So.…what even is SPARC?
June 26, 2023
First Post
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First Post ⚡
HEAR FROM OUR SUPERCHARGED CO-PRESIDENTS, ED AND JENNN, ALL ABOUT SPARC! GET YOUR PARTY HATS ON BECAUSE WE'RE ABOUT TO DIVE INTO THEIR EXHILARATING JOURNEY OF SUPPORTING PAN ASIAN-OWNED RESOURCES TOGETHER.
SPARC-ing Together⚡
Pictured: Ed and Jennn pose for a photograph after tabling at a community event hosted by End Hunger CT! in East Hartford, Connecticut. June 2023.
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JENNN: SPARC is a grassroots collective that elevates visibility and support for Asian/Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander businesses. It’s a network that cultivates meaningful partnerships, and forges opportunities for all (AANHPI and allies) to explore and celebrate AANHPI stories and culture!
ED: SPARC is a way for the Asian American community to support and uplift each other and to shine a light on the many businesses and resources that exist all around us!
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JENNN: Growing up in a predominantly white town, I never received education about my cultural, racial, and ethnic histories. In my search for answers, I was often faced with ignorance from others which ignited feelings of shame, stigma, and confusion in me around my experiences. When anti-Asian sentiment and reported acts of racialized violence surged in 2020, I was painfully reminded of the ways in which AANHPI voices and concerns have been continuously misrepresented and invisibilized as I watched local Asian-owned businesses close down and witnessed and experienced countless hate crimes, many of which disproportionately targeted women, families, and elders. Recognizing that not everyone has equitable access to resources and opportunities, I am dedicated to supporting AANHPI individuals and families who might not have a network to lean on. I see SPARC as a way to amplify diverse narratives and to serve as a platform for those who have been historically excluded and oppressed, including immigrant and diasporic communities.
ED: I felt that I needed to do something to help the Asian American community that has given me so much personally over the years. SPARC provides the opportunity for Asian American businesses and organizations to have a say in how they are portrayed and increase their presence on their own terms. We are building something new and different and I'm really excited to be a part of it!
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JENNN: Our main priorities include sustainably growing our (currently 9 person) team, piloting our Road to 100 Campaign, and hosting virtual and in-person events that will support business owners and the broader community. In the future, I’d love to see SPARC evolve into a “home base” for AANHPI and allies that expands access to and celebrates AANHPI culture, builds empowered communities, and catalyzes meaningful change and partnerships.
ED: Right now we're really focusing on building out as big a directory of businesses as we can. Once we get to our goal of 100 this year, we will focus on scaling up and putting on more in-person and virtual events to benefit the community. Eventually we'd like to have SPARC become a "one stop shop" for everything Asian American you can think of. :)
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JENNN: Narrative matters. We’ve seen time and time again the consequences a lack of diverse representation has on our communities and livelihoods. It’s important that AANHPIs and people from historically underserved backgrounds are not only included but also uplifted in all areas of life. SPARC is centered around amplifying diverse AANHPI voices, increasing access to Asian-owned businesses, and also providing business owners with the platform and resources to reclaim agency over their personal stories and thrive.
ED: We hope that by creating this unprecedented directory of AANHPI focused businesses and resources that we can become a hub for anyone that wants to get involved in the community, needs resources for their small business or needs help in that first step to creating a new community organization. We want to be the bridge that connects people throughout the AANHPI community, as well as introduce wonderful businesses and causes to everyone that they can support.
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JENNN: I’m inspired by my ancestors, the everyday people of today, and the children of tomorrow. I’m inspired by the parents who work numerous day and night shifts to ensure that their families are housed, fed, and cared for. I’m inspired by the restaurant owners and cooks who create and pass down sacred family recipes, enabling joy, full bellies, and warm reminders of where we come from when we feel far from home. I’m inspired by the artists, the inventors, and the visionaries for their capacity to dream big and bravery to show up authentically in a world that tries to diminish our diversity. I’m inspired by our public service heroes, the farmers, political leaders, educators, caregivers, therapists, and healthcare providers in their pursuit of justice and equity for all. I’m inspired by the Indigenous peoples and immigrants who built this country, and the relatives who nourish our hearts, both here and afar. I’m inspired by the intersectional, intergenerational AANHPI communities rallying together to bring about a culture of change and transformation – forging a future that will shine brightly on us all.
ED: Angela Rola, the Founding Director of UConn's Asian American Cultural Center (AsACC) is one of my biggest role models. As a student at UConn getting involved with all the varied and robust programs and communities under AsACC made me realize that driven people together can create positive change and have a profound impact on their community and society as a whole. Through this supportive environment, it seemed that anything was possible and allowed me the privilege of being a leader and how to effectively work in a team. Hearing the story of how something can come from nothing like AsACC did 30 years ago when it was at the time (and unfortunately still today) a rarity for a university to have an Asian American Cultural Center, and it being born out of the hard-won struggles of dedicated individuals that make up a thriving and welcoming community, and how AsACC has come to mean so much to so many people is truly inspiring. That story of how AsACC was founded reminded me that we can create something meaningful together and with enough focus and determination we can change the world.
Still have questions? Read our Mission Statement to learn more!
All About Community
Pictured: Ed, Jennn, Data Director Jenny Tang, and honorary member Harry attend a community event at the Pao Arts Center in Boston, MA. November 2022.
“SPARC is a way for the Asian American community to support and uplift each other and to shine a light on the many businesses and resources that exist all around us!”