ABOUT
CONFERENCE @ DC 2025
PROGRAMS
RESOURCES
The 1882 Foundation is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to raising public awareness about Asian American history and the continuing impact of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act–the only piece of legislation to bar a specific ethnic group from entering the United States or becoming American citizens. Since 2013, the Foundation has engaged in three key initiatives to accomplish this task: preserving Asian American history and stories, strengthening public education through curriculum development, and building connections with public and private entities through conferences and symposiums. During this plenary session, members of the 1882 Foundation will share their experiences establishing programs and projects to engage with the needs and interests of Asian American communities, organizations, and stakeholders.
Ted Gong is the Executive Director of the 1882 Foundation and President of the D.C. Chapter of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance. Before retiring in 2012, Ted was a career diplomat in the U.S. Department of State where he served primarily in East Asia on policy and operational issues related to border management and security, migration and refugees, and consular affairs. He has degrees in History, Asian Studies, and National Strategic Studies from the University of California, University of Hawaii and the U.S. Army War College. Ted is also included in The Guardian‘s The Frederick Douglass 200, a list of two hundred people — abolitionists, diplomats, writers, feminists, and more — who best embody the spirit and work of Frederick Douglass.
Ting-Yi Oei is the Education Director at the 1882 Foundation, and the Project Director of the “Flashback: Chinatown, D.C.” curriculum. He received his BA in History from Hamilton College and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Brown University. He taught middle and high school social studies for 20 years and was a high school administrator for another ten in Virginia. Along the way he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South Korea, was a Fulbright Teacher in Scotland, and spent a year teaching in the Dominican Republic. He was also awarded a one-year research fellowship at Teaching Tolerance, the education project of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Alabama. Now he is a curriculum consultant with a particular interest in improving the quality of teaching of Asian Pacific American history.
Stan Lou is the Talk Story Director at the 1882 Foundation. Stan was born in Greenville, Mississippi, of immigrant parents from China. Stan earned a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan and had a career with the Federal Aviation Administration before retiring in Washington, DC. He is most proud of his three accomplished children who all reside in California now. Upon retirement Stan went to China in 2003 to teach English to university students and to learn about himself there for almost three years. He returned to the Washington, DC, area where he has committed himself to become busily engaged with understanding more about his heritage as a Chinese American. With that as his motivation, he has worked with the Asian Pacific American community to improve the quality of life for its members. Most of his focus has been with OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, where he has served as co-president of the Greater Washington DC Chapter and the Vice-President for Education & Culture on the OCA National Board. He worked with the 1882 Foundation and is active with a group that created the Talk Story series that engages the DC community in sharing the stories of their experiences living as APAs. He is also leading the Literature and Arts Corner program.
Ellen Feng is a Digital Communications and Programs Associate at the 1882 Foundation. She has earned two BAs from the University of Maryland, one in Government and the other in History, with focuses in international relations and colonialism respectively. She began interning with the 1882 Foundation in the summer of 2022 to create a Talk Story program dedicated to understanding the Asian American youth experience. As the Digital Communications Program Associate, Ellen creates content for the Foundation’s social media pages and facilitates communication between volunteers, partners, and the public. In addition to working with the Foundation, Ellen works with a local florist serving the entire DMV area.
Mia Owens is the Programs Manager at the 1882 Foundation. Mia first joined the Foundation as an intern in 2021 to research the history of D.C.’s Chinese American community. In 2022, she began working as a research and programs associate with the 1882 Foundation to assist with writing the D.C. Asian American Historic Context Statement. Mia’s previous experience includes working as a curatorial assistant at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC). She continues to work at APAC as a programs assistant to support the Sightlines: Chinatown and Beyond exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Mia received her bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and French from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, and she earned a master’s degree in Public History from American University.
In Korean, the word ‘Hamkae’ means ‘together.’ This plenary features Hamkae Center, a grassroots initiative based in Virginia that is dedicated to organizing Asian Americans for social, racial, and economic justice. At Hamkae Center, we believe that collective action creates powerful opportunities for change.
Join us as Ha, Katie, and Ashley share their journeys of building grassroots power to expand healthcare access, protect immigrant rights, advocate for education equity, and amplify Asian American voices in the state legislature. Through their experiences, you’ll gain insight into the daily work of organizing and learn how you too can engage in meaningful action to create lasting care and change in your own community.
Ashley Elstad (she/they) - Advocacy Coordinator at Hamkae Center
Ashley is a 2nd generation Chinese & Taiwanese American from Woodbridge, Virginia. She has her Master’s in social work from Howard University and studied community administration and policy practice. Ashley attended ECAASU in 2022 as a Student Advisor to the Center for Multicultural Student Services and as an ASU executive member at James Madison University where she received her undergraduate degree. They are committed to bridging connections between local leaders with state decision makers to ensure legislation reflects community needs. Ashley has too many hobbies but enjoys a good book and aspires to join a roller derby team!
Ha Tang (she/her) - Community Organizer at Hamkae Center
Ha is a Vietnamese/Chinese American with a degree in Social Work from James Madison University. As a community organizer, she focuses on strengthening leadership and building power with community members to advocate for changes we want to see, surrounding but not limited to immigration, healthcare (reproductive justice), language justice, and education. She worked on the campaign for a more inclusive history standard of learning in Virginia, and grew the base of students, parents, educators, and community partners. Our community learned about the process as well as participated in written comments, made testimonies at the Virginia Board of Education meeting, town halls, and showed up to rallies.
She found her passion for social justice, advocacy, and education as a participant in the Southeast Asian Action Resource Center Leadership & Advocacy Training (SEARAC LAT), where she advocated for increased funding for college access, completion programs, and ethnic data disaggregation. She later went on to serve as a mentor at Asian American Youth Leadership Empowerment & Development (AALEAD) and worked at a school. She was also an active civic engagement volunteer at Hamkae Center.
Katie Zhang (she/her) - Board of Director at Hamkae Center
Katie is a 2nd gen Chinese American from Virginia. In her multiple internships with Hamkae Center, Katie advocated to expand health insurance access to immigrants and increase state funding for Asian language translation services. She now serves on Hamkae Center's Board of Directors.
Outside of Hamkae Center, she is a master’s student at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health studying health policy. Her research focuses on Asian American health coverage disparities. Katie earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia, where she was an active member of their Asian Student Union. In her free time, Katie enjoys crocheting hats, playing pickleball, and nurturing her collection of houseplants.
When pursuing a career in Healthcare and Medicine, often students come across pressures and expectations unique to their identity as A/A individuals. Come join us in this speaker panel session featuring individuals pursuing education and work in healthcare fields to hear about their journeys, experiences, and insights. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in Q&A with the panelists at the end of the block.
Felicia Yan (she/her)- Drexel University College of Medicine, Class of 2027
Felicia Yan (she/her) is a Chinese-American from Pennsylvania. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh in 2023 and is now a medical student at Drexel University. Felicia is currently most interested in pediatrics. She has been involved with ECAASU since 2021. In her free time, Felicia likes to bake, run, crochet, and debate which oat milk is the best.
Katie Zhang (she/her)
Katie Zhang (she/her) is a Chinese-American from Virginia. She is a master’s student at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health studying health policy. Her research focuses on Asian American health coverage disparities. Katie serves on the Board of Directors at Hamkae Center, a non-profit that organizes Asian Americans in Virginia for social, racial, and economic justice. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting hats, playing pickleball, and nurturing her collection of houseplants.
Eisa Casaclang (she/her)
Eisa Marie Casaclang (she/her) is a Filipino-American from New Jersey. She completed a bachelor's of arts in Psychology from The College of New Jersey (2021) and a master's of science in Community Health from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2024). Her interests include community health addressing mental health concerns among people of color. Currently, Eisa works as a technician in a psychiatric emergency unit. Eisa served in ECAASU from from 2021- early 2024. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, going on walks, and reading.
Designed for student attendees interested in a variety of industry sectors, this speaker panel features a diverse range of voices within Engineering, Sustainability, Public Policy, and Economics Research. Navigating identity as an Asian American while pursuing sought after working professional roles boasts a variety of experiences our panelists hope to share and provide insight on for attendees. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in Q&A with the panelists at the end of the block.
Cody Qiu (he/they)
Cody Qiu is a Chinese-American from Charlotte, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2021 with a double major in Computer Science (BSc) and Music (BA) with a focus in piano performance. Since finishing his undergrad, he has been working at Bank of America as a software engineer in New York. His current job involves maintaining an extensive suite of cloud applications for the bank and improving the operational efficiency of internal data backup services. In his free time, Cody enjoys cuddling with his two cats, biking, and engaging in various musical pursuits.
Beverly Tang (she/her)
Beverly Teng is a Chinese-Canadian sustainability researcher from Toronto, Canada. She holds an MSc in Sustainability Management from Columbia University (2023) and an Hon. BSc in Environmental Science from the University of Toronto, St. George (2021). Her primary professional interests are making important climate data accessible and expanding access to sustainability spaces for people from various backgrounds. Bev is currently working as an Assistant Research Scholar at New York University’s Center for Sustainable Business. Outside of work, she enjoys hanging out with her two cats and playing cozy games.
Michael Chen (he/him)Michael Chen is a policy professional currently working as a Legislative Correspondent for Senator Tammy Duckworth, supporting the Senator's work on defense and national security. He started his career as a Legal Assistant for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Orleans, where he assisted on cases involving public corruption, financial fraud, and violent offenses. Michael also served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Jay C. Zainey, U.S. District Court EDLA, and interned for Congressman Lloyd Doggett.
Originally from Los Angeles, Michael is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Policy at Georgetown University’s McCourt School. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University. In his free time, Michael enjoys exploring new restaurants in DC, traveling with his family, and going to football games.
Deepak Venkatasubramanian (he/him)
Deepak Venkatasubramanian is an Indian-American from North Carolina. He graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 2021, and spent two years as a research assistant at the Federal Reserve of Kansas City. He is currently a PhD student in Economics at Georgetown University and hopes to research labor market disparities among immigrants as well as other Macro-Labor topics. In his free time, he loves to cook, read, play soccer, and bike around DC.
The struggle for liberation in Palestine is inextricably linked to our own struggle in the U.S. as Asians and Asian Americans. Join ECAASU National at this roundtable to learn and share what histories, frameworks, and actions make up of our resistance against systems of capitalism and colonialism. Attendees of all levels of familiarity with the topic welcome to this open learning and debriefing space.
Michael Nguyen (he/they) - ECAASU, Board of Directors
Michael Nguyen holds work as ECAASU's Political Education Chair on the Board of Directors. They have been involved in ECAASU since 2020, previously serving as Advocacy Content Manager and Director of Advocacy. Currently, he supports students builds their advocacy skills and deepen their political education. Based in Pittsburgh, they currently work in healthcare. In their free time, Michael enjoys cooking for his community, learning about music, playing tabletop role-playing games, and learning new crafts.
Designed for student attendees interested in a variety of industry sectors, this speaker panel features a diverse range of voices within Engineering, Sustainability, Public Policy, and Economics Research. Navigating identity as an Asian American while pursuing sought after working professional roles boasts a variety of experiences our panelists hope to share and provide insight on for attendees. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in Q&A with the panelists at the end of the block.
Gordon Shi (he/him)
Gordon Shi is a Chinese American from Springfield, Virginia. He majored in English and double minored in Chinese and Asian Pacific American Studies at University of Virginia. Gordon served as a co-executive conference director for the 2023 ECAASU national conference before joining the National Board, first as the community empowerment coordinator from 2023-2024, then as a journal editor from 2024 onwards. In his spare time, Gordon enjoys writing poetry, watching films and tv, listening to rap music, and brushing up on his boxing skills.
Sharmila Dey (she/her)
Sharmila Dey is a graduating senior from Harvard University and proudly serves as the Co-Coordinator of ECAASU’s new art and academic journal. She is passionate about climate change and writing and the intersection of science and the arts. In her spare time, she enjoys running (but not like that!), reading, and rewatching her comfort movies and Youtube videos.
Join us for a unique zine-making workshop where you'll reflect on your first day at the ECAASU conference through the creative medium of zines. This workshop invites you to transform your experiences into a visual narrative, using the zine as a container for your emotions and stories. You'll explore how to capture the essence of your day through visual means, whether it's a collage of memories, a poem about a keynote speaker, or a drawing of the connections you made. Materials are offered at no extra expense.
Mira Manalastas (they/she)
Mira Manalastas is a recent graduate of the University of Virginia, where they majored in neuroscience and studio art. Currently, they are pursuing a master's degree in art therapy at George Washington University and working as an art therapy intern at Whitman-Walker Health. In their spare time, Mira enjoys reading, baking, playing video games, and cycling. They are also a proud cat mom of two named Goblin and Purple.
Joshua Xiang (he/him)
Joshua is a multidisciplinary artist living in Byfield, Massachusetts, and a junior at the Governor’s Academy. He has studied art for 14 years consecutively, working in various mediums. While he has transitioned from 2D visual art to 3D artworks, he still has a deep love for painting. He recently completed the design of an architecture located beside a farm, which is almost fully constructed. Rothko is his favorite artist. Additionally, he is a big fan of movies and TV shows. Joshua is eager to share his artworks and his own movie review website.
Jaz Sisouvong (she/they)
Jaz Sisouvong is a Vietnamese Chinese and Thai-Laotian American artist based in Woodbridge, Virginia. Jaz is currently a sophomore at Northern Virginia Community College, majoring in the Visual Arts A.F.A. program, with a concentration in graphic design. An aspiring art director, Jaz is interested in communicative design, sociology, and advocacy work to further reach Asian-Americans and Asian-American creatives alike. In her free time, Jaz enjoys and studies many art disciplines, from reading and writing to watching animated films, and dabbling in music production.
Sean Faletti (he/him)
Sean is this year’s Artists in Residence Coordinator on ECAASU’s National Board! He is a senior at Florida State University studying Creative Writing and Human Rights. He has been involved in his school’s Asian American Student Union (AASU) for the past three years and is a brother of Lambda Phi Epsilon International Fraternity, Inc. In his free time, Sean enjoys reading, getting hype with friends, being chill with friends, and solitary pondering. He is passionate about music, and you can often find him writing songs or performing with his band, Hey Cheetah.
Language loss doesn’t mean silence—it means a different kind of fluency, one shaped by diaspora, memory, and resilience. In this roundtable, we will explore the in-between space of bilingual identity, where fluency is not just about perfect grammar but about re-learning, connection, and cultural belonging. Through guided reflection and shared storytelling, we will engage with our heritage languages at any level—whether it’s a murmur, a phrase, or a full conversation. Together, we will redefine what it means to “babble fluently” and reclaim heritage language as a lived, evolving experience.
Cheng Rui (Emma) Zhu (she/her)
Cheng Rui (Emma) Zhu (she/her/hers) is a student at Georgetown University. With an upbringing in Connecticut and Beijing, she now calls both places home. As Co-Director of the East Coast Asian American Student Union High School Program, she mentors high school fellows, organizes workshops, and this has further fueled her commitment to advancing the institutionalization of Asian American Studies. In her free time, Emma enjoys reading Chinese literature, watching new films, as well as cafe-hopping with friends.
