The Asian-American Women’s Task Force will host three virtual panel discussions on several hot-button topics, beginning Thursday.
Cindy Nguyen, the task force’s leader, said the group will commemorate Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month in May by inviting people to discuss — and confront — several gritty issues.
First up is a panel discussion on “Misogny Against Asian Women” set for 6 p.m. Thursday.
“It’s going to be a very heavy topic, but we’re not going to shy away from uncomfortable conversations,” Nguyen said.
The community leader, who serves as director of social and economic justice for the YWCA of Oklahoma City, said the panel discussions are being held in partnership with the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Oklahoma Chapter also known as CAIR-OK. In addition to Thursday’s dialogue, others include: “Being Queer and Asian,” noon May 19; and “Black and Asian Solidarity,” 6 p.m. May 27.
The task force formed in early 2020 is made up of the YWCA -OKC, CAIR-OK and other community partners. The group was created to close the gap between domestic and sexual violence service providers and Asian communities in Oklahoma, and also address the increase in anti-Asian harassment, discrimination and violence occurring around the country during the coronavirus pandemic.