The Asian Highway presents Storytellers in Action

Averie Bishop, 25, is the first Asian American to wear the Miss Texas America crown. She plans to use her new platform to promote diversity and inclusion. Mayra Flores, at around the same time, won a congressional seat to represent Texas's Rio Grande Valley. Ms. Flores, a 36-year-old Mexican-born American, is the first Republican Latina to represent Texas in Congress. Both are taking center stage at a time when Texas is experiencing dramatic demographic shifts. Which woman will be the new face of Texas - and, perhaps, of America? Will Ms. Bishop's quest to promote diversity and inclusion win the day? Or will Ms. Flores represent an influx of minority voters who head to the voting booths and vote Republican?Texas Demographic Shifts: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/08/12/texas-2020-census/Averie Bishop wins Miss Texas AmericaL https://www.insider.com/miss-texas-first-asian-american-winner-pageant-averie-bishop-2022-7Mayra Flores Goes to Washington: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/06/us/politics/mayra-flores-latina-republicans.html

NYC introduces an Asian American Studies pilot program for K-12 schools: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/nyc-teach-asian-american-pacific-islander-history-1800-schools-rcna31247

P-mo and his co-host from the Erased podcast, Dana Miller, have a conversation with Henry, an Afghan interpreter who was given U.S. Citizenship status for his services rendered to the American military during stretches of the 20-year Afghan War. Henry (a pseudonym) was able to leave the country for the United States, but his wife and children were left behind. The wife and children were able to get to the main airport in Kabul before the completion of the U.S. withdrawal and endured 6 days without food as they awaited escape. But they were turned away. Staying in Afghanistan under Taliban rule seemed inevitable. Then, someone in Austin, Texas stepped up and helped the family escape. Their story is told on this episode.

The Anti-Asian American Hate Bill finally became law when Pres. Joe Biden signed the bipartisan legislation on May 18. Also, Alabama reverses a nearly 30-year ban on teaching yoga in public schools, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has its first fan inductee, and an Indoor Football League franchise hires an Asian American woman to run the organization.

Here are some resources to report hate crimes or to educate communities on the Asian American story:https://www1.nyc.gov/site/cchr/community/stop-asian-hate.pagehttps://stopaapihate.org

P-Mo is now the solo host of Storytellers in ActionWe'll have 10 episodes, focused on topics, such as the NBA in India, the Punjab Farmer Protests, hate crimes against Asian Americans and the NRI EconomyAll episodes will be produced in Austin, Texas.

Colin is from Toronto, Canada but also spends time in Los AngelesHe has also lived in KuwaitColin's website is www.colinaguiar.comSome of Colin's projects include:FlyermanA Christmas TailDipsticks2 Men & a Pig

Jinee Lokaneeta just released her latest book, The Truth Machines. The book discusses policing, violence and scientific interrogations in IndiaSangay Mishra is the author of Desis Divided: The Political Lives of South Asian Americans.

This is the final episode of Season 5Two more bonus episodes are on tap; one on 11/14 and another on 11/21Kamala Harris is the first-ever woman Vice President of the United StatesShe is also the first woman of color to serve in the same roleCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom is now tasked with appointing Harris's successor to the U.S. Senate for CaliforniaThis was Joe Biden's third-ever run for PresidentBiden first ran for POTUS in 1988He ran again in 2008 but dropped out earlyBiden was later selected as Barack Obama's running mate

Tanny Jiraprapasuke and Jerry Raburn are the co-chairs of Thai Americans for BidenThis election is the first time a major presidential candidate recognized and included Thai Americans as a part of the campaignLos Angeles has the largest Thai American population in the countryHere is the link to the Thai Americans for Biden Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1678097495699890

Kavi is starRing in a live stream reading of 'HATEF**K,' which was an off-Broadway show in 2019. Kavi stars alongside Sendhil Ramamurthy.Tickets for the live stream is available at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hatefk-reunion-reading-tickets-122413763863?aff=ebdssbeacThe ticket allows you to watch the reading until Wednesday, Oct. 28.Kavi has starred in shows and films such as Karma Calling, Heroes, Criminal Minds and CSI: Miami.Kavi was born in Kerala, India.

Laj P. Waghray creates her work through Red Crane Films, which can be found online at www.RedCraneFilms.org.Laj originally moved to the United States from India, when her husband earned a professional opportunity in The Bronx. They have since relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Laj's films include "On Hands!" and "Sleepovers."She shares her content on Instagram; search for "Red Crane Films."

Want to find Anisha on social media and the Interwebs? Here is how you spell her name: Anisha Adusumilli.Anisha is from Toledo, Ohio and moved to Los Angeles when she was 18. She moved to LA to attend UCLA.Anisha is trained in the piano.Some of the shoes Anisha appeared in, either as a guest or in a leading role: BIFL, Lucifer, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS: Los Angeles.

Saurabh Kikani starred in a one-man show, Baccalaureate, in early 2020. The show is about Saurabh's brief time at Oxford, figuring out love and life.He also produced the independent film, Miss India America, which starred Hannah Simone and Tia Sircar. The film was directed by Ravi Kapoor.

David Paul Francis is a television writer whose credits include Hemlock Grove, Krypton and American Gods. He also starred in The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo and episodes of Becker, Outsourced and Crossing Jordan.

The Grand Jury Indictment for the officers involved in the Breonna Taylor proved the system is broken. This is time, accordingly, to take the words "A More Perfect Union" seriously and take the necessary action to fix the broken system. Storytellers in Action host P-Mo gives a monologue about the need for change - and for all of us to come together.

What does Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death mean for the 2020 Election?What does white privilege look like?What does defund the police look like?What is it like being a Person of Color in Hollywood?We also share anecdotes about racism and dealing with the police.

Could we have avoided the Covid-19 pandemic if both parties stopped bickering? Should the Democrats focus less on removing Trump and more on how the party’s policies can help the American people? How has the pandemic forced artists to be more creative with content creation? What’s at stake for artists on Nov. 3? Are we better off without social media? Are people hurt inside and being ignored by politiicians? These are just some of the issues we talk about on the latest Storytellers in Action episode. P-Mo, Farial and Debesh chat with actor-singer Rohini Chandra about the pandemic, Democrats vs. Republicans, and storytelling.

P-Mo and Pin Chen begin their conversation about music and education. The brain thrives when it is fed music - it's scientifically proven. The conversation then morphs into the overall value of the arts, what's at stake in the 2020 election, and an interesting discussion on presidential politics and foreign policy. The episode ends with a touch of Hollywood. Politics, education, music, the arts, foreign policy and acting ... how did we get so much covered in a little more than one hour of talking???

P-Mo and Debesh deep-dive with documentarian Sarita Khurana, who joined the Storytellers in Action team from Brooklyn. It was a non-linear conversation about telling South Asian stories, the life of senior citizens during Covid, challenging the elite power structures of Hollywood and U.S. experiencing its Third Reconstruction in the Era of Trump.