Speakers

Keynote

Jenny Wang

As a Taiwanese American discovering common struggles with people with diverse backgrounds, Jenny Wang has become deeply motivated to work towards solving one question: How do we ensure a just world for everyone, regardless of their circumstances?

Through her community organizing & grassroots activism, she has been involved with Taiwanese American Next Generation (TANG), Outreach for Taiwan, Formosa Foundation, Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) and Passport to Taiwan. Jenny is a prominent figure for the Keep Taiwan Free (UN4TW) movement, and has been featured in several news outlets such as Taipei Times, The News Lens, Ketagalan Media and NBC News.

Jenny graduated with a bachelor degree in Communications at Rutgers University and a master degree in Global Affairs at New York University. She is currently Strategic Advisor at the Human Rights Foundation, where she provides research assistance on China/Hong Kong/Taiwan-related matters and advises on the Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan.

Sketching one's own path is never easy. It is a constant work-in-progress. At ITASA ECC, Jenny will dive into her personal triumphs story of her uncommon career pivots, while balancing grassroots activism at the same time. To learn more about Jenny, visit http://www.jennytsaiwang.com.

Track 1 - Expectations

Yuh-Line Niou New York State Assemblymember

Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou was elected in 2016 as the first Asian American to represent New York's 65th Assembly District, which includes Chinatown, the Financial District, Battery Park City, and the Lower East Side. She has been working on building a movement in the State by bringing the community together to fight for transparency, accessibility, and accountability in our government. As an Assemblymember, Yuh-Line has always stood up to systemic corruption and negligence, while leading on issues such as protecting tenants and fighting for permanent and deeply affordable housing, fighting sexual and racial discrimination, and building economic and environmental justice within our legislation.

Leona Chen Poet Peer, Graduate of WashU St L

“Let that be your story.” A writer, a speaker, and the author of a well received poetry collection titled “Book of Cord,” Leona is a Taiwanese American who shares her identity and culture in a non-prescriptive way through her words. As an author of a poetry collection that build upon familial expectations, Leona will explore the commonalities of expectations held over us and how her own identity influences her own path.

Track 2 - Success

Steve Chu Ekiben, Founder & Chef

Steve Chu is a Taiwanese-American chef and co-owner of Asian fusion fast-casual restaurant Ekiben in Baltimore, Maryland. Discouraged from following in the footsteps of his chef father, Chu graduated from University of Maryland Baltimore County with an economics degree, but then set out into the restaurant industry. Chu will be talking about his journey and what success means to him.

Track 3 - Support

Eric Tsai Outreach for Taiwan, Founder

Eric finished his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science in 2008 where he began his own personal journey of discovering himself and what success meant to him. Going from Wayfair as a product manager, Vice, and many other companies. Eric finally co-founded OFTaiwan, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to teach people about what Taiwan is and what it means to be Taiwanese. As he continues to write and host workshops for OFTaiwan he has come across redefining his own idea of success and looking forward to the future to support all of you in finding your own path to success!