Lao American Writers Summit: The Good, The Bad, and The Lao'd

Our interns and volunteers pretty much perfectified the nitty gritty of the summit.
Here we have Danny countin' the dough.

Everybody say, "Kaoh neaow!"

Summit Chair Bryan Thao Worra, Lori Phanchichone and friends.

Our adorable and hard-working interns!
Say, "Sabaidee, kids!"
Kids: "Sabaidee!"

Beautiful Chanida, blushing from all of the corny and wonderful things I had to say about her leadership-taking-no-surrender-to-vendors-or-interns attitude. Chanida oversaw the aspects of catering, volunteer and intern recruitment, website and viral publicity, and sooo much more!
Don't let that innocent looking smile fool you, she's one tough cookie.
Loves her.

Official LAWS t-shirt.

Michael, Saymoukda, and Thavisouk: L-A-O
lunching @ Pho Tau Bay

Powerhouse scholar, Bounheng, telling the kids whats really good. Boungheng Inversin is a prominent Asian American activist and community member who has played a prominent role in Laotian refugee resettlement through her involvement with the Lao American Womens Association in Washington D.C. and many other causes. With Daniel Duffy, she edited the 1999 short story collection of Outhine Bounyavong, Mother ' s Beloved:Stories from Laos, presented by the University of Washington Press.

2010 Emmy winner, 2009 Academy Award (Oscar) and Film Independent Spirit Award nominated Thavisouk Phrasavath is an accepted member of WGAW (Writer Guild of America West). Also a creative consultant for film, television and other media, Thavi has directed documentaries, dramatic short and music video for independent record label and artists, published poetry and won awards for paintings and illustrations. Author of the upcoming book Step Out of the Womb (Memoir of the Journey to Land Where the Sun Fall) and Old Seed On The Soil (Planting Generation) and a new screenplay for his upcoming feature Lover Beloved. His background in community work includes assisting Gang Prevention for Youth and Family Crisis Intervention and working with the police as a liaison and consultant for the Lao community. Thavi has consulted for the New York City Board of Education. The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) was the film that he was both subject and a filmmaker.

Catzie Vilayphonh is a Lao American writer and performer. A child of refugees, she was born prematurely on the way to America, and considers herself part of the ".5 Generation". A member of the spoken word duo Yellow Rage, Catzie appeared on Russell Simmons' Def Poetry Jam in 2001 and performs at various venues across the country. She has performed with Ursula Rucker, Sarah Jones, Danny Hoch, Beau Sia and I Was Born with Two Tongues. Vilayphonh was the Fashion Director for two.one.five magazine in Philadelphia, where she also wrote her weekly column Catz Out The Bag interviewing everyone from designers to directors and artists to actors. She was also the Transmit Editor for Theme Magazine, a contemporary Asian American culture publication based out of New York

Mali Phonpadith is a Lao American writer/poet. She is the co-founder of Reflections Within, LLC and she has been writing poetry, short essays, and short stories for over 20 years internationally. She has over 400 pieces of written work and was nominated as Best Poet of the Year by the International Society of Poets in 2007. Mali has been a tireless activist within the community, and often volunteers many hours and resources to the causes she loves, including the Young Professional Leadership Group, the International Society of Poets, the National Association for Women Business Owners, the Lao Heritage Foundation, Arts of Falls Church and is an active volunteer with Teatro de la Luna.