Heritage Roots in Connecticut

What are you planting this year in your garden? Would you like seeds of different varieties and to hear from the people who plant them?

Food is a love language in many Asian American households. In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we are honoring this deep-rooted connection by centering the voices of aunts and grandmothers on what they cultivate and how it connects them to their past. Join us for this conversation and leave inspired with seeds, recipes, and experiences. Please bring seeds to share and swap.

Our Featured Panelists

Vicheth Im, a refugee from Cambodia, has been an organic farmer for ten years. After losing access to land, the idea of working with it never left her heart. Now, she is planning to homestead with her newly retired parents, as well as her siblings, niece, and nephew.

Hien Thi Nguyen was born and raised in Vietnam. She has resided in the U.S. for 39 years, where she and her husband raised three children to adulthood—all of whom speak Vietnamese. She enjoys karaoke, gardening, and camping.

Mao Lo Yang was born in Xieng Khouang, Laos, and resettled to to the U.S. in 1978 after the Hmong were persecuted for their role in supporting the U.S. military during the Secret War. Mao Lo Yang is married to Yeng Yang and has 7 adult children. She enjoys gardening and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Christine Kim is a food and social justice activist focused on community-based solutions, with a prior career in data-driven international environmental policy. She is currently the Board Chair of CitySeed, a New Haven-based nonprofit aimed at an equitable, local food system, and a member of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Working Group. Christine lives in New Haven with her husband Doug Kysar and two young children.

This panel will be moderated by Catherine Shen, host of Where We Live at Connecticut Public.

This event is free and open to the public. Click here to register. Registration is encouraged, but not required.