Twin Cities, MN, January 18, 2005 – Despite media images of countries in the Indian Ocean as far-off destinations for Western tourists and supermodels, many Twin Cities residents call the areas struck by the recent tsunami home, and many more have family living there. According to the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, more than 3,000 Americans of Indonesian and Thai descent and more than 15,000 Americans of South Asian descent live in Minnesota. The largest Somali community outside Africa also resides right here in Minnesota.

The devastation of the tsunami has brought these different Twin Cities’ communities together to help the victims of this disaster. Individuals and representatives from local community organizations have established PATH, which stands for Pan-Asian Tsunami Healing. The consortium will act as a clearinghouse of information relating to relief efforts, fundraising efforts, and follow-up. Its website, currently , will disseminate information about local, national, and international campaigns in addition to news related to immediate relief as well as long-term rehabilitation.

“As a Pan-Asian disaster, it deserves a Pan-Asian response,” said PATH member Vidhya Shanker, referring to the tsunami. “Instead of competing for attention and funds, or even inadvertently scheduling events that conflict with each other, I’d rather have us working together and coordinating efforts.”

The Art of Survival
An additional goal of PATH is to promote, coordinate, and otherwise assist with cultural events designed to raise funds, including those organized by those outside the consortium. For example, Patrick’s Cabaret founder Patrick Scully has organized What the World Needs: Tsunami Arts Benefit, a preview show to take place on January 22 at the Varsity Cabaret. Proceeds will be distributed to nonprofit organizations recommended by PATH. Similarly, Theater Mu has designated the preview of its musical adaptation of The Walleye Kid as a PATH fundraiser. The preview will take place on March 8 at Mixed Blood Theater near the University of Minnesota’s West Bank Campus.

The arts component was especially important to PATH convener and Organizing Chair Sishir Chang: “It’s important to me to highlight the art and culture of these areas that have been struck, so whenever people hear ‘Aceh,’ they won’t just think, ‘that’s the place that was razed by the tsunami.’ They’ll know that it had a thriving culture before media coverage of the tsunami ever brought it to their attention.”

Link to our Past, Bridge to our Future
PATH’s long-term goal is to sustain awareness and assistance through an annual commemorative event that will raise funds for on-going rehabilitation and research related to the long-term effects of the tsunami. Many members expressed concern that while the horrific images have created a generous outpouring of donations in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, the public will shift attention to other issues, and forget that rehabilitation will take years. PATH can play a vital role in ensuring that the public does not forget over the near future.

As part of this effort, PATH Fundraising Chair, Penny Snipper is currently working to raise matching funds from local foundations to support all local fundraising efforts. “Through PATH, we hope to build stronger and more unified Asian/ Asian American community here in Minnesota, with the help of our philanthropic community in Minnesota,” said Penny Snipper.

Current PATH member organizations include Asian Americans/ Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, Association for India’s Development, Chinese American Association of Minnesota (CAAM), CAAM Chinese Dance Theater, Indian Association of Minnesota, Katha Dance Theatre, MAPHILINDOS (Malaysian, Filipino, Indonesian, Singaporean Society), Pan-Asian American Voices for Equality,Tzu Chi Foundation, and Vibha.

Those interested in publicizing their events on our website or joining this Pan-Asian effort are encouraged to contact Sishir Chang at 612-239-5773 or sishir@msn.com. Joining the PATH consortium involves no financial or other obligations and individuals need not represent any particular organization or community.

ABOUT PATH
PATH is a non-sectarian, non-political, and non-segregational collaboration united to promote, advocate for, and coordinate continuing tsunami victim needs.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Pan-Asian Tsunami Healing (PATH)
Sishir Chang, Organizing Chair: 612-239-5773; sishir@msn.com
Choy Leow, Events Chair: 612-673-0407; choy.leow@allina.com
Penny Snipper, Fundraising Chair: 612-863-2922; psnipper@mn.rr.com
651-917-7727 (F)
http://www.c3homedesign.com/path.htm