In the heart of New York City’s “World’s Borough,” a portal to the Philippines awaits. From the Mabuhay Mural to the many kabayan-owned businesses along 69th/70th Street and Roosevelt Ave, Filipino Americans have long considered Woodside, Queens their home.
When we think of thriving Asian-American communities, the cities that come to mind are New York, and San Francisco where they’re over 30% of the population. Smaller cities like Reno, Nevada don’t usually come to mind, but for two generations the Rosal family has created a flourishing community.
In a rural town in Eastern Oregon, Japanese-Americans like Mike Iseri have found and created a home. Hundreds relocated to Ontario after their release from internment camps in World War II, and most never left.
Mia Yamamoto has seen it all. She was born in an incarceration camp during World War II. At age 60 she came out as transgender after a 20-year career as a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles. At age 78, Mia shows no signs of slowing down.
