A little about us. . .
The hosts Kam & 46 x SAMASAMA
Vanessa and Elaine are Kam & 46, Fil-Ams from Hawaii and California who were raised in an immigrant household. Kam & 46 is an ode to the homes they grew up in, where they learned their culture. Being away from home, they always appreciate and carry their values, customs, and traditions, and sharing the food they grew up with embodies this spirit and is an extension of sharing a piece of them and their home.
Les and Seda are co-curators of SAMASAMA. SAMASAMA (Tagalog for "all together") began with the humble mission of celebrating diversity through art and gathering. Founded in Washington, DC in 2016 as a collective art show and benefit celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, SAMASAMA has evolved to curate year-round programs, events, and partnerships to highlight diasporic narratives and facilitate nuanced dialogue. The mission of SAMASAMA remains honoring ancestral and indigenous roots while pushing creative boundaries to grow our understanding of current and future generations' multicultural identities.
PARTICIPANTS
The Space by Common Good City Farms
Common Good City Farms is a place where community members can source fresh food, see sustainable urban agriculture in action, and gain exposure to concepts and skills to lead healthy lives. They actively engage with all members of their diverse community and create opportunities for connections on their farm, while emphasizing intensive vegetable production and modeling best practices in sustainable urban agriculture. Their mission is to sustain and support a more equitable community through growing, learning, cooking, and sharing fresh food together.
Beverage and Cocktails by Little Hat Coffee
Little Hat Coffee is a D.C. based popup founded by Hwan Choi and Frankie Contreras. LHC was born from our love for coffee and the service industry. LHC’s aim is to provide quality coffee and beverages that highlight our Latin and Asian heritage. LHC works closely with A Toda Madre Roasters based in North Potomac who sources various single origin coffee beans from Central and South America. By working directly with smaller farms we are able to help farmers receive better wages and continue to improve their business and quality of living. LHC is currently located at Bryant Street Market in front of bar Alegria.
Appetizers by Sustain Table Food Co.
Sustain Table Food Co was founded in Washington D.C. by Maylan Nguyen to empower herself and others to become a positive impact on our local food system. By sourcing ingredients from local farmers and producers, she has found various mediums to showcase how to prepare nutritious, whole food plant-based options that can appease omnivores. From experimenting with making Asian-inspired backpacking meals to piloting a zero-waste meal service for her neighborhood, and most recently working with Little Hat Coffee to offer a plant-based bánh mì, Maylan hopes to use this project to help consumers envision a flavorful future with less reliance on excess salt and processed sugars and oils. Sustain Table Food Co also works to support community gardening and food projects to foster sustainability and equity in the DMV area.
Live Performance by Drew Kid
Drew Kid, sometimes known as French Toast Jefferson, is a dedicated musician, multidisciplinary artist, and for context, a Silver Spring, MD native of Filipino-American origin. DK’s current work takes on the form of his band: KLOUT SITTY BURD GYANG, an artistic community movement centered on ascension, which focuses the spectrum of expression to promote universal healing. He has amassed an extensive discography of collaborations among artists DMV-based, nationwide, and recently released his self-declared greatest work: THE LOOP EVOLVES, a 22-track double album chronicling his recovery from trauma and depression.
Event Soundtrack by Les The DJ
Les The DJ a.k.a. Les Talusan is a DJ, whose musical practice immerses people in the joy of community-powered discovery. Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, and now based in Washington, DC for over 20 years, Les continues to find inspiration behind the decks in the U.S. and abroad. Fueled by their own story of resilience, liberation, and courage as an immigrant, parent and survivor, Les brings to the center the songs long cherished, remembered, and celebrated by people of the global diaspora.
