A Message From AIISF’s Executive Director

I spent the past few days in Texas to attend the memorial service for “Uncle" Arun. He and his wife were long-time friends with my parents. His daughter and I grew up together essentially as siblings, and have shared all of life's ups and downs over the past 50 years.

Like many immigrant families here in the US, our blood-relatives were far, far away. So we expanded our families to include a broader circle of friends. There were so many holiday parties where 50 to 100 of our Thai “uncles,” “aunts,” and “cousins” would all crowd into one house. The rooms would be filled with the delicious aroma of curries, the chatter of adults catching up, and the laughs and screams of kids chasing after each other. 

At the memorial service for Uncle Arun, there were many “uncles” and “aunts” whom I had not seen in over three decades. Amidst the general pleasantries and generic onslaught of questions (what do you do for work? are you married yet? do you have any kids?), I found myself wondering about their immigration journeys.

What motivated them to come to the US? What sacrifices did they have to make? Were their experiences in the US what they expected? What hardships did they encounter? What made it easier for them? How did they find the strength and courage to persist? These are the more insightful questions that don’t always come up in general conversation. And our willingness to genuinely answer these questions are often hindered by cultural norms that discourage us from openly talking about our difficulties and challenges. Imagine how much more we would understand about each other and how more connected we might feel if we could openly and authentically share the realities of what we endure.

This is part of the inspiration for the evolution of our Immigrant Voices Project. The day before I left for Texas, I had the opportunity to facilitate an Immigrant Voices storytelling training for 15 youth and adults from OCA San Mateo, OCA San Francisco, and AAPI Youth Rising. After a guided tour of the immigration station and a few hours of training, all 15 participants had the meaningful opportunity to sit together in a circle to share a personal or family story related to immigration. Please stay tuned for future Immigrant Voices Storytelling Training opportunities!

Storytelling can be an incredibly powerful way to allow others to not only learn about history but also to feel it. Whether it's through authors like Curtis Chin who wrote about his experiences growing up in a Chinese restaurant in Detroit. Or composers like Heather Klein who created Shanghai Angel – which will be performed on Angel Island for the first time this month – about her grandmother’s immigration journey and detention on Angel Island. Or simply the opportunity for each of us to talk about our experiences. Thank you to all the storytellers who continue to use their voices to increase understanding, awareness, and empathy for the immigrant experience. 

And thank you to all the “uncles,” “aunties,” and “cousins” like Uncle Arun across so many immigrant communities who have played such an important part in creating a sense of home and family for all of us. 

With appreciation, 

Edward Tepporn
AIISF Executive Director

Upcoming Events

Shanghai Angel

Sunday, July 14 | 2:00 pm

Detention Barracks Museum on Angel Island

Experience the Angel Island debut of Shanghai Angel, a one-woman musical written and performed by Heather Klein, Rosa’s granddaughter. The 45-minute piece chronicles Rosa’s journey from Nazi-occupied Austria to Angel Island.

Tickets for the performance are free but registration is required to reserve a seat in the Detention Barracks Museum. The show will begin at 2:00 pm.

Family Day

Saturday, August 3 | Angel Island Immigration Station

Family Day is a celebration of family, connection, and heritage at the Angel Island Immigration Station.

Attendees will receive a roundtrip ferry ride from either SF or Tiburon, optional shuttle service, museum entry, crafts, and performances all for $10 per person. The day will be filled with music, dance, history, storytelling, and -- of course -- FAMILY!

Stay tuned for information about activities and performances.

Community and Partner Events

Lincoln Summer Nights

Thursday, July 11 | 5pm - 8pm | Lincoln Rec Center (Oakland)

Starting May 9th we’ll be joining Lincoln Summer Nights, a fun and free community event hosted in Lincoln Square Park.

We’ll be doing a variety of activities related to the island's history and the stories of the people who came through the immigration station. There will be performances and a wide variety of other community organizations coming as well so don’t miss out!

Lincoln Summer Nights will happen every second Thursday from 5pm-8pm starting May 9th and ending October 10th.

Del Sol Quartet's Sounds Current Podcast Series

How does a string quartet help build community from Chinese immigrant poetry carved into detention-center walls on Angel Island? Strip away layers of paint - and shame - and let their words sing out after 100 years of silence. Follow Del Sol’s journey with Huang Ruo’s ANGEL ISLAND Oratorio.

Celebrating One Year of the Vault

One year ago, we debuted THE VAULT, a blog that draws upon historical records as well as contemporary sources to explore special topics related to the Angel Island Immigration Station and its history. Check out the links below to read some of our recent posts and highlights from the past year.