Ryan Takemiya | SpeakerHub

Personal Details

Bio

Ryan Takemiya is a DEIB speaker on cultural sociology, the power of storytelling, and Asian American cultural identity. He has spoken at colleges and institutions across the country and is the founder of Rama, an Asian American creative community. He has produced numerous shows and events centered around music, art, and storytelling, including "Talk Story", his monthly storytelling open mic night in Oakland, CA. For more information please visit www.ryantakemiya.com

Current position (1)

DEIB Speaker/Workshop Facilitator

Rama

Degrees (1)

Liberal Arts

Sarah Lawrence College

2001 to 2005

Presentations

Presentations (4)

Overcoming Toxic Invisibility for Asian Americans

The variety of experiences the API community faces is broad and diverse. Yet the one struggle that we can all relate to in some way is toxic invisibility. Asian Americans have a long history of contributing to US culture, yet we are underrepresented in media, modeling, politics, the C-suite, and virtually all positions of power and leadership. Many of us have lost sight of our ethnic heritages and identities through assimilation. Many of our accomplishments are not acknowledged by broader society. Many of our needs and desires are ignored by our parents. And many of us repress and hide our physical and emotional pain, rendering us invisible even to ourselves. In an effort to put an end to decades of silencing, artist, community organizer, and inspirational speaker Ryan Takemiya, has created a groundbreaking workshop on overcoming toxic invisibility for Asian Americans. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, sociology, the expressive arts, and our personal experiences as Asian American

The Asian American Renaissance

The time has come. For as long as we've been Asian Americans we've been asking "Who are we?" ...It's time to stop asking the question and to start answering it. With more Asian Americans than ever involved in the arts, sports, culture, politics, etc., we appear poised to create a distinctive identity, rooted in our unique experiences, that will set us apart from other communities. But the big question is, what will that identity look like? What will it sound like? What will it taste like? What will it feel like? Yours is the generation that will decide, but only if you take control. This workshop will cover the history of Asian identity in America and the current cultural-identity landscape. You will learn what barriers are preventing us from having a unique identity. You will develop strategy for overcoming those barriers, and you will be surprised to learn that the strategy comes from within. This workshop provides you with tools to help you understand the identity inside

Storytelling for Success

How can you influence others, speak your truth, AND boost your self-esteem at the same time? TELL YOUR STORY. Our brains are wired to use stories to navigate the world and to understand ourselves and others. But so often we are discouraged from using our gifts, to the point that many of us have forgotten our own power. Ryan Takemiya has developed a curriculum that will help you find your voice and learn how to use it. This multifaceted workshop touches on story structure, mythology, and even neuroscience to help you understand how stories engage the mind (and even change our brain chemistry!). Vocal and psycho-somatic exercises will help you strengthen your voice, and you will learn how to engage an audience of any size. Amplifying your voice with the power of storytelling could unlock your potential in all aspects of life. The world deserves to hear your unique voice. So…what's your story?

Deconstructing Stereotypes

How are stereotypes created? Who creates them? And most importantly, who benefits from their use? Instead of focusing on the usual hurtful playground jokes, this workshop will dig deeper into the social, political, and psychological factors that shape stereotypes in today's society and how these stereotypes are used against various groups. Gender, social class, and sexual orientation are only a few of the categories in which stereotypes exist. How do these stereotypes affect our communities, and how do we, individually and as a group, respond to them? Organizations have been created to combat hate crimes, protests have been staged to combat educational inequities, lawsuits have been brought against institutions for discrimination, etc., but what can you do about it on a day-to-day basis? This workshop will give you the tools for a deeper understanding of the power of the stereotypes that surround you, how to accurately identify them and how to properly combat them.