As an extension of its annual fellows program, the Asian American Center will host its first “community-con” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Graduate Student Center.

Started in 2020, the Asian American Center Fellows Program brings scholars across disciplines to Carolina to connect with students and help the center accomplish its mission of illuminating and cultivating understanding of Asian American history, culture and life.

Typically, the center brings in new fellows each semester to workshop and collaborate on campus, culminating their visit with a public presentation on important issues relating to the Asian American community.

This year, to foster connections between the University community and Asian American-serving organizations in the Triangle, the “community-con” will feature roundtable discussions, moderated community conversation, and ways for the Carolina community to learn about campus resources and service projects.

These seven community partners will be there: North Carolina Asian Americans Together, NC Hmong Women Association, Refugee Support Center, Triangle Area Telugu Association, Refugee Community Partnership, Transplanting Traditions Community Farm and Kiran.

“In bringing together representatives from groups that serve diverse Asian American communities throughout the state and region, we’re hoping that this conference will allow the Carolina community to learn from one another about the needs, challenges, opportunities and joys of working with and for Asian Americans in North Carolina,” said Kevin Kim, the center’s associate director.

The event is open to students, faculty, staff and the public. Those interested in attending should register on the event website.

Last year, the center hosted fellows who spoke about struggles Asian Americans may face in society. Janelle Wong, director of Asian American studies at the University of Maryland, presented in the spring on Asian American political participation and highlighted her work on affirmative action. Jigna Desai, inaugural director for the Center for Feminist Futures at the University of California, Santa Barbara visited in the fall, presented on her latest research reconceptualizing the “model minority” myth as it relates to disability studies and neurodiversity across South Asian diaspora communities.

“The center serves the whole state of North Carolina,” said Kim. “We’re both an academic center and a community engagement center, so being able to serve as that conduit to get fellows into the community is important.”