Hurdles to Solidarity Between Black & Asian Racial Advocacy Movements
Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 7 PM EDT - 8 PM EDT
In response to an influx of mainstream attention brought to anti-Asian hate crimes and violence, Hurdles to Solidarity Between Black & Asian Racial Advocacy Movements was an interactive discussion led by NABEA leadership member Tabatha Anderson on what continues to wedge Black and Asian Americans apart on issues related to racial justice.
Taiwan in Hindsight: How History Shapes Policy Today
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 7 PM EDT - 8 PM EST
In Taiwan in Hindsight: How History Shapes Policy Today, host and NABEA member Shahn Savino led attendees through the important aspects of Taiwanese history, setting the state for a discussion during which members learned from each other about the ways today’s policies on the island have been shaped by past events. This was the second event in the NABEA Conversations series.
Engaging with Local Governments in Asia
Thursday, October 22, 2020 at 8 PM EDT - 9 PM EDT
The international relations field often focuses on relationships between national governments. However, local government engagement is also a vital tool in foreign policy formulation and implementation. Engaging with Local Governments in Asia was a conversation with Reta Jo Lewis, senior fellow and director of congressional affairs at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. During the conversation, Ms. Lewis discussed the importance of subnational government engagement, the differences between diplomacy work with national and subnational level governments, and how geopolitical developments in Asia are shaping trends in U.S. subnational government relations in the region.
Working in Japan: How to Start and What to Expect
Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 7 PM EDT - 8 PM EST
Many of NABEA’s members are interested in working in Japan or have experience working in the country. During Working in Japan: How to Start and What to Expect, host and NABEA member, Stephen Chance, shared insightful information and led an informative discussion about Japanese working culture, Japanese language requirements for work, and different pathways to take advantage of to work in a variety of fields in Japan. This was the first event in a new internal series called NABEA Conversations, which take the form of topical discussions and conversations led by members of the NABEA community.
Co-Sponsored Events
Reading and Q&A with Karen Hill Anton
Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 8 PM EDT - 9 PM EDT
This co-sponsored conversation with US JETAA and author Karen Hill Anton celebrated the publication of her latest book, The View from Breast Pocket Mountain. The event featured an introduction to the book, Karen reading a book excerpt, and a Q&A session.
The View From Breast Pocket Mountain is a unique and previously untold story, a treasure trove of experiences crossing borders and cultures, creating a life, and finding contentment in a far-off country. To those who’ve ever wondered what their lives would be if they’d taken that road without a map, this is the book you need to read. The book gives us a glimpse of a life not designed or even imagined. The book won the Book Readers Appreciation Group (B.R.A.G.) Medallion. To find out more visit: https://www.
Beyond the Wall: Expanding International Education for Underserved Youth
Thursday, November 19, 2020 at 7 PM EDT - 8 PM EST
NABEA co-sponsored EngageAsia’s discussion of the film Beyond the Wall, an independent documentary about four DC Public School (DCPS) high school students who were selected for a six-week Chinese language and culture program in Beijing during the summer of 2009. The documentary makes a powerful statement about the value and impact of global exposure and study abroad, particularly for students in underserved schools and communities.