| |
Luck Kosoladolkitt is from Thailand. She came to Pittsburgh
University as a graduate student over 30 years ago. After the school,
she thought as an Asian she should share her culture with the American
and show Pittsburgh community her contributions. That's how she has
gotten into some Asian activities ever since. By doing that, she has
gotten to know more other Asian groups in Pittsburgh as well. She has
learned about Asian American Heritage group that consists of members
from 11 Asian countries. This group provides Outstanding Student Award
every year in May. After the ceremony, Asian American Heritage group
has also had exhibits and performances in Heinz History Center for the
past 20 years. Through this group activity, Luck came to known one of
the leaders of Asian Women Institute that has been established for
over 26 years in Pittsburgh. Currently, Luck is the President of AWI.
Luck is also the President of the Thai Association.
However, Luck thinks that Asian philosophy is inclusion not isolation.
Therefore, Luck has involving with activities with people from Asia.
Luck has been helping Organization of Chinese American for five years.
Luck is also helping to build a Thai Room in the Cathedral of Learning
at Pittsburgh University. Luck does fun raising for American students
to go to China, Thailand or Taiwan to study etc.
Luck thinks in order to let American and Asian to learn from each
other's culture has to start from a very early age. Luck thinks the
best time to educate the youngsters is during their high school years.
That's why she is also helping Upper St. Clair High School to
establish a cultural exchanging program between Thailand and the
United States. This year she is bringing 40 students and teachers from
Thailand to come, visit and teach from April 19 to May 21. They will
be here in Pittsburgh for five weeks and they'll visit six
universities around Pittsburgh to prepare their future studies.
At the Phipp Conservatory, they are creating a Thai Rainforest. Luck
has invited Thai architect to work with American architect on the
project to create a Thai Rainforest but not just typical rainforest of
other countries. Luck also coordinate two persons of the Phipp
Conservatory to go and visit Thailand to see the rainforest them
selves. Luck said this project is not only has plants and the flowers.
Phipp Conservatory is also creating a new sanctuary for two years for
Thai culture, lecture and performances. In May 12, there will be a
"Thai Night" event taken place at Upper St. Clair High School for a
fund raising to help teachers and students from the United States to
be able to go and visit Thailand too.
The Thai Room project in the Cathedral of Learning is also taken shape
by Luck's help. Luck said she's involving in fund raising at the last
December. A Thai architect had came from Thailand to design the Thai
Room. It'll cost around $400,000 to finish the project according to
the architect. It will be just like the way Japanese Room was done.
The Thai Room is also going to be built in Thailand and reassemble
here in the United States. Luck is again planing to go back to
Thailand for a fun raising effort soon this year.
Luck thinks all Asian are too scattered. Indians would do their own
things, Thai and Chinese would also do their own activities because
Asian in Pittsburgh has no center point. Until this May there's a
Asian Film Festival has been organized by an Indian Harish Saluja.
Harish even created a data bank for Asian activities so that people
would be easy to know what's Asian activities are happening in
Pittsburgh. Also there's a group called Pacific Asian American Young
Professional Alliance (PAAYPA) is also help bringing all Asian groups
together.
|
|
