This summer, I had fun sharing my children’s book, My Ông Ngoại’s Garden, at the Asian Garden Mall Night Market. Connecting face-to-face with readers, educators, and families was incredibly inspiring, especially when I saw their enthusiasm for bringing diverse stories into classrooms and home libraries.
Authentic community building begins with listening carefully, showing up consistently, and meeting people where they are. Here are three moments from my summer author pop-up that reminded me why this work matters:
1. Creating a Sense of Belonging
I was deeply moved when I met a young couple, including a biracial woman who grew up in a Black community in Georgia, who were thrilled to secure a copy of My Ong Ngoai's Garden for their future child. She was excited to see Vietnamese representation in children's literature.
2. Celebrating Culture Together
On my final appearance at the night market, my book received an impromptu blessing from a group of lion dancers! Watching the community gather and celebrate together was unforgettable.
It also reminded me of my upcoming book, 'Cal and Dan’s Guide to Vietnam,' which celebrates the sensory sights and sounds of Vietnam and features a special page dedicated to lion dancers.
3. Expanding My Community
Stepping outside my usual bubble allowed me to forge wonderful new friendships, including connecting with an incredible ethnic studies advocate who is a higher ed professional, and a comedian. Talk about a multi-faceted creative!
Community engagement is about building trust, finding common ground, and creating meaningful connections. Whether we are gathering around cultural stories or supporting grassroots efforts, it all begins with showing up for one another.
If you haven’t experienced the Asian Garden Mall Night Market, I highly recommend adding it to your list for next summer. As for me, I’m busy putting the finishing touches on Cal and Dan’s Guide to Vietnam: Sights, Sounds, and Signs, which will launch this fall. I can’t wait to share this new adventure with you!
