CDBF Newsletter: April, 2011

News from the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival
April 2011

Dear CDBF Community-

Much has happened in March.

Many people within our CDBF community have family and friends who were deeply impacted by the terrible devastation in Japan from the Tohoku Kanto Earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Our hearts and thoughts go out to them as they continue to recover... and, recovery will take some time.

It seems out of context to talk about fun and festivities at a time like this. As it turns out, this year we had already been plannig to feature Japan and the Japanese American experience as one of our spotlight communities in Gateway to Asia. Festival-goers will be treated to a fashion show and traditional performances, try Japanese writing, experience tofu-making, and learn about the World War II era Japanese American concentration camp right here in Granada, Colorado.

Now, we hope that Gateway to Asia will be a tribute to Japan's recovery and the resiliency of its people. Gambare, Japan! Persevere despite the circumstances!

Our 4th annual Community Image Contest is still taking entries. Not only will the winning image be featured at the festival, but there are cash prizes! If you know a budding artist, be sure to urge them to enter the contest soon...more details below.

We're accepting vendor applications for the Marketplace and Taste of Asia food court as well as performer applications for the main Performing Arts stage, Gateway to Asia and Cultural Unity Hip Hop stage! Read below for more information or go to the CDBF homepage at: www.cdbf.org. Hurry, deadline is April 15th!

If you're planning on paddling in the dragon boat races this year, you're about to miss the boat! We're already about 90% full and three divisions are closed...hurry and register!

Until next month, gambare everyone!

Erin Yoshimura
Executive Director

A new site for sore eyes!

The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is proud to unveil our new website! We've made it easier to keep up with the latest news about the festival, find the information you need, added a lot more photos and features, and generally spruced up the online experience.

We've also made it easier for you to sign up a Race Team, apply as a Performer or Vendor, sign up as a Non-Prtofit Partner (see more below) or submit your artwork for our Community Design Competition.

Come back and visit the site regularly for festival updates and cool new features!

Reminder: Calling all artists and designers!

If you're an artist or graphic designer, or know someone who is, don't forget that CDBF is now accepting submissions for the Fourth Annual Community Design Competition.

We want creative designs that capture the excitement and cultural richness of the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival for 2011.

We're accepting submissions until May 1, so start brainstorming ideas! The winning design could be used in promotional material like t-shirts and other merchandise, or a poster. The image shown here is a detail from last year's beautiful illustration by Evergreen artist Laurie Romberg, which the judges chose as the winner.

If you have a creative eye (and the dragon's spirit), read more and submit your design online!

Hurry: Race Teams are filling up!

If your company is thinking about forming a Dragon Boat Race team for this summer, let them know time is running out. Team registration ends on May 1, but several Divisions are already filled.

There's one slot left for a Recreational Hong Kong style team and three for Competitive Hong Kong style teams. There are also five openings for Youth Teams, so round up the young people in your organization and get them involved in this fun and engaging team-building effort!

Learn more about dragon boat racing and register your team soon!

Raise money for your non-profit while supporting CDBF

CDBF's Non-Profit Partners program is a great way to support the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival and raise money for your non-profit organization, and have a lot of fun while you're at it.

Here's how the program works: Your organization is assigned to run Pepsi concession stands, the Beer Garden, Snow Cone booth or Festival Merchandise booth, and your group keeps a portion of the proceeds.

It's a win-win partnership that allows your members to bond over a summer weekend and benefit the group at the same time!

You can apply as a 2011 Non-Profit Partner online.

We're still looking for 2011 Performers

It's not too late to apply as a performer for one of our stages, whether it's the Main Performing Arts Stage, the more intimate Gateway to Asia Stage and demonstration tent, the popular Cultural Unity Hip-Hop Stage or the new Dragonland Children's Stage, or the new Zen / Martial Arts Stage.

As always, we're looking for both traditional performances as well as more contemporary, Asian American acts. After all, we're not just about geishas and kimonos, fan dances and tea ceremonies. We can rock and roll, play the blues and folk music, and of course, dance hip-hop.

Read about all of CDBF's Performing Arts stages and see where your talents fit!

Support Japan relief with the Power of Solidarity

It's clear that because of the earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear situation casued by the disaster, Japan will need relief aid for many months to come.

Denverites have pulled together to support relief efforts ever since the quake.

One of the biggest fundraisers yet, "The Power of Solidarity," is coming up at 5 pm Saturday, April 16 at Lincoln High School, 2285 S. Federal Blvd. at Evans.

Organized by the Asian Pacific Development Center, this is a truly multicultural, pan-Asian event, with Channel 7 anchor Anne Trujillo as emcee, honorary co-chair Gov. John Hickenlooper and honorary co-hosts Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. Mark Udall and Rep. Diana DeGette, and honorary guest and speaker Denver Mayor Guillermo Vidal.

The diverse all-star lineup includes the Japanese taiko groups Mirai Daiko (shown here at last year's CDBF); singer-songwriter and CDBF favorite Wendy Woo; singer, songwriter and guitar wizard Jack Hadley; Christina Yeh Dance Studio; Korean youth drumming group Dudrim; Indian dance from Mudra Dance Studio (another CDBF favorite); Indonesian ensemble Catur Eka Santi, classical guitarist Masakazu Ito and the United States Vietnamese American Veterans Alliance.

See, we told you the lineup is multicultural! Admission will be free, but donations will be accepted at the concert, and sales of merchandise and silent auction items will go to three different charity organizations.

Admission will be free, and all proceeds including donations and money raised from sales of merchandise and a silent auction, wil go to three different relief organization portals, to make sure the funds are targeted and will reach victims as quickly as possible.

For more information about this special fundraising event, contact Jinny Kim at APDC, jinnykim@apdc.org, 303-365-2959.

Upcoming Asian Community Events

calendar 2 For the most complete calendar of events happening in Colorado's APA community visit asiaxpress.com.

Do you have an upcoming event that you want to share with the local APA community? If you would like your event listed in the next CDBF monthly newsletter, please email a brief description to media@cdbf.org.

UNPLUGGED: Asian American Acoustics

When: Sat. April 9, 8pm

Where: V2 Bar and restaurant, 333 Federal Blvd.

Cost: $15 online, $20 door

Showcase of Asian American musical talent including local artists Phong Nguyen & Cassandra Chanthavong, Kenny Lee Young of Pearls 4 Breakfast and Corey Teruya of Hello Kavita, plus YouTube superstar David Choi. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=135015139900090

Aurora Asian/Pacific Community Partnersip Annual Meeting

When: Tues. April 12, 5:30-8pm

Where: Thai Garden Asian Fusion, 16911 E. Quincy Ave. #7

Cost: Free but reservations are REQUIRED BY APRIL 7

Event includes Annual Report of Partnership, introduction of 2011 Steering Committee and guest speakers Ved Nanda and Haider Khan, "Role of Social Media and Youth in Bringing Revolutionary Changes." For more information and to RSVP: 303-326-8695, www.auroraasian.org

Nepal Day in Boulder

When: Sat. April 16, 2 pm Parade followed by 6:30 event in Louisville

Where: Parade starts at Boulder Public Library; Cultural Celebration at Monarch High School in Lousiville

Cost: Free for parade, $10 for Cultural Celebration

Nepal Day celebrations in Boulder will include a parade on the Pearl Street Mall followed by a cultural event at Monarch High School in Lousville from 6.30-10pm, with food from Bombay Palace Restaurant served before the cultural program. More information from the Rocky Mountain Friends of Nepal at http://www.rmfn.org/

The Sabaki Challenge, World Open Full-Contact Karate Championships

When: Sat. April 16, 5:30 pm

Where: Denver Merchandise Mart, I-25 & 58th Ave.

Cost: $25 and $50 (buy four and get fith free)
Full-contact karate-no pads, no gloves. Open to all styles with top fighters from Japan, U.S., Poland, Russia, and Germany. Single-elimination in three men's weight divisions and an open women's division. Developed by 1978 All-Japan Karate Champion and Grandmaster of Enshin Karate-Kancho Joko Ninomiya. The Sabaki Challenge is a Denver-based event that has grown into one of the most highly acclaimed international karate tournaments in the U.S. Now in its 32nd year. 303-320-7632, www.sabaki.com

Asian Chamber of Commerce April Business After-Hours

When: Wed. April 20, 6-8pm

Where: Golden Shanghai Asian Restaurant, 1421 S. Parker Rd.

Cost: $15 for Asian Chamber members and their guests; RSVP by April 18

Event includes light dinner and "roundtable" exercise with engaging conversational topics. For more information or to RSVP, 303-595-9737,

asiancc@rmi.net

Tomodachi: A Concert To Save the Children of Japan

When: Sat. April 23, 2:30-5pm

Where: Front Range Community College Cafeteria, 3645 W. 112th Ave., Westminster

Cost: Donations to go to Save the Children's Fund for Japan

This event features performances by students of the Japanese Academy of the Rockies, King Beat rock band and Star Edwards on harp and koto. For more information visit www.japaneseacademyoftherockies.org

Japan Earthquake Relief Cultural Fundraiser

When: Sat. April 30, 10 am-3 pm

Where: Pikes Peak Community College Atrium, 5675 S. Academy Blvd., ColoradoSprings (I-25 Exit 135)

Cost: Free, donations accepted
The students of Pikes Peak Community College and University of Colorado at ColoradoSprings host a Japanese Culture Arigato (Thank You) fundraiser with proceeds going to Japan America Society of Southern Colorado. There will be food, fashion show, calligraphy, origami, and other cultural demonstrations, anime showings, karaoke singing, shakuhachi flute performance and martial arts demonstrations.http://www.japanamerica.org/ for more information.

About the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival