To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Invisible to Invincible: Asian Pacific Islander Pride of Chicago ( i2i ) held a fundraising event at the Japanese American Service Committee ( JASC ) Jan. 30.
Founded in 2005 as a multi-gender, multi-ethnic group, i2i is, according to its website, "a community-based organization that celebrates and affirms Asians & Pacific Islanders ( APIs ) who identify as LGBTQQ in the Chicago area."
i2i holds monthly potluck socials, hosts and co-sponsors educational workshops and events, and has participated in community efforts such as a coming-out support group focused on those who identify as API LGBTQ and a monthly support group for API LGBTQ people and their families/friends. In the past, they were also involved with the Chicago Dyke March Collective and the LGBT Mayoral Forum Coalition. The organization is also a member of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance ( NQAPIA ).
Ahead of remarks by i2i leaders, guests noshed on refreshments provided by three Andersonville/Uptown Asian- American locales—Middle East Bakery & Grocery, North Garden Chinese Restaurant and Shan Restaurant.
Core member Ryan Viloria emceed the event, and spoke about the history of the organization.
Viloria explained how the queer world and more specifically i2i has transformed and adapted over the years to meet the needs of the community.
"I'm so proud to be able to welcome all of you to JASC," said JASC CEO Mike Takada. "This year, we're celebrating our 70th anniversary. … There are social-justice needs and people and groups that can benefit from the services that we provide … To me, this is just one example of a way that JASC can be relevant in this day and age … I'm glad to be an ally to i2i. Congratulations on your 10th anniversary."
Other speakers included Liz Thomson and I Li Hsiao ( two of the members of the collective that formed i2i ) as well as core members JJ Ueunten and Kim Nguyen.
Hsiao noted the role that Glenn Magpantay ( executive director of NQAPIA ) played in the formation of i2i while Thomson spoke about the formation of the group and how they came up with the organization's name. Thomson also noted the years of dedication and hard work of two of the founders not in attendance—David Amarathitada and Karl Kimpo.
"Although at first our name wasn't in the top three choices, we landed on Invisible to Invincible:�Asian Pacific Islander Pride of Chicago because Lola Lai Jong, one of the other founders, strongly encouraged us to reconsider the name choice, which was my idea," said Thomson. "Our name shows the hopeful progression between being an invisible community in many different ways including our race and ethnicity but also queerness, sexual orientation and gender identity/expression to being invincible. Our shortened name, i2i, represents two people coming together."
Ueunten previewed upcoming events and Nguyen encouraged attendees to buy raffle tickets and participate in the silent auction.
i2i members were also invited to speak about what the organization has meant to them. Speakers included Joy Messinger, Randy Kim and Jin Wu.
The silent auction included a variety of items and services—an Angel's Restaurant gift certificate, Bulls tickets, a two-hour photo session, an energy healing session, neighborhood bike tour, a one-year membership to Old Town School of Folk Music, a variety of books and graphic novels including a book edited by former i2i member Kevin K. Kumashiro and many items from Early to Bed.
The event also featured a tribute video with various members of the larger Chicago-area LGBTQ community extending well wishes to i2i.
See www.chicagoi2i.org for more information .
