"I Want You to Live" the film is a story that follows Lia Nguyen and her journey through the acceptance of loss and grief after losing her parents. She finds her mother's journal which details her family's story as Asian-American immigrants and war-displaced refugees.
As the director, I wanted to write a story that was authentic and relatable to most audiences. Both of my parents are Vietnamese immigrants (AAPI & POC) and had their home taken from them during the war. Growing up, I never understood the gravity of having your home be destroyed or having been separated from friends/ family, wondering if they're alive with no form of communication whatsoever. Therefore, I wanted to share some resources and platforms that are helpful in understanding the idea of hardship and what we can do to raise awareness to these important causes.
Resources:
1. https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/refugees
The United Nations site provides information about the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) which supports, protects, and addresses global issues surrounding refugees in countries that are (war-torn, 3rd world, or have a lack of health systems/ technology, etc.)
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2. https://www.unicef.org/eap/stories-region & https://www.unicef.org/rosa/topics/migrant-and-refugee-crisis
The Unicef Organization site is a good way to read news stories about global circumstances in all regions. News articles include success stories of clean water systems, support for women's health, and mental health awareness in Asian countries. Other articles cover ongoing crises and what communities can do to support.
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3. https://www.imreadymovement.org/
The AAPI Women Lead organization is one that facilitates the #Iamready movement which serves to raise visibility of AAPI women and their accomplishments in education, policy-making, and creative careers. It is the 1st national intergenerational participatory action research (IPAR) project on the intersections of race + gender violence against Asian + Pacific Islander communities.
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4. https://www.asianmhc.org/community-blog/
The Asian Mental Health Collective is a group that hosts a variety of events and has a built a community blog/ social media platform destigmatizing the idea of mental health. Concepts such as therapy & emotional communication are promoted. Success stories of community activists & artists can be found under their blog page.
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5. https://www.heartofdinner.org/our-story
Heart of Dinner was founded during the COVID 19 pandemic and serves the Asian-American elderly community in providing hot meals, packaged groceries, and basic living necessities. In New York City, Heart of Dinner has helped people across the neighborhood of Chinatown as well as in Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, etc. Their site lists ways on how to get involved and how vulnerable the AAPI community was during and after the pandemic.
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The Asian American Writers Workshop publishes, shares, and promotes the creative works of AAPI creators, writers, poets, etc. It has been founded since 1991 and hosts a wide selection of works that integrate race, diversity, and important issues within the POC and LGBTQ+ community.
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The Center for Asian American Media is a non-profit organization that presents the stories of AAPI creators and seeks to spread awareness among other non-AAPI communities. This hub is central for filmmakers, screenwriters, and is based in California. More info about AAPI film festivals, shorts, and projects on their site.
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8. https://www.theculturetalk.net/
Culture Talk is a non-profit organization (all student-run) co-led by Anusha Natarajan (founder) and Milla Nguyen (chief magazine editor). It was formed during the COVID 19 pandemic and produces content regarding cultural diversity, education, and a network of international/national students. Find the culture talk mag, podcast, website content, and more on the site.
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9. https://aanhpi.org/aboutus/ (ARIZONA CENTRAL)
Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander for Equity (AZ AANHPI for Equity) is a statewide organization in Phoenix, Arizona that serves to empower young leaders / strive for equity and justice. This org is not limited to the Phoenix area and has been running youth programs and in- person events in order to raise awareness to important AANHPI issues. On their site, look out for more opportunities and events.
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