AMAZING | A Busboys and Poets Books Event
Date and Time
Apr 19, 2023 6:00 pm
Location
14th & V
2021 14th St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20009
Apr 19, 2023 6:00 pm
14th & V
Olympic ice dancing medalist siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani felt compelled to create a book showing the undeniably positive impacts that Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans have made in this country and around the world. Thanks to quick and accessible biographies written with journalist Dane Liu, readers will learn about important figures who have shaped life-altering policy, made indelible marks on pop culture, and achieved their greatest dreams—paving the way for future generations to make lasting change.
Inclusivity sets this beautifully illustrated picture book apart in its exploration of thirty-six inspirational Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, such as disabled hero Daniel Inouye, immigrant astronaut Kalpana Chawla, and biracial entertainer Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Maia and Alex Shibutani are joining us on the Busboys stage to share the worldwide contributions Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans have made. Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and the authors will be signing following the program.
This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of AMAZING: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is IN PERSON and will NOT be livestreamed.
We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books
Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani are two-time Olympic medalists, writers, producers, speakers, and consultants. In 2018, the siblings made Olympic history by becoming the first ice dancers of Asian descent and the first team of color to medal at the Winter Olympic Games. They are also the first sibling duo to win two Olympic medals in Ice Dance. Earlier this year, they were inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
Maia is on the Advisory Council for AWE (Asian Women Empowered) and is the inaugural Winter Olympic Athlete Representative of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundation NextGen Program.
Alex is on the LA28 Athletes’ Commission and is a photographer. His first photographic exhibition is on display at the Leica Gallery in West Hollywood from May 4th – June 5th.
Together, they are Sports Envoys for the U.S. State Department. In their role which they’ve held since 2017, they promote cross-cultural understanding, engage underserved communities, and empower the next generation of leaders through diplomacy.
Amazing: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All is their third children’s book. They first debuted as authors with their middle grade book series, Kudo Kids. The Mystery of the Masked Medalist and The Mystery in Manhattan were released in 2020 and 2021 respectively.Â
