All That We Are We Carry With Us: Stories & Possibilities of Southeast Asian Organizing

Queens is where I have some of my most cherished memories: family gatherings in Elmhurst, Indonesian restaurants across the street from Asian groceries, and vibrant storefronts of Jackson Heights. However, there are other realities of my home: Elmhurst Hospital serving as the epicenter of Covid-19 in 2020, beloved business closing and neighbors being evicted, and the rise of interpersonal violence against Asians.

In my time navigating Philadelphia, I've found home in Southeast Asian spaces, such as Modero and VietLead. Modero and Company, an Indonesian dance group that hosts cultural events and initiatives to support Indonesians in the area, and Vietlead, an organization serving Vietnamese and Southeast Asian communities and leads anti-deportation, anti-gentrification, anti-violence work.

I learned a lot about Philly, Southeast Asians histories, a lot about base-building and supporting youth, but above all, these spaces helped me recognize important patterns and parallels between Queens and Philly; made me question how to bring both of the powerful histories and important lessons, together

For this thesis, I decided to draw oral histories/knowledge from the Southeast Asians who have done so much for these spaces but also on my own knowledge to connect these perspectives and bring them into conversation with each other.

As much as we are reminded of these losses and structures of violence that continue to affect our communities, we are also grounded in the work and values that we have and continue to carry.  Whether through organizations like Vietlead or through smaller community circles, this thesis will invite and encourage other Southeast Asians to engage with their histories and mobilize in their own neighborhood. It is a labor of love and a way to reach out to other Southeast Asians who are feeling lost, unsure of a sense of place or identity, and grief.