2024/1/20: Community leader Miya Iwataki to speak at “Celebrating Civil Rights Heroes” panel discussion in West Hollywood on Saturday, Jan. 20 from 1:30PM to 3:00PM
West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng will host a panel discussion and literary salon for “Celebrating Civil Rights Heroes” on Saturday, January 20, 2024 from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm in the Plummer Park Community Center, Rooms 5 & 6 in West Hollywood.
This event is free to attend, however RSVPs are requested at
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrating-civil-rights-heroes-with-poet-laureate-jen-cheng-tickets-776502619237
As California’s first Asian American lesbian Poet Laureate and West Hollywood’s first BIPOC Poet Laureate, Jen Cheng says,
“With my background in social justice, I felt it was important to bring together well-respected community leaders to discuss coalition building. It is the first time these five leaders from diverse communities have gotten together in one room – Miya Iwataki, Martha Gonzalez, Shonda Buchanan, Rudy Ortega Jr., and Ronna Magy.
This event will be an experience to inspire people of different backgrounds to connect with one another, get to know their neighbors, and talk to people we don’t normally talk to, so that we can connect beyond our silos.
I am especially delighted that Miya Iwataki agreed to be part of this panel since she has such an admirable life experience as a writer and Asian American community leader. Her presence will help us create a vibrant discussion and learn about coalition-building.”
The Civil Rights Leader panel discussion takes place from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and includes:
- Miya Iwataki will speak about Japanese Americans and coalitions, as a Japanese American community leader who worked with the Third World solidarity of the 1970s and as a current leader with Little Tokyo Historical Society and other groups.
- Martha Gonzalez will share about music and social justice and is a Grammy awardwinning Chicana musician, composer, and feminist music scholar, most known for her work with the Chicano rock band, Quetzal.
- Shonda Buchanan, an author, educator, and literary activist, will share poetry about Nina Simone and discuss her contributions to the Civil Rights movement.
- Rudy Ortega Jr., Tribal President of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, will discuss tribal coalitions.
- Ronna Magy, poet and LGBTQ community organizer, will share her experience with the student and women’s movements from her years at UC Berkeley in the 1970s to current organizing in the LGBTQ community.
