Introducing Maum’s New Social Media Associate: Callie Wen

Hi there! I’m Callie (she/her/hers), and I’ll be working on social media for Maum! I’m a second-generation Chinese American and a rising senior at the University of Maryland.

Growing up, I didn’t realize how important my Asian American identity is to me until I took one of Dr. Park’s classes during my freshman year. As my first introduction to Asian American studies, this class (through Dr. Park’s insightful guidance) truly transformed my worldview and my perception of myself. Diving into this field of study helped me ground my own lived experiences in the context of larger histories and structures. I know I’m beyond lucky to have the opportunity to take Asian American Studies classes at my university (though I wish I had access to this curriculum even earlier in my education!) My own journey has planted the belief that all Asian Americans deserve access to knowledge about their community and history. I’m excited to see Maum bridge that gap and bring a deeper understanding of anti-racism, Asian American liberation, and transformative change to the broader APIDA community.

A little bit more about me! I’ve got my sights set on law school, and I’m currently studying for the LSAT. I’ve come to realize that while the legal system has powerful potential for change, it is often inaccessible to marginalized populations– through language barriers, financial burdens, and even policies that make finding legal representation difficult. I hope to provide culturally competent legal services to Asian American families, or to pursue impact litigation to create a more just future for my community and other BIPOC communities.

On campus, I’m involved in the Taiwanese American Student Association, where I do a lot of event-planning and community-building, and the Asian American Student Union, where I engage in student organizing and facilitate community education workshops. I also intern at my school’s Office of Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy (MICA), as well as at the Domestic Violence Resource Project (DVRP), a D.C. non-profit that serves Asian American survivors of domestic abuse and gender-based violence.

In my personal life, I’ve been really into weightlifting for the past year. It’s taught me about creating balance in my life, and helped me develop quite a bit of confidence– being the only woman in a weight room full of grunting men was pretty intimidating at first! I enjoy reading too, though I haven’t had much time for that recently. My reading list as of late consists of Severance by Ling Ma, The Lowlands by Jhumpa Lahiri, and Human Acts by Han Kang. I also love longboarding around my neighborhood, taking myself on study dates to cute coffee shops and bookstores, going to concerts, and exploring new cities!

Excited to stretch my creative muscles with Maum’s social media and help it flourish!

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On My Mom, Fermenting Community, and (Un)settling Asian American History