May 20, 2025 • 29 mins
Joan Klein was born and raised in Cebu City, Philippines. She moved to Salt Lake City, Utah with her mom, dad and brother at the age of 14 because of her mother's work relocation. Joan has an architectural background with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Woodbury University in Burbank, CA. She has worked in several architecture firms in Maine, North Carolina and North Dakota.
In 2022, Joan and her co-founder started a non-profit called the North Dakota Asian- American Arts and Cultural Initiative. This non-profit is a platform for education, collaboration and celebration for Asian- American Arts and Culture. They have events that allow for an immersive experience for individuals and families in the Bismarck- Mandan community and beyond. Joan also volunteers for the Bismarck- Mandan Young Life. She is one of the leaders for the kids at Southern Central High School. As a committee member, Joan helps coordinate events for their fundraising efforts.
Joan, her husband, son and daughter call Bismarck, North Dakota their home. She has a passion for architecture, photography, screen printing, drawing and several forms of paintings.
In 2022, Joan and her co-founder started a non-profit called the North Dakota Asian- American Arts and Cultural Initiative. This non-profit is a platform for education, collaboration and celebration for Asian- American Arts and Culture. They have events that allow for an immersive experience for individuals and families in the Bismarck- Mandan community and beyond. Joan also volunteers for the Bismarck- Mandan Young Life. She is one of the leaders for the kids at Southern Central High School. As a committee member, Joan helps coordinate events for their fundraising efforts.
Joan, her husband, son and daughter call Bismarck, North Dakota their home. She has a passion for architecture, photography, screen printing, drawing and several forms of paintings.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to These Are Your Neighbors, a podcast hosted by
the City of Bismarck's Human Relations Committee and produced by
Dakota Media Access. The purpose of the podcast is to
celebrate change makers in Bismarck whose contributions break barriers, build connections,
and redefine what is possible for our community.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Welcome to These Are Your Neighbors, a podcast hosted by
Tia Jorgison and Sarganawitski, both members of the City of
Bismarck's Human Relations Committee. Thank you for joining us as
we highlight the individual's driving positive change and making a
lasting impact on our community. There are stories inspire progress
and shape the future of our city.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Today's guest is one of our newest Human Relations Committee members,
Joan Klein. Joan was born and raised in Cebu City, Philippines.
She moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, with her mom, dad,
and brother at the age of fourteen because of her
mother's work relocation. Joan has an architectural background, with a
bachelor's degree in architecture from Woodbury University in Burbank, California.
(01:10):
She's worked in several architecture firms in Maine, North Carolina,
and North Dakota. In twenty twenty two, Joan and her
co founder started a nonprofit called the North Dakota Asian
American Arts and Cultural Initiative. This nonprofit is a platform
for education, collaboration, and celebration for Asian American arts and culture.
(01:31):
They have events that allow for an immersive experience for
individuals and families in the Bismarck, Mandan community and beyond.
Joan also volunteers for the Bismarck and Mandan Young Life
She's one of the leaders for the kids at South
Central High School. As a committee member, Joan helps coordinate
events for their fundraising efforts. Joan, her husband, son, and
(01:53):
daughter called Bismarck, North Dakota their home. She has a
passion for architecture, photography, screen printing, drawing, and several forms
of paintings.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
Welcome Joan, thank you, Thank you for having me, Thanks
for joining us.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
My first question for you is why did you move
to Bismarck and what makes it home.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
So I met my husband in Maine. We worked for
the same architecture firm. Aaron Klein was raised and born
and raised in North Dakota, so he's a native here.
He got a job offer to come back home, so
we did. I had moved in so many I lived
in so many places, so why not North Dakota? And
(02:31):
I call this home, I believe because we have roots. Now,
my kids are born here, I've made friends here, and
you know, the community is really great. I strive to
make the community better for my kids and for my
family and for everybody.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Was your husband specifically from Bismarck or somewhere else in North.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
Dakota from Bismarck, Yes, just going back home? Yes?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
So then kind of what made you decide to go
into our texture and become an architect?
Speaker 4 (03:02):
So it was I did high school in Salt Lake City,
and while I was in high school, I really love
math and art and I also love to help people.
But I can be a doctor or any of the
medical field. I can't stand blood, and you know, being
a lawyer, I don't think I can provide any support
(03:23):
for whoever is guilty. So I figured what combines art
and architecture? And there's so many ways to helping people,
not just you know, those given fields. So I decided
to go into architecture that combines math, which I love
and also art and went to school for that and
loved it.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
So I don't hear a lot of people in my
opinion that say that they love math and art together.
So that's something interesting about you. So as far as
architecture goes, there's like many different jobs or roles you
can have in architecture, such as like a designer, a
draft or a project manager. What roles have you had
in that field?
Speaker 4 (04:03):
All of the above. So basically you start off, you know,
being an intern and you either file some samples, put
books away, or draft, and then you go up into
being a designer meeting clients, working with them into designing
(04:23):
their building, their spaces and renovations and all that, and
then again working with the contractor to be to building
the building, so project manager and all that stuff. So yeah,
all of the above.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
So which role is your favorite that you've done?
Speaker 4 (04:37):
I would say meeting with a client and create in
that creating process. Being a designer, I love the collaboration.
Sometimes they throw out what you've designed, so you have
to make sure that you know. It's kind of being
an artist, but also not because you can't be married
to your design. You can't be too attached to it
(04:58):
because they will be changing because you know, another person
has a different kind of design and they like design
is subjective, so you have to make sure that you're
okay with change and you still are okay to redesign
what you've already created.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
So yeah, so if you're working with someone then saying
kind of help them creating this design. Have you ever
had experiences where people want things that are just truly
unrealistic and how do you kind of approach those conversations?
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Then yes? And you know, I always go back to codes.
So if they want something and we can't do it
because it doesn't apply to the code, so we have
to make sure that they're grounded as well as me.
You know, you you come out of architecture school and
you have this elaborate ideas and designs that you want
(05:56):
to do, but you have to make sure that it
can still be built and it's per code. You know,
there's rules on building.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
So that's and both of you are more in the
art field than I am. I guess I don't often
hear the word rules with arts either. So is it
is it kind of unique in that situation, or have
you guys found that to be pretty common in other
aspects of arts?
Speaker 4 (06:21):
That definitely is very unique with architecture. A lot of
architects they're either more leaned to being an artist and
some are more into the engineering side. A lot of
those engineering side architecture brains, you know, they're they follow
the rules really to the t, and which is good,
we need those, but some of them sometimes you get
(06:43):
outside of the box and you know, engineers come back
to you with the with the higher price, and then
you have to scale down. So you have to meet,
you know, the engineers and the owners in the middle
and collaborate.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Yeah, so then kind of with that, Yeah, your bio
mentioned I think it was what main North Carolina and
now North Dakota that you've worked across. Have you noticed
some of the some differences in how each stayed, either
what their preferences are or how you approach them.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
I would say they're about the same. In terms of code,
that's pretty generic. I guess the difference would be the
type of energy. Codes sometimes may differ because of the
cold climate or maybe different from the warmer climate. But
in terms of design, I would say it would be
(07:36):
by owner, by person that you work with. It's not
necessarily per state, it's per person that you deal with,
So I guess it would be a type of building,
like if you're working for a GSA, for a government
building for example, they're very conservative of course, and if
you're working for you know, a museum or an art
center or a school, there'll be more open to design
(07:59):
and all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
So art and design, of course have played a big
part in your life. Why do you think the arts
are so important?
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Definitely self expression. We need that, we need that human
relationship and human reaction as well. I love art because
of that. And you know, when you walk into a building,
the color choices, that's part of art. That affects people
walking into the structure, where doors are located, how light
(08:31):
goes into the building, that's part of art, and that
to me is very important because that affects the people
using the space and not just the architect themselves.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
As an architect, was it hard for you to find
a home that mends your expectations when you move there?
Speaker 4 (08:50):
It still is? Yeah, especially my husband is an architect,
so our brain, you know, it's not we're both yeah,
in the field, but we also clash. I mean, he's
still a guy, I'm a still girl. And again, you know,
design is subjective, so his idea of beauty, his idea
of comfort may be different from mine. So and we're
(09:12):
you know, we have kind of the same brain of
being stubborn and being artists. So yeah, it's still hard.
I feel like, you know, I want to build from scratch,
but at the same time that's expensive too, and you know,
finding a right neighborhood and a right land So yeah,
we have want a house in Highland Acres, and we
(09:34):
had to compromise, so we had to do that.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
And then there's me. I just want a nice bathtub,
so that's.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
All I care about.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
I don't need a kitchen and I don't need any
of that. But so kind of on the lines of
our year. Bio also mentioned a passion for photography. First off,
I want to know what your camera of choice, but
also like kind of what what do you find is
your favorite thing to shoot, whether it's landscape, street photography.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
I used to when I had time, had a nice
Canon camera. Now it's just my phone. I mean, nowadays
phones have awesome cameras to begin with, I love recently,
you know, I have two little kids, two year old
and a seven year old, so I take a lot
of pictures of them. I do love taking pictures of land, nature, architecture.
(10:28):
Every time we would go my husband and go somewhere,
you know, people are like, why are they taking pictures
of the corner of the building. You know, we like
architecture detail. I just wrote down some of my inspiration too.
Diane Arbus is a photographer and she takes human interaction
photographer photography, and I also Julia Schulman is an architecture photographer.
(10:51):
And of course Ansel Adams, the famous nature photographer.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
So yeah, I when you mentioned you were talking about
like self expression with art and everything. So I'm not
a great photographer, but I there's nothing I enjoy more.
It's a little awkward in Bismarck because there's not so
many people, but like when you're visiting larger cities and
just street photography and capturing people in the moment, like,
it's just it's really cool to look back and to
(11:17):
be able to see all of that. But yeah, if
I take photos of buildings, it's not so much because
I'm thinking of the architecture. It's just because I think
they're pretty cool looking.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Well, there you go, that's cool architecture.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
So what is your favorite medium of art.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Then when I do art, I love you photography. I
like pastel and charcoal. I know it's messy, but I
like the messiness. I like touching it. I like watercolor.
Water color. Once you put it down, it's immediate oil,
so you can kind of get over over it. And acrylic,
but oil, water colors, it's there. In terms of viewing art,
(11:57):
I do like mixed media. I like just weird art,
and I like, you know, performance art. Sometimes those are like,
what are you doing? That's that's not really art, but
I like to I like to question it, so yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
I think that's like, you know, I like weird art.
I when I was in France right for my senior
year of high school, and we went to every museum
you could think of there with the most beautiful pieces
of art work, and they finally took us to the
Sondra Pompadoo, which is just like the most eclectic thing
with it, you like find and out of every piece
(12:34):
of art that I saw there, it was this black
canvas and it just said more say facile, which means
death is easy, and like, that's so dark, But it
was my favorite piece of all of the artwork that
I saw, you know, but I think we all resonate
to art work a little bit differently, where with me,
(12:56):
paintings aren't as appealing, where I can look at like
a Christian de ork gown and get emotional. And so
it is interesting how we all can kind of find
different mediums a little bit more impactful. Oh, speaking of
kind of things I find interesting, I'm a big Andy
Warhol fan as well. And so your bio mentioned screen printing,
(13:18):
and while we were prepping this, we had a couple
questions about that. Yeah, do you mean like Andy warhil
style printing or more like making T shirt screen printing.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
I'm more on the paper, so kind of Andy Warhol
but not pop art. Okay, so abstract screen printing. I
remember back in the day when you would take a
photocopy of something you still have the powder, and that
actually is really good that when it transfers you can
use that for screen printing. So I would photo photocopy
some pictures from art books and then paint over it
(13:55):
with yeah mediums and stuff like that. So, yeah, like
Andy Warhol using canvas, but not his style of art,
not pop art.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
So what made you want to start a nonprofit and
role does art play in that nonprofit.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
So back, you know, after COVID, like co founder approached
me and I Christemma Candles. She asked me if I
wanted to do, uh start up a nonprofit that focused
on art and architecture. As an architect or architecture designer,
I'm not licensed yet, so as an architecture designer and
(14:35):
also an artist, I've never really thought about my roots.
And when she brought that up, no, that was really
that hit me. And then that I thought about that
was pretty important, especially for my kids, giving them a
legacy and also helping them connect with their roots. That's
(14:56):
how you know, our nonprofit, the North Dakota Asian American
Arts and Cultural Initiative, We wanted them to see different
forms of art, different forms of Asian cultures. I mean,
Asia is the biggest continent in the world and Philippines
is part of that and we just wanted to share
(15:18):
and also educate.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
So yeah, so how long before she approached you with
this idea until you decided to start the nonprofit right away?
Was within Like I thought of it, within a month,
I had started.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
It, right So, yeah, we did the paperwork right away,
you know, as you know, it's it takes a while
to submit to the I r S and all that
fun fun stuff and not you know, not the doing
the real work yet. So we had to go through
the hoops with the state, with the with the I
r S. Government, and then after that, you know, all
(15:54):
the busy work. We get to have fun and decide
on the events and who to invite and what to
do and all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
So, yeah, I didn't realize it's only been around since
twenty twenty.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
You guys, twenty twenty two.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Oh, twenty twenty two. I'm sorry, I think said twenty.
It seems to me like you're so established, like you're one.
There are so many great nonprofits in Bismarck, but you're
one that you're constantly out there. We see the name,
we hear it quite quite often. And you did mention
this a little bit, but you know, you kind of
wanted your children to know their roots, and so the
(16:29):
nonprofit has a high focus on culture. Why do you
think it's so important to bring different cultural events into
our community, even if they may not be someone else's culture.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
Well, I think it's good to kind of expose everybody,
not just the kids' adults all the same to the
different types of people around us, who's living in their community,
and celebrate that, Celebrate who they are, celebrate their culture,
celebrate their art, and give that person or a group
of community of platform to share and speak and dance
(17:09):
and eat. I mean food is a huge part of culture,
and we often had ninety percent of our events have food,
ninety to one hundred. That's how you draw people in
the narsis exactly. You have events food there and they're free.
So yeah, that's better. Yeah, it's even better.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
So why do you think it's important that the Asian
American population has a space to share in the small
state of North Dakota.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
Well, when I moved to Utah at an age of fourteen,
you know, there was not a lot of Filipinos in
Salt Lake and there was probably three Filipinos in the
whole high school. I think we're probably you know, five
Asians in the whole high school. So I think a
sense of belonging, especially nowadays that there's a lot of
teachers and nurses that are coming into North Dakota, that
(17:58):
they have some some support, especially if they left their families,
their relatives, their friends back home so when they come,
they don't just feel like they're alienated. We want to
make sure that they belong and they have a way
to express themselves, a platform to share who they are,
and also, you know, to celebrate and be a community.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Do you find that, as you know, someone with an
Asian background, are you commonly just kind of lumped in
where people just assume, like they don't understand there's a
difference between you know, someone from the Philippines or Japan
or China or like, do you notice any of that?
Speaker 4 (18:40):
Not so much here in North Dakota. I feel like
North Dakota's are very friendly. Majority of North Dakotas are,
but some of the states that I've lived in, I
you know, I could see that, and sometimes people just
want to know to Sometimes they think I'm Mexican, which
isn't totally fine. I'm like, I sorry, I don't I
(19:01):
don't know Spanish. I know Salama, I mean Gras but
that's about it. But yeah, sometimes in bigger actually, which
is kind of funny, in bigger cities, I feel that.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Yeah, I noticed that quite a bit with some of
like the individuals I work with who come from varying
countries in Africa and people just kind of I think
people forget that Africa is a continent and not a country,
and so it's really interesting when you hear about yes
they're from somewhat similar location, but just the differences in
(19:35):
their culture and the countries and everything. So I think
I still should be going on with a question here.
Oh so, as we were talking before, I kind of
got a little off topic there. You've hosted many events,
(19:58):
as we said, what have been and if you have
a favorite, if not would have been some of your favorites.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
We have our signature events series called Know My Culture,
and that focuses on a different country each event, and
that is one of my favorites I've hosted. And then
also you know whoever is from that country I've invited
and they've shared with me and they've thanked me over
and over again. Thank you for allowing me to do this,
(20:28):
Thank you for allowing me to cook for you for
everyone in the event. Thank you for letting me share
what a lunar New Year is, so that to me,
not only I could see the people interaction and more
and more people come each event because they know about
it already, not just from the community, but also for
the individuals that are sharing about their country.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
So what are some of the countries that you've focused on?
Speaker 4 (20:52):
So this is actually our only second year of doing
no My Culture. So the first year we did the
Philippines with the Japan, we did Indonesia and China, and
in this year we did the Philippines again because I
know that country pretty well. We did Thailand, we did Korea,
(21:16):
South Korea, we did Vietnam.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Awesome, very eclectic. So how do you get the funding
for these cultural events you have and then also for
other things you do for your nonprofit?
Speaker 4 (21:27):
So we've part we have partnerships, the libraries have helped.
We've also had sponsorships and we've applied for grants as
well and also donations.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Yeah, so where does your funding mostly come from? Like
what's the biggest level that you would think it would
come in from.
Speaker 4 (21:45):
Arts Midwest have been a huge support for our cultural Expo.
Our Cultural Expo we do it annually in May, which
is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. So we have
are coming up fourth annual Cultural Expo on May seventeenth
and Saturday, so that's artsman West have been a huge
(22:06):
support for that.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
I'm now also Dvia because we know how much I
love to do this. But just you talking about the
Philippines again. If someone were to say, hey, I want
to travel to the Philippines, I have a week to
spend there. Where would be like, you're this is where
you should fly in and this is a mussy location.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
Well, the Philippines is composed of over seven thousand islands.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
And did not know that it was that many?
Speaker 4 (22:36):
Yes, Okay, and this group uh, northern part of the
Philippines is called Luzon, and middle is Visayas, and then
the southern is Menda now and I'm from the middle part,
and Sibu is the second largest city in the whole Philippines.
The main city is Manila, which is a capital, and
(22:57):
then Sibu is the next biggest city. So I'm biased.
I like the Visayas area, Sabu. I would my family
and I love to fly from you know, the US
and then Hong Kong, and from Hong Kong to Sibu.
That to me is the smoothest one I've had to
fly through. And it's still long, it's over twenty four
(23:20):
hours of travel time. But I would fly into Sibu
and just explore Visaias area. There's so many beaches. You
can swim with whale sharks, I mean, the coral reefs.
There's wild dolphins. You know, you swim with dolphins. It's amazing.
But yeah, I've seen sea turtles and yeah, it's just beautiful.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
So what I'm hearing is a week is now long enough.
Speaker 4 (23:46):
For now, And the last time we were there was
ten days and I felt like that was not long enough.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Do they have a lot of art museums there as well?
Speaker 4 (23:55):
There's a few, yes, Now, you know, a lot of
modern art has filtered through the dawn of the Internet.
Of course, Western influence is huge now, especially in the
big cities. But yeah, I mean there's still some native
art here and there, but definitely self expression is they've
explored that and modern art and yeah, different ways.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Wow, now that I've kind of deviated once again, we
will get back on track. Your bio also mentioned that
you're involved in Young Life. Can you kind of explain
what that is and your involvement within that organization.
Speaker 4 (24:35):
So Young Life is a Christian based organization and we
basically help kids teenagers. Wildlife we call it is middle school,
and then young Life is high school and we also
have a real life which is kind of like South Central,
which is kids with hardships and financially untillly. And also
(25:00):
we also have Young Lives where we help young moms,
teenage moms. So I'm involved with that intern. I'm in
their committee, so I help with organizing our friend raiser
events and also i'm uh one of the leaders for
South Central. Being a leader is basically making friends, letting
(25:23):
the kids know that there's an adult that cares for them,
there's a positive role model, and just being there for them.
Being a teenager is hard enough, and then now and
then you get thrown into you know, unstable home and
all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
So yeah, how often do they generally meet?
Speaker 4 (25:43):
The committee meets? Uh, we used to meet once a month.
Now I think it's once every three or four months.
And then the going to South Central and the high
schools is once once a week, but we stop that
of course during the summersbody's there.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
So you are a member of the Business Human Relations
Committee with T and I one of our newest members. Yes,
so what makes you want to join that committee?
Speaker 4 (26:13):
So? I wanted to kind of share what my insights are,
what I know I care for the community. So I
want to better the community and be part of that,
be a good neighbor and uh yeah, just and interact
with the members who also have the same mentality mission
(26:34):
that we want to do.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
So yeah, has anything surprised you about it at all
since you've stepped on the committee?
Speaker 4 (26:40):
No, really, I don't think so. Yeah, Joan is very
well everyone apparently. I know. Every time there's a guest,
I'm like, oh, yeah, I know, Heather.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
Well known, which is good.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
And I know you're too new to fully answer this,
but if we ask you in about six months, and well,
obviously maybe not with your own organization, but we said,
what is one of your favorite things to be involved with?
I'm fairly certain the human relations committees. We have got
a great.
Speaker 4 (27:15):
Group right now, Oh for sure.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Yeah, And so you know, one of the last will
not one of the last question now that we ask
everyone is really, how would you encourage others to be
a good neighbor.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
I feel like, just be inclusive, you know, be understanding.
You don't know what people are going through. Just be open,
not be so judgmental. I know that's hard. I try
not to be, but you always have that thing in
the back of your head, but just try to understand
and be understanding and also include people you know, share
(27:54):
and just be I would say, try to be nice, smile.
Like I said, you know, everybody is going through something
and as much as you can, just I think the
comfort of a hello or a smile or can I
(28:14):
help with that or you know, and be inclusive.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
Yeah, great, great answer. Well, thank you joining, Thank you
for joining us, and thanks to everyone for tuning into
these your neighbors. Thank you for wanting to get to
know your neighbors as we hold these important and necessary conversations.
If you found this conversation as important as we do,
please share. Make sure to share it with your neighbors.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Thank you for tuning into these or your Neighbors a
podcast hosted by the City of Bismarck's Human Relations Committee
and produced by Dakota Media Access. We hope you were
inspired by the stories of citizens driving meaningful change in Bismarck.
For more info on the HRC, visit bizmarckand dot gov.
Welcome to These Are Your Neighbors, a podcast hosted by
the City of Bismarck's Human Relations Committee and produced by
Dakota Media Access. The purpose of the podcast is to
celebrate change makers in Bismarck whose contributions break barriers, build connections,
and redefine what is possible for our community.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Welcome to These Are Your Neighbors, a podcast hosted by
Tia Jorgison and Sarganawitski, both members of the City of
Bismarck's Human Relations Committee. Thank you for joining us as
we highlight the individual's driving positive change and making a
lasting impact on our community. There are stories inspire progress
and shape the future of our city.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Today's guest is one of our newest Human Relations Committee members,
Joan Klein. Joan was born and raised in Cebu City, Philippines.
She moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, with her mom, dad,
and brother at the age of fourteen because of her
mother's work relocation. Joan has an architectural background, with a
bachelor's degree in architecture from Woodbury University in Burbank, California.
(01:10):
She's worked in several architecture firms in Maine, North Carolina,
and North Dakota. In twenty twenty two, Joan and her
co founder started a nonprofit called the North Dakota Asian
American Arts and Cultural Initiative. This nonprofit is a platform
for education, collaboration, and celebration for Asian American arts and culture.
(01:31):
They have events that allow for an immersive experience for
individuals and families in the Bismarck, Mandan community and beyond.
Joan also volunteers for the Bismarck and Mandan Young Life
She's one of the leaders for the kids at South
Central High School. As a committee member, Joan helps coordinate
events for their fundraising efforts. Joan, her husband, son, and
(01:53):
daughter called Bismarck, North Dakota their home. She has a
passion for architecture, photography, screen printing, drawing, and several forms
of paintings.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
Welcome Joan, thank you, Thank you for having me, Thanks
for joining us.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
My first question for you is why did you move
to Bismarck and what makes it home.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
So I met my husband in Maine. We worked for
the same architecture firm. Aaron Klein was raised and born
and raised in North Dakota, so he's a native here.
He got a job offer to come back home, so
we did. I had moved in so many I lived
in so many places, so why not North Dakota? And
(02:31):
I call this home, I believe because we have roots. Now,
my kids are born here, I've made friends here, and
you know, the community is really great. I strive to
make the community better for my kids and for my
family and for everybody.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Was your husband specifically from Bismarck or somewhere else in North.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
Dakota from Bismarck, Yes, just going back home? Yes?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
So then kind of what made you decide to go
into our texture and become an architect?
Speaker 4 (03:02):
So it was I did high school in Salt Lake City,
and while I was in high school, I really love
math and art and I also love to help people.
But I can be a doctor or any of the
medical field. I can't stand blood, and you know, being
a lawyer, I don't think I can provide any support
(03:23):
for whoever is guilty. So I figured what combines art
and architecture? And there's so many ways to helping people,
not just you know, those given fields. So I decided
to go into architecture that combines math, which I love
and also art and went to school for that and
loved it.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
So I don't hear a lot of people in my
opinion that say that they love math and art together.
So that's something interesting about you. So as far as
architecture goes, there's like many different jobs or roles you
can have in architecture, such as like a designer, a
draft or a project manager. What roles have you had
in that field?
Speaker 4 (04:03):
All of the above. So basically you start off, you know,
being an intern and you either file some samples, put
books away, or draft, and then you go up into
being a designer meeting clients, working with them into designing
(04:23):
their building, their spaces and renovations and all that, and
then again working with the contractor to be to building
the building, so project manager and all that stuff. So yeah,
all of the above.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
So which role is your favorite that you've done?
Speaker 4 (04:37):
I would say meeting with a client and create in
that creating process. Being a designer, I love the collaboration.
Sometimes they throw out what you've designed, so you have
to make sure that you know. It's kind of being
an artist, but also not because you can't be married
to your design. You can't be too attached to it
(04:58):
because they will be changing because you know, another person
has a different kind of design and they like design
is subjective, so you have to make sure that you're
okay with change and you still are okay to redesign
what you've already created.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
So yeah, so if you're working with someone then saying
kind of help them creating this design. Have you ever
had experiences where people want things that are just truly
unrealistic and how do you kind of approach those conversations?
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Then yes? And you know, I always go back to codes.
So if they want something and we can't do it
because it doesn't apply to the code, so we have
to make sure that they're grounded as well as me.
You know, you you come out of architecture school and
you have this elaborate ideas and designs that you want
(05:56):
to do, but you have to make sure that it
can still be built and it's per code. You know,
there's rules on building.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
So that's and both of you are more in the
art field than I am. I guess I don't often
hear the word rules with arts either. So is it
is it kind of unique in that situation, or have
you guys found that to be pretty common in other
aspects of arts?
Speaker 4 (06:21):
That definitely is very unique with architecture. A lot of
architects they're either more leaned to being an artist and
some are more into the engineering side. A lot of
those engineering side architecture brains, you know, they're they follow
the rules really to the t, and which is good,
we need those, but some of them sometimes you get
(06:43):
outside of the box and you know, engineers come back
to you with the with the higher price, and then
you have to scale down. So you have to meet,
you know, the engineers and the owners in the middle
and collaborate.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Yeah, so then kind of with that, Yeah, your bio
mentioned I think it was what main North Carolina and
now North Dakota that you've worked across. Have you noticed
some of the some differences in how each stayed, either
what their preferences are or how you approach them.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
I would say they're about the same. In terms of code,
that's pretty generic. I guess the difference would be the
type of energy. Codes sometimes may differ because of the
cold climate or maybe different from the warmer climate. But
in terms of design, I would say it would be
(07:36):
by owner, by person that you work with. It's not
necessarily per state, it's per person that you deal with,
So I guess it would be a type of building,
like if you're working for a GSA, for a government
building for example, they're very conservative of course, and if
you're working for you know, a museum or an art
center or a school, there'll be more open to design
(07:59):
and all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
So art and design, of course have played a big
part in your life. Why do you think the arts
are so important?
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Definitely self expression. We need that, we need that human
relationship and human reaction as well. I love art because
of that. And you know, when you walk into a building,
the color choices, that's part of art. That affects people
walking into the structure, where doors are located, how light
(08:31):
goes into the building, that's part of art, and that
to me is very important because that affects the people
using the space and not just the architect themselves.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
As an architect, was it hard for you to find
a home that mends your expectations when you move there?
Speaker 4 (08:50):
It still is? Yeah, especially my husband is an architect,
so our brain, you know, it's not we're both yeah,
in the field, but we also clash. I mean, he's
still a guy, I'm a still girl. And again, you know,
design is subjective, so his idea of beauty, his idea
of comfort may be different from mine. So and we're
(09:12):
you know, we have kind of the same brain of
being stubborn and being artists. So yeah, it's still hard.
I feel like, you know, I want to build from scratch,
but at the same time that's expensive too, and you know,
finding a right neighborhood and a right land So yeah,
we have want a house in Highland Acres, and we
(09:34):
had to compromise, so we had to do that.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
And then there's me. I just want a nice bathtub,
so that's.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
All I care about.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
I don't need a kitchen and I don't need any
of that. But so kind of on the lines of
our year. Bio also mentioned a passion for photography. First off,
I want to know what your camera of choice, but
also like kind of what what do you find is
your favorite thing to shoot, whether it's landscape, street photography.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
I used to when I had time, had a nice
Canon camera. Now it's just my phone. I mean, nowadays
phones have awesome cameras to begin with, I love recently,
you know, I have two little kids, two year old
and a seven year old, so I take a lot
of pictures of them. I do love taking pictures of land, nature, architecture.
(10:28):
Every time we would go my husband and go somewhere,
you know, people are like, why are they taking pictures
of the corner of the building. You know, we like
architecture detail. I just wrote down some of my inspiration too.
Diane Arbus is a photographer and she takes human interaction
photographer photography, and I also Julia Schulman is an architecture photographer.
(10:51):
And of course Ansel Adams, the famous nature photographer.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
So yeah, I when you mentioned you were talking about
like self expression with art and everything. So I'm not
a great photographer, but I there's nothing I enjoy more.
It's a little awkward in Bismarck because there's not so
many people, but like when you're visiting larger cities and
just street photography and capturing people in the moment, like,
it's just it's really cool to look back and to
(11:17):
be able to see all of that. But yeah, if
I take photos of buildings, it's not so much because
I'm thinking of the architecture. It's just because I think
they're pretty cool looking.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Well, there you go, that's cool architecture.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
So what is your favorite medium of art.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Then when I do art, I love you photography. I
like pastel and charcoal. I know it's messy, but I
like the messiness. I like touching it. I like watercolor.
Water color. Once you put it down, it's immediate oil,
so you can kind of get over over it. And acrylic,
but oil, water colors, it's there. In terms of viewing art,
(11:57):
I do like mixed media. I like just weird art,
and I like, you know, performance art. Sometimes those are like,
what are you doing? That's that's not really art, but
I like to I like to question it, so yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
I think that's like, you know, I like weird art.
I when I was in France right for my senior
year of high school, and we went to every museum
you could think of there with the most beautiful pieces
of art work, and they finally took us to the
Sondra Pompadoo, which is just like the most eclectic thing
with it, you like find and out of every piece
(12:34):
of art that I saw there, it was this black
canvas and it just said more say facile, which means
death is easy, and like, that's so dark, But it
was my favorite piece of all of the artwork that
I saw, you know, but I think we all resonate
to art work a little bit differently, where with me,
(12:56):
paintings aren't as appealing, where I can look at like
a Christian de ork gown and get emotional. And so
it is interesting how we all can kind of find
different mediums a little bit more impactful. Oh, speaking of
kind of things I find interesting, I'm a big Andy
Warhol fan as well. And so your bio mentioned screen printing,
(13:18):
and while we were prepping this, we had a couple
questions about that. Yeah, do you mean like Andy warhil
style printing or more like making T shirt screen printing.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
I'm more on the paper, so kind of Andy Warhol
but not pop art. Okay, so abstract screen printing. I
remember back in the day when you would take a
photocopy of something you still have the powder, and that
actually is really good that when it transfers you can
use that for screen printing. So I would photo photocopy
some pictures from art books and then paint over it
(13:55):
with yeah mediums and stuff like that. So, yeah, like
Andy Warhol using canvas, but not his style of art,
not pop art.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
So what made you want to start a nonprofit and
role does art play in that nonprofit.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
So back, you know, after COVID, like co founder approached
me and I Christemma Candles. She asked me if I
wanted to do, uh start up a nonprofit that focused
on art and architecture. As an architect or architecture designer,
I'm not licensed yet, so as an architecture designer and
(14:35):
also an artist, I've never really thought about my roots.
And when she brought that up, no, that was really
that hit me. And then that I thought about that
was pretty important, especially for my kids, giving them a
legacy and also helping them connect with their roots. That's
(14:56):
how you know, our nonprofit, the North Dakota Asian American
Arts and Cultural Initiative, We wanted them to see different
forms of art, different forms of Asian cultures. I mean,
Asia is the biggest continent in the world and Philippines
is part of that and we just wanted to share
(15:18):
and also educate.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
So yeah, so how long before she approached you with
this idea until you decided to start the nonprofit right away?
Was within Like I thought of it, within a month,
I had started.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
It, right So, yeah, we did the paperwork right away,
you know, as you know, it's it takes a while
to submit to the I r S and all that
fun fun stuff and not you know, not the doing
the real work yet. So we had to go through
the hoops with the state, with the with the I
r S. Government, and then after that, you know, all
(15:54):
the busy work. We get to have fun and decide
on the events and who to invite and what to
do and all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
So, yeah, I didn't realize it's only been around since
twenty twenty.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
You guys, twenty twenty two.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Oh, twenty twenty two. I'm sorry, I think said twenty.
It seems to me like you're so established, like you're one.
There are so many great nonprofits in Bismarck, but you're
one that you're constantly out there. We see the name,
we hear it quite quite often. And you did mention
this a little bit, but you know, you kind of
wanted your children to know their roots, and so the
(16:29):
nonprofit has a high focus on culture. Why do you
think it's so important to bring different cultural events into
our community, even if they may not be someone else's culture.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
Well, I think it's good to kind of expose everybody,
not just the kids' adults all the same to the
different types of people around us, who's living in their community,
and celebrate that, Celebrate who they are, celebrate their culture,
celebrate their art, and give that person or a group
of community of platform to share and speak and dance
(17:09):
and eat. I mean food is a huge part of culture,
and we often had ninety percent of our events have food,
ninety to one hundred. That's how you draw people in
the narsis exactly. You have events food there and they're free.
So yeah, that's better. Yeah, it's even better.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
So why do you think it's important that the Asian
American population has a space to share in the small
state of North Dakota.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
Well, when I moved to Utah at an age of fourteen,
you know, there was not a lot of Filipinos in
Salt Lake and there was probably three Filipinos in the
whole high school. I think we're probably you know, five
Asians in the whole high school. So I think a
sense of belonging, especially nowadays that there's a lot of
teachers and nurses that are coming into North Dakota, that
(17:58):
they have some some support, especially if they left their families,
their relatives, their friends back home so when they come,
they don't just feel like they're alienated. We want to
make sure that they belong and they have a way
to express themselves, a platform to share who they are,
and also, you know, to celebrate and be a community.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Do you find that, as you know, someone with an
Asian background, are you commonly just kind of lumped in
where people just assume, like they don't understand there's a
difference between you know, someone from the Philippines or Japan
or China or like, do you notice any of that?
Speaker 4 (18:40):
Not so much here in North Dakota. I feel like
North Dakota's are very friendly. Majority of North Dakotas are,
but some of the states that I've lived in, I
you know, I could see that, and sometimes people just
want to know to Sometimes they think I'm Mexican, which
isn't totally fine. I'm like, I sorry, I don't I
(19:01):
don't know Spanish. I know Salama, I mean Gras but
that's about it. But yeah, sometimes in bigger actually, which
is kind of funny, in bigger cities, I feel that.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Yeah, I noticed that quite a bit with some of
like the individuals I work with who come from varying
countries in Africa and people just kind of I think
people forget that Africa is a continent and not a country,
and so it's really interesting when you hear about yes
they're from somewhat similar location, but just the differences in
(19:35):
their culture and the countries and everything. So I think
I still should be going on with a question here.
Oh so, as we were talking before, I kind of
got a little off topic there. You've hosted many events,
(19:58):
as we said, what have been and if you have
a favorite, if not would have been some of your favorites.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
We have our signature events series called Know My Culture,
and that focuses on a different country each event, and
that is one of my favorites I've hosted. And then
also you know whoever is from that country I've invited
and they've shared with me and they've thanked me over
and over again. Thank you for allowing me to do this,
(20:28):
Thank you for allowing me to cook for you for
everyone in the event. Thank you for letting me share
what a lunar New Year is, so that to me,
not only I could see the people interaction and more
and more people come each event because they know about
it already, not just from the community, but also for
the individuals that are sharing about their country.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
So what are some of the countries that you've focused on?
Speaker 4 (20:52):
So this is actually our only second year of doing
no My Culture. So the first year we did the
Philippines with the Japan, we did Indonesia and China, and
in this year we did the Philippines again because I
know that country pretty well. We did Thailand, we did Korea,
(21:16):
South Korea, we did Vietnam.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Awesome, very eclectic. So how do you get the funding
for these cultural events you have and then also for
other things you do for your nonprofit?
Speaker 4 (21:27):
So we've part we have partnerships, the libraries have helped.
We've also had sponsorships and we've applied for grants as
well and also donations.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Yeah, so where does your funding mostly come from? Like
what's the biggest level that you would think it would
come in from.
Speaker 4 (21:45):
Arts Midwest have been a huge support for our cultural Expo.
Our Cultural Expo we do it annually in May, which
is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. So we have
are coming up fourth annual Cultural Expo on May seventeenth
and Saturday, so that's artsman West have been a huge
(22:06):
support for that.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
I'm now also Dvia because we know how much I
love to do this. But just you talking about the
Philippines again. If someone were to say, hey, I want
to travel to the Philippines, I have a week to
spend there. Where would be like, you're this is where
you should fly in and this is a mussy location.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
Well, the Philippines is composed of over seven thousand islands.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
And did not know that it was that many?
Speaker 4 (22:36):
Yes, Okay, and this group uh, northern part of the
Philippines is called Luzon, and middle is Visayas, and then
the southern is Menda now and I'm from the middle part,
and Sibu is the second largest city in the whole Philippines.
The main city is Manila, which is a capital, and
(22:57):
then Sibu is the next biggest city. So I'm biased.
I like the Visayas area, Sabu. I would my family
and I love to fly from you know, the US
and then Hong Kong, and from Hong Kong to Sibu.
That to me is the smoothest one I've had to
fly through. And it's still long, it's over twenty four
(23:20):
hours of travel time. But I would fly into Sibu
and just explore Visaias area. There's so many beaches. You
can swim with whale sharks, I mean, the coral reefs.
There's wild dolphins. You know, you swim with dolphins. It's amazing.
But yeah, I've seen sea turtles and yeah, it's just beautiful.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
So what I'm hearing is a week is now long enough.
Speaker 4 (23:46):
For now, And the last time we were there was
ten days and I felt like that was not long enough.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Do they have a lot of art museums there as well?
Speaker 4 (23:55):
There's a few, yes, Now, you know, a lot of
modern art has filtered through the dawn of the Internet.
Of course, Western influence is huge now, especially in the
big cities. But yeah, I mean there's still some native
art here and there, but definitely self expression is they've
explored that and modern art and yeah, different ways.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Wow, now that I've kind of deviated once again, we
will get back on track. Your bio also mentioned that
you're involved in Young Life. Can you kind of explain
what that is and your involvement within that organization.
Speaker 4 (24:35):
So Young Life is a Christian based organization and we
basically help kids teenagers. Wildlife we call it is middle school,
and then young Life is high school and we also
have a real life which is kind of like South Central,
which is kids with hardships and financially untillly. And also
(25:00):
we also have Young Lives where we help young moms,
teenage moms. So I'm involved with that intern. I'm in
their committee, so I help with organizing our friend raiser
events and also i'm uh one of the leaders for
South Central. Being a leader is basically making friends, letting
(25:23):
the kids know that there's an adult that cares for them,
there's a positive role model, and just being there for them.
Being a teenager is hard enough, and then now and
then you get thrown into you know, unstable home and
all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
So yeah, how often do they generally meet?
Speaker 4 (25:43):
The committee meets? Uh, we used to meet once a month.
Now I think it's once every three or four months.
And then the going to South Central and the high
schools is once once a week, but we stop that
of course during the summersbody's there.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
So you are a member of the Business Human Relations
Committee with T and I one of our newest members. Yes,
so what makes you want to join that committee?
Speaker 4 (26:13):
So? I wanted to kind of share what my insights are,
what I know I care for the community. So I
want to better the community and be part of that,
be a good neighbor and uh yeah, just and interact
with the members who also have the same mentality mission
(26:34):
that we want to do.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
So yeah, has anything surprised you about it at all
since you've stepped on the committee?
Speaker 4 (26:40):
No, really, I don't think so. Yeah, Joan is very
well everyone apparently. I know. Every time there's a guest,
I'm like, oh, yeah, I know, Heather.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
Well known, which is good.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
And I know you're too new to fully answer this,
but if we ask you in about six months, and well,
obviously maybe not with your own organization, but we said,
what is one of your favorite things to be involved with?
I'm fairly certain the human relations committees. We have got
a great.
Speaker 4 (27:15):
Group right now, Oh for sure.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Yeah, And so you know, one of the last will
not one of the last question now that we ask
everyone is really, how would you encourage others to be
a good neighbor.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
I feel like, just be inclusive, you know, be understanding.
You don't know what people are going through. Just be open,
not be so judgmental. I know that's hard. I try
not to be, but you always have that thing in
the back of your head, but just try to understand
and be understanding and also include people you know, share
(27:54):
and just be I would say, try to be nice, smile.
Like I said, you know, everybody is going through something
and as much as you can, just I think the
comfort of a hello or a smile or can I
(28:14):
help with that or you know, and be inclusive.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
Yeah, great, great answer. Well, thank you joining, Thank you
for joining us, and thanks to everyone for tuning into
these your neighbors. Thank you for wanting to get to
know your neighbors as we hold these important and necessary conversations.
If you found this conversation as important as we do,
please share. Make sure to share it with your neighbors.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Thank you for tuning into these or your Neighbors a
podcast hosted by the City of Bismarck's Human Relations Committee
and produced by Dakota Media Access. We hope you were
inspired by the stories of citizens driving meaningful change in Bismarck.
For more info on the HRC, visit bizmarckand dot gov.
Popular Podcasts
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com