APA Compass

APA Compass is a collectively produced public affairs program. Our mission is to provide a forum for dialogue, exploration, and dissemination of issues pertinent to Asian Pacific American (APA) communities; to unite, politicize and empower APAs; to raise awareness of social and economic justice issues; to highlight the parallels and intersections between APA experiences and the experiences of other groups; to provide media access, mentorship and training to APAs; to promote APA art and culture; to challenge racist representations and to enable APAs to define themselves.
We welcome your comments and feedback. Subscribe for our podcast or become a fan of APA Compass on Facebook. If you'd like to be added to the email list contact us at apacompass at gmail dot com.
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Audio
I Am Asian American by students from Lane County's Rites of Passage
Last month we had a chance to meet students from the Pan Asian Rites of Passage program in Lane County, OR. During this month's program, APA Compass aired the audio from the video I Am Asian American by Jia Ming Chen & Eugenia. This is the audio we played. Click here for the original video.
- Title: I Am Asian American by students from Lane County's Rites of Passage
- Producer: APA Compass Collective
- Length: 2:17 minutes (2.1 MB)
- Format: MP3 Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
What is the meaning of home? An audio postcard
Recently, APA Compass took a trip to a local Asian mall to talk to local community members about their ideas about home, homeland politics and maintaining those connections.

- Title: What is the meaning of home? An audio postcard
- Length: 7:39 minutes (7.01 MB)
- Format: MP3 Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
Decriminalization of gay sex in India and it's effects on South Asian LGBTQs in the U.S.
This month, APA Compass tackled the topic of homeland politics and how it effects Asian Pacific Americans. To look at it through a very specific issue, APA Compass member Priya Kandaswamy spoke to Dr. Svati Shah and author Minal Hajratwala about the recent decriminalization of gay sex in India.
Dr. Shah is Assistant Professor of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at University of Massachussets at Amherst, and author of a forthcoming book about sex work in Mumbai. Ms. Hajratwala is author of Leaving India: My Family's Journey from Five Villages to Five Countries, as well as a poet, performer and queer activist.
- Title: Decriminalization of gay sex in India and it's effects on South Asian LGBTQs in the U.S.
- Length: 36:05 minutes (12.39 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 22kHz 48Kbps (CBR)
Prison activist Victoria Law discusses her new book "Resistance Behind Bars: The Struggle of Incarcerated Women"
Victoria Law is an activist, mother, photographer and writer. APA Compass member Toni Tabora-Roberts spoke with her about her new book Resistance Behind Bars: The Struggle of Incarcerated Women and her work as a prison activist. This is a longer version of the interview which aired on the July 3, 2009 APA Compass program.
- Title: Prison activist Victoria Law discusses her new book "Resistance Behind Bars: The Struggle of Incarcerated Women"
- Length: 22:52 minutes (20.94 MB)
- Format: MP3 Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
Interview with Hawaiian hip hop artist Sudden Rush
APA Compass's Kushlani De Soyza speaks with Hawaiian hip hop artist Sudden Rush. This interview originally aired as part of an APA Compass program about Hawaiian sovereignty and the Akaka Bill.
- Title: Interview with Hawaiian hip hop artist Sudden Rush
- Length: 14:52 minutes (13.62 MB)
- Format: MP3 Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
Filmmaker Anne Keala Kelly discusses her documentary Noho Hewa: The Wrongful Occupation of Hawai'i
APA Compass members Patti Duncan spoke with filmmaker Anne Keala Kelly about her new documentary Nono Hewa: The Wrongful Occupation of Hawai'i. This interview originally aired on an APA Compass program about Hawaiian sovereignty and the Akaka Bill.
- Title: Filmmaker Anne Keala Kelly discusses her documentary Noho Hewa
- Length: 7:32 minutes (6.9 MB)
- Format: MP3 Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
Roundtable discussion about Hawaiian sovereignty and the Akaka bill
APA Compass member Elaine Cha hosts a discussion with author and professor Dr. Kēhaulani Kauanui and Native Pacific Islander and activist Angela Robinson. They discuss Hawaiian sovereignty and the Akaka Bill.
- Title: Hawaiian sovereignty and the Akaka Bill
- Length: 32:12 minutes (29.48 MB)
- Format: MP3 Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
Interview with Bethany Leal from MIWON
Sudarat Musikawong talks with Bethany Leal about Multiethnic Immigrant Workers Organizing Network about their latest activities and planned actions for May Day
- Title: Interview with Bethany Leal from MIWON
- Length: 12:01 minutes (11 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
Interview with Joyce Yang from KIWA
Elaine Cha interviews Joyce Yang from the Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance about her experiences becoming an organizer and KIWA's current campaigns and planned activities for May Day
- Title: Interview with Joyce Yang from KIWA
- Length: 9:24 minutes (8.61 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
Interview with Kent Wong from UCLA's Center for Labor Research and Education
Priya Kandaswamy's live interview with Kent Wong for APA Compass' May Day Special, discussing current labor issues facing Asian Pacific Americans.
- Title: Interview with Kent Wong from UCLA's Center for Labor Research and Education
- Length: 12:59 minutes (11.89 MB)
- Format: MP3 Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
Playlists
APA Compass playlist for 09/04/2009
| Artist | Title | Album | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betty Soo | Whisper My Name | Heat Sin Water Skin | www.bettysoo.com |
| Betty Soo | Never The Pretty Girl | Heat Sin Water Skin | www.bettysoo.com |
| Betty Soo | Never Knew No Love | Heat Sin Water Skin | www.bettysoo.com |
| Girlyman | Kittery Tide | Everything's Easy | www.girlyman.com |
| Girlyman | Somewhere Different Now | Everything's Easy | www.girlyman.com |
| Girlyman | Easy Bake Ovens | Everything's Easy | www.girlyman.com |
| Thao with the Get Down Stay Down | Bag of Hammers | Know Better, Learn Faster | www.myspace.com |
| Exit Clov | Violent Berries | Respond, Respond | exitclov.com |
| Alice Tong | Try | Small | www.myspace.com |
| Marie Digby | Unfold | Breathing Underwater | www.youtube.com |
| Melissa Polinar | Sing To Me | www.myspace.com | |
| Judith Hill | Switchin' Up | www.judithhillmusic.com |
Here's the playlist for the 2009 APA Compass music show. Check out our podcasts here at www.kboo.fm/apacompass, and if you have ideas for stories or an Angry APA Minute, email us at apacompass@gmail.com
APA Compass playlist for 08/01/2008
| Artist | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| Ananda Shankar | Streets of Calcutta | |
| JJ Magazine | Daniel Burnham | |
| Pink Martini | Bukra Wba'Do | Hey Eugene! |
| The Slants | Stranglehold | Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts |
| Dengue Fever | One Thousand Tears of a Tarantula | |
| Animal Farm | The Show Must Go On | |
| Rupa & the April Fishes | Maintenant | |
| Asian Dub Foundation | Jericho |
APA Compass's Annual summer music special featuring a wide variety of Asian and Asian Pacific American artists.