 The occasion of our fiftieth birthday as a program, I find it fitting that we take this opportunity not only to commemorate our founding as an interdisciplinary space to analyze, envision and build more equitable, just and kind communities, but also to reflect about how far we have yet to go in terms of this work. The change had to come not by flowing with the institution because it was rotten to the core at that time, but to challenge it every way possible. I feel like my history as being Hmong American and also just my drive, it's really weird to say that, but my drive to address the uncomfortable emotions that exist within me is kind of the fire that continues to push me forward. As a queer and trans Asian-American person, that my space here was never meant for me and it never imagined being like this space and that everyone, every elder like fought tooth and nail for us to be here. And even if Asian-American studies isn't perfect, but the principles of it is rooted in radical love.