As part of the 2024 Asian American Literature Festival, the Asian American Writers’ Workshop and Reorienting Reads are excited to celebrate the pre-launch of a new anthology from Haymarket Books, We the Gathered Heat: Asian American and Pacific Islander Poetry, Performance, and Spoken Word. We’ll be joined in person by Franny Choi, Fatimah Asghar, Noah Arhm Choi, Yalini Dream, and Jess X. Snow.

Exploring the range of experiences AAPI people endure in a world shaped by colonization and white supremacy, the poems in this collection confront American militarism, reimagine lineage, celebrate queer/trans life, and reclaim indigeneity, refugeehood, and more. Drawn from a range of schools and movements, We the Gathered Heat highlights the vitality of oral traditions in contemporary AAPI literature. Intergenerational and fiercely loving, this path breaking anthology honors our literary ancestors and makes space for AAPI literary futures.

Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event. Light snacks and beverages will be provided.

This event is generously co-sponsored by our friends at Poets & Writers.

This event is free with RSVP and will be simultaneously live streamed.

RSVP HERE!

For more information about the 2024 Asian American Literature Festival, visit www.asianamericanliteraturefestival.org

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The safety and comfort of our communities is our top priority. We invite you to practice intentionality and care in your behavior and language when engaging with our programs and with each other. Violence of any kind, including but not limited to racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, ageism, class or casteism, bigotry or bias toward religion or faith, or any action or assault against marginalized identities, is not tolerated. Those who bring harm to our community in person or online are not welcome, and will be asked to exit the space.

The event will be live streamed on Zoom with auto captioning for those who cannot join us in person. Masks are required for all in person audience members. We highly encourage all in person guests to take a COVID test at home prior to the event. If you have had COVID or have had known contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID in the 10 days prior, we ask you tune in for the live stream instead. Please reach out to msaleh@aaww.org for additional accessibility requests, including ASL interpretation, ADA accessible bathrooms, chairs with added back support, and beyond.

RSVP HERE!