YCA presents a special performance from the exciting spoken word group, I Was Born With Two Tongues. The ?Tongues?, ( Emily Chang, Marlon Esquerra, Anida Yoeu Esguerra, and Dennis Kim) recently performed at the Museum of contemporary Art (Chicago) and they regularly represent across the region. Their words are filled with hope and imagery. This pan-Asian explosion of song and verse is definitely something you should not miss. Formed to give cry to the teeming voices and varied carols of Asia Amerika, to tell the truths and stories that feed dignity and actin and shrivel the lips of unexamined assumptions, the Tongues believe in meaningful unity woven by empowered individuals, in word and sound and power.

Emily Chi-Hua Chang?s Creole soul has had its roots in the deep-fried land of Baton Rouge, Louisiana since 1978. Actually a musician in disguise, she is currently an English major at the University of Chicago, seeking refuge from the New Jersey suburbs. Underneathe all that cat-lovin? show tune singing choir girl lacquer stands a girl screaming ?I AM NOT YOUR FETISH!?

Marlon Unas Asis Esquerra has always sought the means to describe himself in one sentence or the occasional slam haiku. Forever dedicated to his familia, the fight, and the word, Marlon hopes to finish his schooling (as his mommy puts it) at UIC, someday to be certified to teach the ?endangered at-risk urbanized ghetto youth? someone deemed fit to mislabel him and an entire generation.

Anida Rougquiyah Yoeu Esquerra is a Cambodian Malaysian Muslim amerikan woman who perfers a non hyphenated identity. Anida is a graduate of the graphic design program from the University of Illinois Champaign Urbana. She strives to celebrate her story through creative expression: painting, desinging, poetry and music.

Dennis Sangmin Kim was born in 1978 in Fairfax, VA to immigrant Korean parents. He plans to die on May Day, 2078, having outlived capitalism, Master P, and the curious habit of calling both our seeds and our women ?shorty.? Dennis believes that tweaking attitudes are no substitute for structural change, but that material progress without spiritual awakening is a hollow victory.