At the behest of (the always amazing) Mar and David, I've been asked to describe my experience over the summer as a new board member of the National Asian American Student Conference (NAASCon), a.k.a. my life after (sadly) leaving the hallowed ranks of the AAA board.

NAASCon was founded in 2001 as an organization to network progressive Asian American students across the country, to share in the collective strength of various campaigns and movements in different campuses and communities, and ultimately to host a biennial conference where these goals and principles would culminate. Our board, the fourth in NAASCon's history, took hold of the reins in late June, and we've been at it ever since.

Currently we're finalizing a location for the next conference--somewhere in the South, because it's a region that would definitely benefit from having an Asian American organizing presence--which will be held in the fall of 2008, and there will be more info to follow as it arises. But on a more personal level, I'm thrilled to be a part of it all--as someone who's strongly found my identity and pride as an Asian American in the activism in which I take part, NAASCon represents a way to connect the efforts made at Columbia (along with fellow AAA alum and CC'09er Christina Chen, who's NAASCon's co-chair) to campuses all across the country similarly invested in promoting and fighting for Asian American student empowerment and social justice in the world around us.

There's a lot to be done, however, and much more to say in the future (hopefully a little less narcissistic, too)... so until then, peace. And a very big plug for the Asian American Alliance Political Committee, which is awesome. 'Nuff said.