2023 Empowerment Summit Program

EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT

COMEDIAN,

MARGARET

The Student Center for Social Justice and Identity, or SCSJI, works to foster an environment of inclusion and multiculturalism by increasing students' and student organizations’ development around intercultural competence and social justice as well as promote co-curricular programming that celebrates and recognizes the various cultures of the Vanderbilt student body.

As one element of this mission, the SCSJI developed the annual Empowerment Summit, wherein the office collaborates with student organizations on campus to create a major event which highlights the wants and needs of our multicultural student body.

"On behalf of the Student Center for Social Justice and Identity, the Asian American Student Association, and the South Asian Cultural Exchange, we would like to welcome you to the 2nd annual Empowerment Summit. We would like to thank the many organizers and participants of this event, and acknowledge the work of our Conference Committee and volunteers for ensuring the success of the Summit. The Asian American Student Association and the South Asian Cultural Exchange are organizations dedicated to buidling community, increasing visibility, and storytelling.

"A Tale of Two Continents” was chosen as a theme this year to reflect our unique blend of cultures, identities, and perspectives. AASA, also proudly standing at the intersection, has had the privilege and responsibility to represent and create a safe, inclusive space for our community. We are honored to collaborate with the Student Center of Social Justice and Identity and South Asian Cultural Exchange to host the summit as a “cultural fest,” where one can comfortably explore the duality and convergence of our Asian and American experiences. We hope you learn something new about the Asian American Diaspora and bring home a deeper appreciation of your identity today."

- Nina Yao & Fiona Wu

"Vanderbilt’s South Asian Cultural Exchange is proud to partner with Vanderbilt’s Asian American Student Association and Student Center for Social Justice & Identity to host this year’s Empowerment Summit. As members of SACE, cultural diversity and appreciation are large parts of our shared South Asian heritage, and we hope that the workshops and speaker event presented at this conference will help shed light on what it means to be Asian American in the 21st century. Bridging the gap between two continents, we aim to help Asian Americans better understand themselves and the world around them, and for their peers to learn about our unique experiences as Asian Americans."

-Rohit Kataria, Lina Waseem, Lohitha Basa

MARGARET CHO

Margaret Cho is a comedian, actor, musician, advocate, entrepreneur and artist born and raised in San Francisco, an experience that she can say with all sincerity helped to shape her worldview. Margaret is known for her groundbreaking Off-Broadway one-woman show, I'm The One That I Want, and has served as an entertainment pioneer for several sold-out national tours such as Revolution. With so much success in her creative life, Cho still finds time to support the causes that are important to her including anti-racism, anti-bullying, and gay rights campaigns. Margaret’ freethinking spirit and unapologetic advocacy have led her to be honored by organizations such as the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the National Organization for Women (NOW). It's only fitting that Margaret should serve as the keynote speaker at this year's Empowerment Summit given her robust experience and activism.

WENZHI PAN

Wenzhi Pan (she/her/她) is a pre-licensed counselor working at Vanderbilt University Counseling Center as a Social Justice and Inclusion Counselor. Born and raised in Wenzhou, China, Wenzhi came to U.S. at 17 for undergraduate studies. From a family with multiple generations of immigration and return migration, Wenzhi has witnessed and experienced the complexity of immigration and being a kid of immigrants. Wenzhi aims to offer culturally responsive and trauma-informed care to her clients at work Outside of work, she enjoys playing video games, working on writing and translating project, and chilling with her cat, Yibu.

LAURA CHEIFETZ

Laura Mariko Cheifetz, Assistant Dean of Admissions, Vocation, and Student Life at the Vanderbilt Divinity School, is Yonsei (fourthgeneration) multiracial Asian American of Japanese and white Jewish descent. She is an ordained Presbyterian Church (USA) minister from a multireligious family, namely Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, atheist, and Christian. She graduated with a B.A. in sociology from Western Washington University with a minor in Spanish, a Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary and an MBA from North Park University, both in Chicago After graduating from her first master’s program, she directed a program on vocational discernment and identity development for Asian American young adults.

1:30 – 2:00 PM CHECK IN AND LUNCH PICK UP

Location: SLC Hallway

Lunch Pick Up and head to Pre Summit Workshop

2:00 – 2:45 PM PRE SUMMIT WORKSHOP A

CARING FOR YOURSELVES AND OTHERS:

MENTAL HEALTH IN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES

BY: WENZHI PAN

PRE SUMMIT WORKSHOP B

IMPACTS OF RELIGION BY: LAURA CHEIFETZ

Location: SLC MEETING ROOM 2

3:00-3:30 PM SLC DOORS OPEN

Location: SLC MEETING ROOM 1 3:30 – 4:30 PM

Location: SLC BALLROOM FOYER

MODERATED CONVERSATION W/ MARGARET CHO

Location: SLC BALLROOM ABC

This will be moderated by Fiona Wu and Lina Waseem

The Empowerment Summit Planning Committee would like to extend a big thank you to all our speakers, vendors and co-sponsors who have contributed to this event. Without them, our Empowerment Summit would not have been possible. And thank you to our participants who are participating in this developmental opportunity!

Vanderbilt Student Affairs

Vanderbilt Student Centers Staff

Student Center for Social Justice and Identity Staff

Rohit Kataria

Nina Yao

Fiona Wu

Anna Jo

Lohitha Basa

Lina Waseem

Margaret Cho

Wenzhi Pan

Laura Chefeitz

Thai Kitchen

Yin Yang Tea

Sindoore