We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alex Chester-Iwata a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alex, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Three years ago, Mixed Asian Media (my organization) hosted the first-ever Mixed Asian Day, celebrating what it means to be of mixed Asian Pacific Heritage.

I started this day because it was a day to celebrate being mixed Asian. We are often overlooked during Asian Pacific American Native Hawaiian Heritage Month (APANH). I have frequently heard from our community that folks do not feel they would be welcome at events and celebrations. So we started our own day.

Alex, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Growing up in the entertainment industry as a child actor, I was constantly told I wasn’t Asian or white enough. This narrative followed me into adulthood, which led to the creation of Mixed Asian Media, a website and community for and by mixed Asians. We do everything from celebrity interviews to op-ed pieces about the mixed experience, and now we host Mixed Asian Day each year.

I created this space because I was so tired of not seeing anyone who looked like me in mainstream media. I wanted other mixed Asian kids to know they aren’t alone, that their voices and stories matter, and that there is an audience out there who wants to read all about it.

We are one of the fastest-growing demographics, yet nothing is geared toward us. With MAM, I hope I have started to change that.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is for Mixed Asian Day to be recognized as a national holiday, though I doubt this will happen with the current administration. I would love to be able to host Mixed Asian Day in various cities all over the states, but right now, due to budget, we are limited to one place each year.

I hope that by creating this day, other mixed kids won’t feel so alone and can embrace all facets of their unique heritages without going through the emotional rollercoaster of not feeling enough.

Save the date, Mixed Asian Day will be in San Francisco this year at KOHO Creative Hub on September 13th.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

As a mixed Asian woman, I had to unlearn a lot. I had to learn to take up space, ask for what I wanted, and have the power to say no. I had to learn that it’s okay to stand up for yourself. I had to learn what it meant to be my authentic self.

As an actor, I was taught not to “rock the boat, don’t ask too many questions, and don’t say no.” This may not be true for all actors, but it most certainly is for petite women of color. I constantly tried to fit into a box that casting wanted to shove me into, and I hated it.

Finding my voice and confidence took years of practice and therapy. I wear them as my armor when I go to meetings or events. I try to always be myself and embrace all sides of myself. It’s hard work, but it has been so worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.MixedAsianMedia.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/AlexFChester www.instagram.com/MixedAsianMedia
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mixedasianmedia.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexfchester/

Image Credits

Lauren Winn, Yuko Kudo, Joshua Ortiz