Anti-Asian racism and counter-perspectives in Europe and the Americas: bridging academic research and civil society action towards racial justice
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📑 Contents
📮 Workshop schedule
🗓️ August 27-28, 2026
📍 Auditorium, Jacob-und-Wilhelm-Grimm-Zentrum, HU Berlin Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin
💡 Purpose of the workshop
The aim of this project is to organize a two-day workshop that brings together scholars, cultural artists, and community organizers to critically engage with anti-Asian racism (AAR) from transnational, interdisciplinary, and intersectional perspective.
The questions we explore in the two-day workshop are:
(1) How can racial justice be theorized and materialized for Asian diaspora communities in Europe, especially in the context of resurging ethno-nationalism and structural racism?
(2) What theoretical and empirical research exists on AAR in Europe, and how can it be expanded to inform policy and practice?
(3) How do Asian diasporic communities represent themselves in ways that challenge dominant narratives and counter AAR?
(4) What are the challenges and possibilities in bridging academic research with civil society action to address AAR?
(5) How can we build sustainable, transnational, and interdisciplinary collaborations that center marginalized perspectives and advance Asian diasporic solidarities and racial justice?
📋 Program
📂 Download the full program as a PDF. (Last update: August 21)
✨Day 0 - August 26 will open with the pre-event “Crossing Borders with Camera Forward.”
✨Day 1 - August 27 will focus on emerging academic research, including studies on AAR, representation politics, and archival practices of marginalized communities. Panels will present comparative case studies from Europe, the U.S., and Latin America, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue across sociology, political science, migration studies, cultural studies, and memory studies.
✨Day 2 - August 28 will highlight activist and artistic perspectives, with sessions on queer-feminist interventions, labor organizing, and Korean adoptee activism. It will emphasize creative resistance—through theater, film, literature, and community organizing—and policy engagement via anti-racist strategies within national and EU frameworks.
This workshop will serve as a foundational step in developing a collaborative framework and network for a long-term international research project for racial justice, queer-feminist scholarship, and coalition-building across sectors in Europe and the Americas.
🔮Our digital brainstorming space
📌 We're using Padlet as a shared digital brainstorming space where everyone can add ideas, suggestions, or feedback directly.
🔗 No account or sign-in is required.
💡 Have an idea, suggestion, or feedback? Add it to our shared Padlet at any time.
🖌️ You can comment on the talks, suggest future collaborations, initiatives, funding opportunities, or resources you could offer, suggestions how to continue the netowrk; all ideas are welcome as part of the brainstorming.
💬 We'll return to the Padlet ideas toward the end of the workshop, with dedicated time to review and discuss them together.
🌈 Day 0: Pre-event "Crossing borders with camera forward"
We invite you to a film screening as a pre-event to the workshop.
🎬 This evening will feature two short films (German with English subtitles)
🎙️ The film screening is followed by a conversation with Sun-Ju Choi, Feng-Mei Heberer, and Yi Lou.
📍SİNEMA TRANSTOPIA, Lindower Str. 20 20/22, Haus C, 13347 Berlin
⏰ August 26, 19:00
✅ The event is open to everyone, including those who are not participating in the workshop.
🎟️ Reserve your ticket through here.
Der Fremde Donner ('The Foreign Thunder'). Pascal Hoffmann, 1984, Drama, 24 min.
Vom Zusehen beim Sterben ('Watching While Dying').Dorothee Schön, Hubertus Meyer-Burckhardt, 1983, 41 min.
🌈 Day 1: August 27, 2026 “New East and Southeast Asian diasporic perspectives in research and on public discourse”
| Time | Session | Speakers and moderators |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00–9:10 | Welcome & organizational remarks | Hyunjung Lee, Asian Voices Europe Kimiko Suda, Humboldt-University Berlin |
| 9:10–9:50 | Keynote: Intersectional Approaches to Addressing Anti-Asian Racism: Moving Towards Racial Justice & Liberation | Nadine Nakamura, Alliant University |
| 9:50–10:15 | Q&A | Linda Juang, University of Potsdam |
| 10:15–10:30 | Coffee break | |
| 10:30–11:30 | Panel 1: AAR in quantitative research in Europe and the USA | Dawn Cheong, Asian Voices Europe Linda Juang, University of Potsdam Tae Jun Kim, Dezim e.V. Richard Lee, University of Minnesota Twin Cities |
| 11:30–12:00 | Q&A | Hyunjung Lee, Asian Voices Europe |
| 12:00–13:00 | Lunch Break | |
| 13:00–14:00 | Panel 2:Qualitative case studies on AAR and counter-narratives (self-representation) | Grazia Ting Deng, Brandeis University Aya Ezawa, Leiden University Shujianing Li, University of Minnesota Twin Cities Simeng Wang, The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) |
| 14:00–14:30 | Q&A | Teresa Swartz, University of Minnesota Twin Cities |
| 14:30–15:30 | Panel 3: Young scholars’ panel | Somi Dubuque, researcher, Berlin Pei Li, U. Frankfurt & Queer Squad (e.V. i. G.) Veronica B. Reyes, Kapwa ASBL Danila Tran-Thuy-Duong, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg Zhilin Wu, University of Groningen |
| 15:30–16:00 | Q&A | Feng-Mei Heberer, New York University & University of Hong Kong |
| 16:00–16:15 | Coffee break | |
| 16:15–17:15 | Roundtable 1: Transnational/Transpacific perspectives on public memory and Asian diasporic archive(s) from Berlin | Sun-Ju Choi, korientation e.V. Nataly Jung-Hwa Han, Korea verband e.V Ly Cam Le, Initiative in Gedenken an Phan Văn Toàn Charlotte Ming, journalist, writer, and artist, Berlin Iris Rajanayagam, Federal Agency for Civic Education Sina Schindler, korientation e.V. & Initiative in Gedenken an Phan Văn Toàn |
| 17:15–17:45 | Q&A | Kimiko Suda, Humboldt-University Berlin |
| 17:45–18:00 | Wrapping up Day1 & Information about Day 2 | Hyunjung Lee, Asian Voices Europe Kimiko Suda, Humboldt-University Berlin |
| 18:00–20:00 | Dinner at the workshop venue |
🌈 Day 2: August 28, 2026 “East and Southeast Asian diasporic perspectives in politics, culture and civil society"
| Time | Session | Speakers and moderators |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30–9:40 | Welcome & introduction | Hyunjung Lee, Asian Voices Europe Kimiko Suda, Humboldt-University Berlin |
| 9:40–10:30 | Roundtable 2: Asian diasporic representation in labor politics / trade union organization | Ongoo Buyanjargal, workplace organizer, Berlin Hae-Lin Choi, Hands Off NYC Anjannine Kyle Untalan, Filipino Women’s Council |
| 10:30–11:00 | Q&A | Romin Khan, ver.di, Berlin |
| 11:00–11:30 | Coffee break | |
| 11:30–12:30 | Roundtable 3: Queer-feminist self-representation in culture & arts | Popo Fan, filmmaker, Berlin Feng-Mei Heberer, New York University & University of Hong Kong Olivia Hyunsin Kim, artist, cultural activist, Berlin Ing Lee, artist, Brazil |
| 12:30–13:00 | Q&A | Sung Un Gang, TU Köln |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch Break | |
| 14:00–15:00 | Roundtable 4: Korean Adoptee Activism | Jin Hwa Anna Borstam, art curator, Krognoshuset Sue Glaeser, KAD e.V. Mirae kh Rhee, artist, Berlin, Seoul, and California |
| 15:00–15:30 | Q&A | Richard Lee, University of Minnesota Twin Cities |
| 15:30-15:45 | Coffee break | |
| 15:45–16:30 | Panel 4: Asian diasporic perspectives on political institutions and counter-measures to racism | Jee-Un Kim, korientation e.V. Hyunjung Lee, Asian Voices Europe Ann Li, Untold Asian Stories Leyao Rovira, NO ME LLAMES CHINITA |
| 16:30–17:00 | Q&A | Lilly Seongmoon Shim, Asian Voices Europe |
| 16:30–17:00 | Sound check | |
| 17:30–18:00 | Share digital canvas for thoughts/ideas with Padlet : How to continue the network? (e.g., communication channel incl. digital, who wants to host the next meeting?, etc) | Hyunjung Lee, Asian Voices Europe & Kimiko Suda, Humboldt-University Berlin |
| 18:00-18:30 | Performances by Asian Persuasion | Joni Sheila & Christopher D'havé, Asian Persuasion |
🤝 House Rules
To help maintain a welcoming, inclusive, respectful, and professional environment, we ask all participants to follow the House Rules outlined below:
Respect & Inclusivity
We want this conference to be a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming space for everyone. Please respect each person's identity, background, name, pronouns, and boundaries. Discrimination, stereotyping, offensive comments, or exclusion based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, nationality, class, disability, religion, age, accent, culture, or other aspects of identity are not acceptable. Creating a safer and more inclusive conference is a shared responsibility. We ask everyone to be considerate of others, remain open to feedback, take responsibility when mistakes happen, and cooperate with organizers when concerns arise. Our aim is not to restrict participation, but to make meaningful and respectful participation possible for everyone.
Communication, Participation & Community Care
Please communicate with care and allow others the space to speak and participate. We encourage constructive discussion, listening, and respectful disagreement rather than personal attacks or dismissive behavior. Be mindful of how much space you take in conversations and support the participation of people who may feel less confident speaking or who experience barriers to participation. Please pay attention to other people’s physical, emotional, and social boundaries. If someone asks you to stop a behaviour, give them space, or leave them alone, respect that request. We ask everyone to contribute to an atmosphere where participants can feel comfortable expressing their needs and looking out for one another.
Harassment & Harmful Behaviour
Harassment, intimidation, discrimination, stalking, threats, unwanted sexual attention, non-consensual physical contact, or other harmful behaviour will not be tolerated. This also includes repeated disruptive behaviour, trolling, microaggressions, or deliberately minimizing another person’s experiences. These expectations apply to interactions during the conference as well as related online and private spaces.
Venue, Property & Substance Use
Please respect the conference venue, its facilities, and the property of others. Damage to property may result in liability. Rules concerning alcohol or other substances may vary depending on the event and venue and will be communicated by the organizers. Please also follow any venue-specific instructions, including guidance concerning facilities and access.
If Something Happens
If you experience or witness behaviour that goes against these house rules, you may speak directly to the person involved if you feel comfortable and safe doing so. Otherwise, please contact one of the conference awareness team. The awareness team will listen to concerns, prioritize the safety and well-being of those affected, and take appropriate steps to address the situation. Reports will be treated with care and discretion. We will respect requests for confidentiality wherever possible and will not identify a person who has experienced harm without their consent. We ask everyone making a report to do so in good faith so that organizers can respond fairly while protecting the safety of the community.
Consequences
Participants are expected to follow these house rules throughout the conference. Depending on the situation, organizers may speak privately with someone, issue a warning, request a change in behaviour, restrict their participation, ask them to leave the event, or exclude them from future activities. Where immediate action is necessary to protect participants, organizers may intervene without prior warning.
📝 Registration
Registration was closed on June 30th, 2026.
❓ FAQ
Is the workshop open to the public?
The workshop is organized in a closed participant format to help create a focused space for discussion and exchange among participants. Registration is therefore required, and participation is limited depending on the workshop format and capacity.
I have a presentation file. Can I use the projector?
Yes, we have a projector and please send the file to Hyunjung (hyunjung.lee@uni-leipzig.de) or directly upload your slide to here by August 23.
📩 Organizers
Sayaka Osanami Törngren, Malmö Institute for Migration Studies, Malmö University
Kimiko Suda, Humboldt-University Berlin
Hyunjung Lee, Leipzig University, Asian Voices Europe
