Speakers' Space
Make It Main Street's Speakers’ Space is supported by
Coastal Literary Arts Movement & San Mateo Country Arts Commission.
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Make It Main Street's Speakers' Space—presents an engaging lineup of poets, storytellers, and cultural performers. This special event celebrates the rich traditions, voices, and contributions of AAPI communities, offering attendees an opportunity to connect with and learn from these vibrant cultures.
Aileen Cassinetto
Aileen Cassinetto served as San Mateo County Poet Laureate from 2019–2022, the first Asian American in the role. She’s received honors from the Academy of American Poets, Brilliant Poetry, and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Her lyrics for Saunder Choi's Wide American Earth premiered at Carnegie Hall in 2023. She is co-editor of the award-winning Dear Human at the Edge of Time and the upcoming The Nature of Our Times.
Mia Ayumi Malhotra
Mia Ayumi Malhotra is the author of Mothersalt (Alice James Books, forthcoming May 2025) and Isako Isako, a California Book Award finalist and winner of the Alice James Award, Nautilus Gold Award for Poetry, National Indie Excellence Award, and Maine Literary Award. She is also the author of the chapbook Notes from the Birth Year, winner of the Bateau Press BOOM Contest. Mia holds degrees in creative writing from Stanford University and the University of Washington, and her work has received the Hawker Prize for Southeast Asian Poetry and the Singapore Poetry Prize. She is a Kundiman Fellow and founding member of The Ruby SF, a gathering space for women and nonbinary artists.
“PanAsia FantAsia”- With the Eth-Noh-Tec Ensemble
“Three's a charm” as this dynamic trio brings ancient myths to life with a kinetic, modern twist. Eth-Noh-Tec shares stories from cultures including India, Korea, the Philippines, and Japan.
Since 1982, they’ve performed for over a million people across the U.S. and abroad, with appearances at the Smithsonian, Kennedy Center, and both Clinton’s and Obama’s Inaugural Celebrations.