On the 50th anniversary of the end of the Secret War in Laos, the Fall of Saigon, and the rise of the Khmer Rouge regime, this powerful conversation—hosted by the Los Angeles Public Library—brings together Lao American community leader and healing practitioner Rita Phetmixay and writer, director, and producer Kulap Vilaysack.
Together, they reflect on the ripple effects of war, loss, migration, and survival that have shaped their Lao American experiences—and how, in the midst of those legacies, AAPI joy continues to thrive.
The episode explores:
- Personal and family histories rooted in Laos
- The emotional weight of inherited trauma
- The ways storytelling, art, and community serve as tools of healing
- Reclaiming joy as resistance
- The importance of uplifting Lao/Southeast Asian voices during AAPI Heritage Month and beyond
📌 Why this matters:
Too often, Lao and overall Southeast Asian refugee stories are erased or assimilated into broader Asian American narratives. This conversation centers those histories as living testaments to survival, creativity, and joy.
🔗 Highlights:
- Kulap on reclaiming her Lao identity through filmmaking and founding Laos Angeles
- Rita on cultivating spaces for Lao diaspora mental health and healing intergenerational trauma
- The shared grief of erasure—and the hope found in community building
🎉 AAPI Joy is not a luxury—it’s a birthright.
📚 Hosted by Los Angeles Public Library as part of their AAPI Heritage Month series
📍 Recorded live | May 2025
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