About HEART

Help Every Asian Rise Together, or HEART: DMV AAPI Theatre Alliance, is a DMV AAPI artist-driven community centered in empathy, connection, support, care, and leading with our hearts. We are dedicated to building and cultivating the AAPI theatre community in the DMV through community care, an artistic network, and professional development.

COMMUNITY CARE → A united AAPI theatre artist community in the DMV

• We are a space to gather beyond work: This community is not tied to being part of a production but rather rooted in community care and activism, including helping each other out within the community.

• We connect through gathering spaces, annual traditions/meetings, workshops, networking events, AAPI Nights, and so much more.

• We work across the Asian diaspora and partner with local organizations to connect theatre artists with their communities.

• We continue the “Supper Club” tradition: There will be a committee dedicated to planning social events for community-building. Individuals can connect online via Discord.

• We encourage natural development of mentors/mentees from community connection.

ARTISTIC NETWORK → Make DC a destination city for AAPI artists.

• We’re here for each other and encourage authenticity: We can rely on this community to see, understand, and support each other in artistic processes when we feel unheard by the white American theatre, as DMV theatres are still predominantly white spaces.

• We advocate for local AAPI talent and stories: Our leadership can be a point of contact for casting directors and production managers who need AAPI artists on their teams, voicing to theatres that Asians are HERE and should be hired.

• We host an AAPI playwrights group, actively keep up with new work being created by local AAPI playwrights, and are a group where playwrights can reach out for AAPI readers, and, with permission, adding scripts to our private shared drive of AAPI-written scripts.

• We provide resources for emerging local AAPI artists without taking on the role of existing organizations that should be supporting emerging artists (such as TheatreWashington and job boards).

• Eventually, we’ll produce new works such as one-act festivals and play readings in association with other theatres and encourage seeing the “AAPI seasons” of work within DC theatre.

AMPLIFICATION → Communications, Outreach, Engagement, Advocacy

• We uplift Asian art: Through a monthly newsletter, website, social media, and online community groups, we’ll keep people updated so we all know when to come out to support each other. We also want you to tell us what you’re up to, so this is a two-way street!

• We know who’s here: As there are so many different databases (Rolotechs, TheatreWashington, Asian American Theatre Artists Collective), we will make a dedicated space for DMV AAPI artists to self-submit.

• We advocate for AAPI community engagement such as AAPI Nights, having AAPI speakers for panels/talkbacks, etc.

• Eventually, we will engage in action coalition work, speaking up as issues arise for AAPIs in the DMV theatre scene.

Steering Committee (working list)

Daniella Ignacio, Communications Lead and Co-Founder, HEART: DMV AAPI Theatre Alliance; Freelance writer, theater artist, musician

Wonnie Kim, Artistic Producing Lead and Co-Founder, HEART: DMV AAPI Theatre Alliance; Theater producer, educator, artist

Marela Kay Minosa, Advisor, DMV AAPI Theatre Alliance

Aria Velz, Associate Artistic Director, Theater Alliance

Tuyet Thi Pham, Associate Artistic Director, Everyman Theatre

Mina Morita, BOLD Resident Director & Creative Producer, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Ethan Heard, Associate Artistic Director, Signature Theatre

Stan Kang, Executive Director, Educational Theatre Company

Youri Kim, Founder, Jaemi Theatre

Misy Singson, Artistic Associate, Arena Stage

Kayla Kim Votapek, General Manager, Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists (CAATA)

Why subscribe?

Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.

Stay up-to-date

Never miss an update—every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, plus audio and community features, get the Substack app.

Join the crew

Be part of a community of people who share your interests. Participate in the comments section, or support this work with a subscription.

To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.