Asian American Life

New York City boasts one of the largest South Asian and Southeast Asian populations in the U.S., with many hidden culinary gems in Queens and Manhattan. We'll take you on a tour from Mekong's intergenerational cultural camp to little Bangladesh in Queens; Plus morning brews with Vietnamese coffee, Burmese breakfast and Pandesal bread rising in popularity.

1:12 What's Brewing in NYC: Vietnamese Rich Coffee Culture
7:02. Queens Little Bangladesh
10:59 Mekong NYC Intergenerational Cultural Camp
14;29 Taste of Burmese Breakfast In Queens
18:52. Pandesal Bread Rising Popularity

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Guest List:
Christmas Le - Owner, HI:EN from Vietnam
Kim Khuyen Le - Owner, Le Phin
Shaharia Alam Nahid - Owner, New Preojon Jewelry Store
Shekar Krishnan - City Council Member, NYC City Council, District 25
Annie Ferdous - Co-Founder & Artistic Director, Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts
Khelvin Srey - Youth Coordinator, Mekong NYC
Cat Kien - Vietnamese Community Organizer, Mekong NYC
Brandon Sam - YOuth Organizer, Mekong NYC
Mo Chan - Creator, Burmese Breakfast
Ko Niang - Customer, Burmese Breakfast
Phyoe Phyu - Customer, Burmese Breakfast
Kian Ahmadian - Co-Owner, Arellano Pandesal
Jennifer Arellano - Co-Owner, Arellano Pandesal

Recording Date
07/15/2026
First Air Date
08/11/2026

Ernabel Demillo is the host of Asian American Life, a monthly half hour series about the fastest-growing immigrant group in the country, focusing on Asian Americans in the tri-state area from over 40 countries who speak more than 150 different languages and dialects. Every month, an Asian enclave and neighborhood within the tristate area is featured. Cutting edge issues like racial profiling and stereotyping are examined and explored. Successful Asian Americans who are forging new identities in business, politics and the arts are also be profiled. Asian American Life is reaching new frontiers in the quest for understanding and acknowledgment among tri-state Asian Americans.

Watch more at https://tv.cuny.edu/show/asianamericanlife/

Subscribe to the Series Playlist: https://bit.ly/2veQz61
Subscribe to the CUNY TV channel: https://bit.ly/2GmGb13

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Asian Americans are making headlines for their groundbreaking contributions to social justice, historical preservation and leadership. We spotlight the trailblazers who are driving change from fighting for safer work conditions in nail salons to the librarian who's defending our freedom to read in the face of book bans. Plus we profile the first Asian American female Rabbi and Author Michael Lou gives voice to the belonging and Chinese in America with his best selling novel "Strangers In The Land."

1:16 Safety Laws Protect Nail Salon Workers
9:29 Librarian Battles Book Ban
15:42 Author Michael Luo "Strangers In The Land"
23:25 America's first AAPI Rabbi Angela Buchdahl

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Guest List:
Angela W. Buchdahl - Senior Rabbi, Central Synagogue NYC
David T. Imamura - County Legislator, Westchester County Board of Legislators, District 12
Jewel Williams Johnson - County Legislator, Westchester County Board of Legislators
Emily Marte - Safety & Health Specialist, NY Committee for Occupational Safety and Health
Socheatta Meng - Executive Director, Mekong NYC
Tina Zheng - Owner, Touch Nails and Lashes
Jennie Pu - Library Director, Hoboken New Jersey Public Library
Michael Luo - Author, Strangers In The Land

Recording Date
06/16/2026
First Air Date
07/14/26

Ernabel Demillo is the host of Asian American Life, a monthly half hour series about the fastest-growing immigrant group in the country, focusing on Asian Americans in the tri-state area from over 40 countries who speak more than 150 different languages and dialects. Every month, an Asian enclave and neighborhood within the tristate area is featured. Cutting edge issues like racial profiling and stereotyping are examined and explored. Successful Asian Americans who are forging new identities in business, politics and the arts are also be profiled. Asian American Life is reaching new frontiers in the quest for understanding and acknowledgment among tri-state Asian Americans.

Watch more at https://tv.cuny.edu/show/asianamericanlife/

Subscribe to the Series Playlist: https://bit.ly/2veQz61
Subscribe to the CUNY TV channel: https://bit.ly/2GmGb13

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In honor of May's Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we pay tribute to the trailblazing Chinese American veterans who broke barriers in the US armed forces during WWII.

Nearly 20,000 Chinese Americans, making up 20 percent of the U.S. Chinese population in the U.S., served with distinction and defied the Chinese exclusion act which barred them from citizenship. Their perseverance and bravery led to their recogntion with the Congressional Gold Medal, received 75 years later on December 2018.

This May, family members from around the world will celebrate their loved ones' legacy by marching in New York's Memorial Day parade.

Watch full episode: https://tv.cuny.edu/show/asianamericanlife/PR2013766

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CUNYTV
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cunytv
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/cuny.tv/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/cunytv75 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cunytv
Find more from CUNY TV at https://tv.cuny.edu

Ernabel Demillo is the host of Asian American Life, a monthly half hour series about the fastest-growing immigrant group in the country, focusing on Asian Americans in the tri-state area from over 40 countries who speak more than 150 different languages and dialects. Every month, an Asian enclave and neighborhood within the tristate area is featured. Cutting edge issues like racial profiling and stereotyping are examined and explored. Successful Asian Americans who are forging new identities in business, politics and the arts are also be profiled. Asian American Life is reaching new frontiers in the quest for understanding and acknowledgment among tri-state Asian Americans.

Watch more at https://tv.cuny.edu/show/asianamericanlife/

Subscribe to the Series Playlist: https://bit.ly/2veQz61
Subscribe to the CUNY TV channel: https://bit.ly/2GmGb13

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Author Rosa Kwon Easton's debut novel "White Mulberry" is a historical fiction and coming-of-age story, inspired by her grandmother's experience growing up during the Japanese occupation of Korea in the 1930'. The book has received positive reviews and reached #1 on Amazon's First Reads Editors' Pick for Historical Fiction. In this segment, we get up close and personal with the author who shares her intimate journey documenting her grandmother's memories.

Watch full episode: https://tv.cuny.edu/show/asianamericanlife/PR2013765

Follow CUNY TV:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CUNYTV
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cunytv
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/cuny.tv/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/cunytv75 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cunytv
Find more from CUNY TV at https://tv.cuny.edu

Ernabel Demillo is the host of Asian American Life, a monthly half hour series about the fastest-growing immigrant group in the country, focusing on Asian Americans in the tri-state area from over 40 countries who speak more than 150 different languages and dialects. Every month, an Asian enclave and neighborhood within the tristate area is featured. Cutting edge issues like racial profiling and stereotyping are examined and explored. Successful Asian Americans who are forging new identities in business, politics and the arts are also be profiled. Asian American Life is reaching new frontiers in the quest for understanding and acknowledgment among tri-state Asian Americans.

Watch more at https://tv.cuny.edu/show/asianamericanlife/

Subscribe to the Series Playlist: https://bit.ly/2veQz61
Subscribe to the CUNY TV channel: https://bit.ly/2GmGb13

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