Keynote Speaking Topics:
Trans People Have Always Been: Legacies of Resistance
Transness is thought to be a recent phenomenon. In this signature keynote, Trans People Have Always Been, River roots us in a history of trans and queer existence that is centuries old. He draws on diverse communities globally to show us that trans people have always been. River shares his own experiences coming into his intersectional trans identity, a process rooted in community, and how transness frees him and others too. Participants will feel inspired to explore greater freedom in their own gender identities and expression and learn how to contribute towards shaping a world in which trans and queer people are freer.
Roots, Lineage, & Power: Writing to Activate Our Power Within
We live in a society of forced forgetting. From assimilation policies to targeted attacks on immigrants, trans people, Disabled people, and Black, Indigenous, people of color, society does not make it easy to claim ourselves and our own power within. Yet, there is a deep power in remembering ourselves and who we are. There is power in remembering where we come from. In this signature keynote, River shares his own journey to learning about who he is, where he comes from, and how writing and creative expression was a critical tool in his process and journey. Participants will feel inspired to begin their own roots tracing and learn how to greater activate their own creativity to claim their power within.
Cultivating the Power of Radical Imagination Towards Freedom
Imagination is thought of to be child's play. But what if I told you, imagination is what creates entire societies and shapes empires? What if I told you imagination is the key to reclaim our personal power to shape our worlds? It is how we exercise the power of our radical imagination in the midst of societal devastation that determines which direction humanity will head. In this signature keynote, River shares his process of activating the power of his own imagination to shape the writer and healing arts practitioner he is today. Participants leave will clarity on how to activate the power of their own radical imaginations to self-determine and shape their own realities and communities
Additional Presentation Topics Include:
Cultivating Healing Within for Sustainable Activism
Narrating Intergenerational Stories
Conducting Oral Histories & Tracing Family Roots
Chinatowns Around the World: Stories of Migration, Displacement, & Resilience
Cultural Organizing: The Role & Power of Art in Movement-Building
On Intergenerational Healing & Ancestral Connection
Discovering my Role and Power as an Activist
The Power and Necessity of Ethnic Studies
Addressing Anti-Blackness within Asian American Communities
Previous Speaking Engagements
The Role of Art & Activism, Pace University, NY, NY, 2025.
Poetry as Memory-Making, Poets House, NY, NY, 2025.
On Contemporary Trans Poetics, CityLit Festival, Baltimore, MD, 2024.
Queer & Trans Asians Writing as Rebellion, AWP Conference, Kansas City, MO, 2024.
Ancestors & Descendants, Zero Abuse Project, Survivor Space, Online, 2024.
Knowing Our Sacred Roles Within Social Movements, Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU, 2023.
Poetry as a Liberatory Practice, Dodge Poetry Festival x Lambda Literary, 2022.
Creating Healing Within for Sustainable Activism, Karel Fellowship in Public Interest Communications, Washington, D.C., 2022.
Unlearning the Gender Binary Towards Freedom: Gender Justice in the Workplace, NYU, NY, NY, 2021.
Garment Worker Organizing: Labor Activism in New York City, Museum of City of New York, NY, NY, 2021.
On Healing and Sustainable Activism, Columbia University, NY, NY, 2020.
The Power of Ethnic Studies, City Lore, NY, NY, 2019.
Writing Oral History: Narrating Intergenerational Stories, Asian American Writers' Workshop, NY, NY, 2018.