2022 Year in Review: Highlights of Cold Tea Collective

2022 was an exciting year at Cold Tea Collective. Other than launching its first ever docu-series, “Making It” and the First Funders Campaign, Cold Tea Collective also hosted its first in-person screening event since the pandemic. The team continues to lead important conversations about representation, identity, diversity, and mental health that deepen our relationships with ourselves, our family, and the wider Asian North American community.

This year, I also gave birth to my second daughter. As a parent of two young girls, I often wonder how they will come to discover their cultural identities and feel empowered as Asian Canadians. Seeing ourselves on screen, media, and books, and uncovering inspiring stories of changemakers all play a role in self-development and community building.

Here are some of the highlights and my favorite articles from 2022.

MAKING IT, While Making a Difference

“MAKING IT, While Making a Difference” is a docu-series about young Asian Canadians following their dreams while uplifting their communities and celebrating their Asian heritage. Created by Natasha Jung, Founder and Executive Producer of Cold Tea Collective, the series discusses how they overcame personal struggles to become a positive force for others.

• Chef Patrick Do is changing what it means to be a Vietnamese restaurant in Vancouver. Learn about his journey through food and identity as a young Vietnamese Canadian chef, and the visionary behind Do Chay Restaurant.
• Saschie MacLean-Magbanua is moving through grief with dance and community. Learn how vulnerability has helped this mixed-race Filipina Canadian find joy again after losing loved ones.
• Curtis Lum is fighting against anti-Asian racism from within and around him. See how his work in film and fashion are helping him fight for better representation and a better future.
• The full feature documentary also features a podcast with Harpo Mander, creator of Brown Girl Guilt Podcast & General Manager of 5X Festival, celebrating South Asian youth culture.

Films about family dynamics

It was another big year for Asian North American films, showcasing authentic and thoughtful stories about family dynamics. Winning big at the Gotham Awards and an Oscar favorite, Everything Everywhere All at Once focuses on the chaotic relationship between an immigrant mother and daughter. Cold Tea Collective spoke with Stephanie Hsu, who was named Breakout Movie Star of 2022.

Cold Tea Collective also interviewed director Domee Shi of Turning Red, a Pixar animated film about coming of age, and dealing with messy family dynamics and inter-generational differences.

In addition to mainstream blockbusters, independent, cultural specific films are just as important. Brothers Dante and Darion Basco co-wrote The Fabulous Filipino Brothers based on their experience as second-generation Filipinos from a blue-collar family who don’t fluently speak their native tongue.

Embracing diverse traditions

Traditions connect us to our families and cultural roots. They are also expressions of our past and what we would like to bring forward to the future. Even though some of the holidays and occasions are similar, they are celebrated in unique ways, which are representative of the rich diversity within the Asian community.

In a six-part series, Cold Tea Collective writers share wedding traditions from various cultures, including Vietnamese, Chinese, Hawaiian, Korean, Indian and Filipino.

In the article, “What Lunar New Year Looks Like Around the World,” we explore what ringing in the new year looks like in Vietnam, China, and Korea. 

Cold Tea Collective’s book list

Like films, diverse representation in books are significant too. From memoirs and fiction to children’s books and poetry, they provide a glimpse into multifaceted experiences while cultivating empathy and understanding. 

Expanding on previous book lists, Cold Tea Collective curated lists based on specific genres and caters to readers of all ages: Best books about food by Asian authors, 6 queer books we love, 8 new books by AAPI authors to gift, and 7 books about identity, race by Asian authors for children. 

Facilitating mental health conversations

Mental health is a difficult topic, but Cold Tea Collective does not shy away from challenging conversations. Instead, we are committed to sharing experiences and resources to facilitate important conversations with our family and loved ones.

In “Dear Kiki: How do I stop feeling guilty about going to therapy,” the column touches on suggestions on communicating with family members, finding a safe space, and dealing with cultural stigma.

For singer-songwriter, TONIE, writing songs about mental health is their way of starting the conversation. 

Breaking the bias for Asian American women

The theme for International Women’s Day was “Breaking the Bias.” We joined the conversation by celebrating AAPI women who have turned these traditional stereotypes on their heads.

The two-part series on “10 Filipinas who made history that you should know about” and “8 Asian changemakers fighting for environmental and climate justice” highlight passionate and innovative individuals shaping the political and social landscape.

We also examined the rise of Asian American women in politics and the need for more young AAPI women to step into leadership roles. 

“As AAPI women, own your power and your full self and your intersectional identities,” AAWPI’s executive director Diana Hwang said. “There’s no substitute to learning by doing. Say yes, use your voice, and lean on your mentors. Representation matters at all levels.”

Building on the work by those before us, Cold Tea Collective and other platforms are paving the path for the next generation to uplift their voices. These stories send a strong message that their voices and stories matter – and they matter. I hope that they will play a part in my daughters’ journeys too, as much as they have played a role in mine.