Episode 167 – TFAL Goes to Chicago: Arts, Politics, and Community with Ginger Leopoldo and Mark Calaguas

This Filipino American Life

One of the great things about traveling to a different city like Chicago aside from eating the wonderful food and visiting a Michael Jordan monument, is meeting people who have done tremendous work uplifting the Filipino American community.

First, we got a chance to talk to Ginger Leopoldo to talk about what it’s like to grow up in different Chicago neighborhoods and learn about different cultures and what it’s like to raise a family in the Windy City. She also shares some insight about the organization Circa Pintig, their work, and how art challenges community thought as well as gathers community together. Check out Circa Pintig’s YouTube channel here

In the second part of the episode, we got to talk to longtime listener and supporter of TFAL, Mark Calaguas, Board President of Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment (AFIRE) and active member of Filipino American Lawyers Association in Chicago (FALA Chicago) and NFALA, it’s National parent organization. Mark explains his path from his hometown of Detroit to fighting for marginalized groups and advocacy for Filipino Americans in Chicago.

Through these conversations we see similar issues that Filipino Americans face across the United States, and also some of the nuanced experiences of Filipino Americans in the Chicago/Midwest area. What was not in the episode – Ginger and Mark brought us some presents and goodies. Bottom line, a good time was had by all as we continue to realize…we’re all in this together.

Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on this page, find us on Mixcloud or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts here. And for folks on Spotify, you can take a listen to us here.