Asian Family Support Services of Austin (AFSSA)

Breaking the Binary: Exploring Gender and Sexuality in Hindu Mythology
2023-02-18 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Texas, 78704
AFSSA will be tabling at this beautiful performance event with Austin Dance India!
Austin Dance India, under the artistic direction of Anuradha Naimpally, proudly presents, Breaking the Binary: Exploring Gender and Sexuality in Hindu Mythology. These narratives provide examples of people whose flexible identities and sexuality exist within a context that is not just tolerant, but also accepting and supportive. Breaking the Binary weaves together multiple performing media, with Indian classical dance, a haunting musical track, and spoken word flowing together. Dancers include Purna Bajekal, Soumya Nagesh, and Austin Arts Hall of Famer, Anuradha Naimpally with music that includes a track by Austin’s Eastern Soul singer, Nagavalli. Multimedia images and spoken word bring the stories to life.
Allow yourself to be transported into a world where each individual form actualizes their potential energy and power with no boundaries.
*While not explicit in presentation, this performance explores stories pertaining to gender and sexuality. Discretion is advised.

Link to event: Breaking the Binary: Exploring Gender and Sexuality in Hindu Mythology Tickets, Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite

Growing Love Event - Collaboration with Voices Against Violence
2023-02-23 11:00 - 12:30 | UT Austin
Mark your calendars for Thursday, Feb 23 for our event, Growing Love. We often talk about what red flags to avoid, but what does healthy love look like if we don’t define what love even is?
AFSSA will lead a discussion pulling in teachings from All About Love by bell hooks to reflect on the definition of love, the ingredients that make up love and how love is the opposite of abuse and neglect ?
Love takes nurturing, time, hard work and attention – we’ll put what we learn into practice and plant our own seed paper. “Love is as love does…without justice there can be no love.”
Who do you want to grow love with? Come in your own beautiful company or bring your friends or a loved one – we can’t wait to see you there! ?
Time: Thursday, Feb 23 @ 5-6:30 PM
Location: UT Austin SSB 1.106 (1st floor, LWC Common Room)

UT Austin Take Back the Night
2023-04-06 13:00 - 16:00 | University of Texas
Every year, VAV and the VAV Student Org celebrate Take Back the Night – a gender-inclusive, survivor speak-out to highlight the movement to end sexual violence. Take Back the Night marches, rallies, and events have taken place across the world beginning in the 1970s. These events are part of a larger, decades-long effort to end violence and oppression. At UT, Take Back the Night is an opportunity for survivors to share their stories and for the UT community to come together to show their support.
Asian Family Support Services of Austin staff will be speaking alongside the many other survivors, coming together in community for one another and to speak out against violence.

"The Other Side" Partition Exhibit + Guest Lecture
2023-04-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Texas, 78704
Join us at Meena Matai’s @meenamataiart exhibition “The Other Side” which explores the personal stories and emotions of her family and the millions affected by the India-Pakistan partition of 1947.
“As we mark 75 years since the partition, this exhibition serves as a poignant reminder of memories that are at risk of being forgotten and an important call to foster positive connections and build a supportive community.”
We’ll be tabling and speaking at the guest lecture happening on April 7 from 6-8 PM at the Dougherty Arts Center. The guest lecture will feature Dr. Guneeta Singh Bhalla, the founder of The 1947 Partition Archive @1947partition along with Dr. Amritjit Singh and Neha Aziz, and share more about peoples’ experiences during Partition and talk about the Archive’s first book.
The 1947 Partition Archive is a non-profit organization committed to preserving and institutionalizing the people’s history of the Partition. Their book will feature 400 curated stories.
We hope to see you there at the guest lecture on April 7!

Ladies Let's Talk - Cultural Groundedness Training (Closed)
2023-04-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
Community Education & Outreach Advocates will train Ladies Let’s Talk staff and volunteers on cultural groundedness, working with immigrants & immigrant communities, and barriers that communities regularly face. This training centers folks on the margin, and encourages us to move over to them and center their experiences.

Pleasure Panel - AFSSA Facebook Live
2023-04-14 14:30 - 16:00
For this year’s #SexualViolenceAwarenessMonth, we’re exploring the themes of pleasure–centering on joy as a part of our being, resistance, and solidarity. Join us on April 14 @ 2:30-4 PM CT for our Pleasure Panel as we discuss and reflect on how the anti-violence movement connects with pleasure ?
Pleasure is our birthright and we all are inherently worthy of it. Whether it’s about being in tune with our bodies, dancing in our rooms to music, masturbating or eating a meal slowly, the pursuit of pleasure on a daily basis is a form of resistance. We need and deserve pleasure and our social structures must reflect this.
We hope to center conversations about the pleasure of those most impacted by oppression.
We will be going live on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AFSSAustin/ RSVP at our Facebook event page to stay updated: https://fb.me/e/490t2DVC5

Kids Fest ATX
2023-04-29 10:00 - 13:00 | Northeast Early College High School, 7104 Berkman Dr., Austin, TX, 78752, United States
KidsFestATX is a community sponsored celebration & family resource fair held at Northeast Early College High School, jointly organized by Child Inc Head Start, Austin Voices for Education and Youth, NACER and the Austin ISD Vertical Team. AFSSA will be distributing resources, along with over 95 exhibitors including a STEAM Discovery Zone, early childhood resources, health, dental, employment, youth and adult education, housing, insurance, safety, and immigration/legal will be available to promote the success of local families. Targeted at east and northeast Austin, Kids Fest served 1,200 attendees pre-pandemic.

Mueller Eid Celebration
2023-04-29 11:00 - 15:00 | Branch Park Pavilion, 2006 Philomena Street, Austin
AFSSA will be present at the Mueller Eid celebrations! This is a celebration for the entire family! This is FREE family event with food, henna, kids’ crafts and fun vendors.
Mueller’s City Council Member Zohaib Zo Qadri, the District 9 representative, will be attending. More information on Zo is available at About Council Member Zohaib Zo Qadri | AustinTexas.gov

AFSSA Legal Fair
2023-04-29 14:00 - 16:00 | Baker Center, 3908 Avenue B, Austin, 78751, United States
Asian Family Support Services of Austin invites you to join us at our first ever legal fair at the Baker Center on Saturday, April 29th, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. We have invited several law firms, and other legal resources to hold information booths so that you, the community we serve, are able to learn more about legal matters and your rights. Entry is free and no registration is required.

Eid Celebrations (Closed)
2023-05-02 17:00 - 2023-05-09 19:00
In May, AFSSA staff will be celebrating Eid with Afghan students, parents and families at two Austin middle schools.

CTBA Presents: Celebration of Spring
2023-05-07 11:00 - 16:00 | Asian American Resource Center (AARC), 8401 Cameron Rd, Austin, TX 78754, Austin, 78754
Central Texas Bengali Association of Austin presents Anando Utsav: Celebration of Spring! Come enjoy cultural programs, food and clothing stalls, and art shows!

CelebrASIA!
2023-05-13 11:00 - 15:00 | Asian American Resource Center (AARC), 8401 Cameron Rd, Austin, TX 78754, Austin, 78754
The City of Austin’s Asian American Resource Center (AARC) is hosting its 10th annual CelebrASIA Austin event on Saturday, May 13, 2023 from 11am to 3pm! The family-friendly festival is free and open to the public and celebrates Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month. This indoor/outdoor event offers performances, food vendors, exhibits, and cultural experiences for the entire family. The 2023 festival will commemorate 10 years of the AARC being rooted in community and culture! Find more info and RSVP on our CelebrASIA Eventbrite Page.

Morning Glories by Waterloo Greenway
2023-05-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Waterloo Park, 1301 Trinity St, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
AFSSA will be tabling at Morning Glories!
Morning Glories

Location: Meredith Heritage Tree Deck, Waterloo Park
Date: April 11, 2023 — May 16, 2023
Time: Tuesdays | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Weekly early childhood education series that provides hands-on activities and programs to promote literacy, bilingual storytelling, music, dance, cultural learnings and nature play. Each week features a different style of play from our partners at the Texas Book Festival, Armstrong Community Music School, Austin Public Library, and Dance Waterloo.

Auctane AAPI Heritage Month Celebration (Closed)
2023-05-17 14:00 - 15:30
AFSSA staff will join Auctane for an AAPI Heritage Month celebration by providing presentations about AFSSA and our services, sharing client stories and facilitating an activity surrounding consent.

Asian Texans for Justice Mental Health Awareness Event
2023-05-20 10:00 - 13:00 | Asian American Resource Center (AARC), 8401 Cameron Rd, Austin, TX 78754, Austin, 78754
On May 20th, Asian Texans for Justice (ATJ), in partnership with organizations in Central Texas, is excited to present “Have You Eaten Yet?: Intergenerational Communication in Asian Families.” This event will bring together multiple generations of the AAPI community to talk about how to effectively communicate and support one another. Panels, workshops hosted by mental health professionals, and a community resource fair will provide AAPI community members with the education and engagement that does not currently exist.

AFSSA Volunteer Orientation
2023-05-24 16:00 - 17:00, 2023-06-06 09:00 - 10:00, 2023-06-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Interested in becoming an AFSSA Volunteer? Sign up for an orientation here:
Volunteer

Meanwhile x Songbird: Chimaek Collaboration Fundraiser
2023-05-25 - 2023-05-28 | Meanwhile Brewing Company, 3901 Promontory Point, Austin, TX, United States
Meanwhile Brewing Company and foodtruck Songbird are closing out AAPI month with a collaboration. For every Tender Robot IPA and Chimaek Special sold , a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Asian Family Support Services of Austin. The collaboration will last from Thursday, May 25th to Sunday, May 28th. AFSSA will be at the brewery on Saturday May 27th, from 12:00pm – 3:00pm holding an information booth, so that you can stop by and learn more about the organization and the work that we are doing! Stop by, grab a drink and some food knowing that you’re supporting our work!

Round Rock Pride
2023-06-03 15:00 - 20:00 | Centennial Plaza, 301 West Bagdad Avenue, Round Rock, TX, 78664, United States
AFSSA will be tabling at the 2023 Round Rock Pride Festival! There will be 90+ booths, amazing entertainment, and food trucks. This year will also feature an indoor area so that attendees are able to stay cool in the Texas heat! Free for all ages! We hope to see you there.
Taking place on June 3rd from 3:00pm to 8:00pm at the Centennial Plaza – Round Rock.

Queerbomb - Resource Fair
2023-06-03 18:00 - 20:00
Queerbomb is a radically inclusive pride march and rally organized by and for Austin’s queer community in order to celebrate the beauty and diversity of our varied genders and sexualities. Every year on the first Saturday in June, downtown Austin explodes with our pride march – QUEERBOMB. Throughout the rest of the year, we organize fundraising events to celebrate and embrace the manifold ways we contribute to building a beautiful and diverse society!

AFSSA at Taylor Pride
2023-06-24 14:00 - 22:00 | Heritage Square Park, 400 N Main St, Taylor, TX, 76574
Taylor Pride is the hub of the LGBTQ community in Taylor, Texas. What started as Williamson County’s first Pride event has expanded to a broader effort, and Taylor Pride now serves LGBTQ people and allies through resources, advocacy and community-building.
Join us for community celebration and to find out more information on the services we provide at AFSSA!

allgo's Decompress Fest - Community Healing Fair!
2023-07-09 12:00 - 16:00 | The Carver Museum, 1165 Angelina Street, Austin, Texas, 78702
allgo’s 7th Annual Community Healing Fair! is happening Sunday July 9th at The Carver Museum.
This will be your opportunity to connect with community wellness resources in person, shop a specialty marketplace curated by the one and only Frida Friday, and attend some great workshops featuring some of our favorite community healers.
More info coming soon on allgo’s Instagram and website. Hope you can come decompress with us and allgo!

Leander and Cedar Park Pride Present: Queer EmPower
2023-07-15 12:00 - 19:00 | Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church, 3315 El Salido Parkway, Cedar Park, TX, 78613, United States
Cedar Park Pride and Leander Pride are teaming up to host a joint event in July 2023 to raise awareness about issues facing the LGBTQIA+ community, provide a fun, safe space to celebrate, and empower community members and allies with insight and information to help support LGBTQIA+ residents.
This event is free and open to the public, but you must register to receive a wristband for admission. It will feature community speakers, vendors, performers, music, food trucks, and family-friendly activities.
Conference Sessions and Workshops

LGBTQIA2S+: What does it all mean?
Intersectionality: LGBTQIA+ and Race
Looking Back: Dreaming Forward
The Role of Advocacy in Tackling Anti-Trans Legislation in Texas
Courage in the Classroom: Affirming Trans Youth Identity Amidst Sociopolitical Adversity
Authentic vs. Performative Allyship
A Restorative Approach to Managing Political Burnout
Parenting Queer and Trans Kids: The Building Blocks of Support
How to talk to LGBTQIA+ Youth About Sex and Relationships
Growing up LGBTQIA+ in Leander with Nadine Hughes
Drag Queen storytime with Bish Ana Platter
Make up tutorials with a Drag Queen

Entertainment

DJ Kimmy K
Austin Cheer
Groove & Stretch fitness from Bodyworks by Elony
Bounce house
Arts & crafts area
Free chair massages from Lauterstein-Conway Massage School

Food trucks

Downtown Burgers
Heroes Gyros
Texas Kool Kups
Sweet Frida

Community Health Fair
2023-07-22 10:00 - 14:00 | Asian American Resource Center (AARC), 8401 Cameron Rd, Austin, TX 78754, Austin, 78754
Austin Public Health and Collaborators – Austin Asian Community Health Initiative and Asian American Resource Center are back again to offer our communities another round of important and FREE health services, swag, food and more!

The goal is to raise awareness about preventive health care and make available the many services/resources to our Asian/Asian American Pacific Islander communities and other diverse communities that may not ordinarily have access. As you may be aware the pandemic highlighted and exacerbated the many health disparities and barriers that exist in all of our communities especially those of color. The biggest barrier to adequate health care we have witnessed in accessing any service for migrants, immigrants, and refugees is language.

Austin Korean Presbyterian Church Community Yard Sale
2023-08-12 10:00 - 13:00
AFSSA will be tabling at Korean Presbyterian Church community yard sale.

Building Solidarity with Sex Workers (Private event)
2023-08-25 13:30 - 15:00
We are super excited to be hosting our Building Solidarity with Sex Workers Panel over Zoom on Friday, Aug. 25 from 1:30-3:00 PM CST
For the safety and protection of our panelists, this will be an invite-only event for domestic and sexual violence organizations and sex workers + advocates to learn more about how to provide better support and center sex workers’ voices in the anti-violence movement.
Our primary goal for this panel discussion is to collectively explore ways in which we can cultivate care and solidarity within the sex worker community. By collaborating with DV/SA organizations, sex workers, and sex worker activists, we aim to forge meaningful connections and develop strategies to provide effective and empathetic support to this often-marginalized group.
If you are part of an organization that works with sex workers or are a sex worker, advocate or activist, please dm email us with your work email at bpurohit@afssaustin.org to sign up for the panel!
For folks we send an invite to, we kindly request that you RSVP by 8/22/2023 to confirm your attendance. Once we receive your confirmation, we will provide you with further details, including the event link!

UT Austin Interpersonal Violence Peer Support Program Training
2023-09-09 10:00 - 11:00 | UT Austin
Asian Family Support Services of Austin will be providing insight on AFSSA’s services and how to support Asian and immigrant survivors.

VACAT Mid-Autumn Festival/ TET TRUNG THU
2023-09-24 15:00 - 19:00 | The Holy Family Catholic School, 9400 Neenah Ave, Austin, TX, 78717, United States
Join us for a mesmerizing journey into the heart of Vietnamese culture at VACAT’s Mid-Autumn Festival!
Immerse yourself in a celebration filled with vibrant lanterns, delectable Vietnamese cuisine, captivating entertainment, and a showcase of exquisite Vietnamese fashion and products from local, Vietnamese-owned businesses.

Celebrating Masculinity Workshop
2023-09-27 19:00 - 20:30
Rigid ideas of masculinity have perpetuated harm and violence against both men, women and nonbinary folks. Research has shown that men and boys who adhere to rigid ideas of masculinity are more likely to report having used violence against a partner. By engaging in conversations about healthy masculinity, we are bringing men in as a needed and active part of breaking cycles of violence as well as addressing stigma and other damaging stereotypes that prevent men from seeking help and experiencing intimate connections with others.
Masculinity is a part of everyone’s lives, not just men so we’ll reflect together on what masculinity means to us, what healthy and unhealthy masculinity looks like and how masculinity is tied to help seeking behaviors and the anti-violence movement. The workshop is open to all folks but we’ll dive into the history of masculinity in the AAPI community,
We’ll have pizza and boba so calling all UT Austin students to come and engage in the conversation!
