ACL Spokane is excited to host the 4th Annual Spokane Asian Graduation Celebration to honor and celebrate Asian/Asian American graduating students from the Spokane county colleges, universities, and high schools.
We are proud to announce that this year’s Asian Graduation guest speaker is Pro-Choice Washington’s Organizing Director and ACL Spokane’s Board President and Co-chair, Sarah Dixit.
Special thanks to acclaimed opera singer, actress and activist, Melody Chang, who will be hosting our program.
What to expect:
- Groove to the moves of the local hip-hop dance group, Sol Tribe as they perform on stage
- Enjoy yummy Asian food catered by our partners from Feast World Kitchen
- Receive a special ACL graduation stole and other gifts
- Document this special day with your besties at the photobooth and send your letters of hope through our audio guestbook — all beautifully setup by Electric Photoland
- End the day with singing your favorite karaoke piece
Doors open at 2:30pm. RSVP until Friday, April 25, 2025 @ 5:00pm (Pacific Time).
For inquiries and accommodations, please contact Frances at fmortel@aclspokane.org
This special event is presented to you by ACL Spokane, Gonzaga University, Eastern Washington University, Spokane Colleges, Whitworth University, Better Health Together, KH Consulting, Gesa Credit Union, Providence, YWCA Spokane, KYRS, Electric Photoland, and Teas Company.
Check out the rest of Asian American Heritage Month events and updates at aclspokane.org/heritagemonth.
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About the Guest Speaker
Born and raised in Southern California in an Indian immigrant household, Sarah Dixit moved to Spokane in 2014 to attend Whitworth University. While on campus, she received her B.A. in Sociology, and founded a chapter of Generation Action, a Planned Parenthood college organizing program. Soon after graduation, she began organizing full-time with Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho (PPGWNI). In this role, she advocated for progressive healthcare policies statewide and locally, provided sex education to teens, and expanded access throughout central and eastern Washington. In June of 2023, Sarah began her work as the Organizing Director at Pro-Choice Washington, a reproductive freedom advocacy organization, where she continues working to create a more equitable state.
Alongside her work in reproductive rights, Sarah co-chairs and is the board president of Asians for Collective Liberation, an Asian advocacy organization based in Spokane, WA, and is the Chair of the Equity Subcommittee for the Spokane City Council. In 2022, the Spokane YWCA presented Sarah with their Young Woman of Achievement award for her work throughout Spokane.
About the Host
Melody Chang is a Spokane-based actress, singer, activist, and arts advocate who has earned nationwide praise and acclaim for innovation and leadership within organizations belonging to the Broadway League and Opera America, as well as for her work on the stage. She is currently the Communications & Marketing Director for the new Idaho Central Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center and serves as the Executive Director of the Asian Opera Alliance, an organization dedicated to striving for broader equity throughout the opera industry. On the stage, she has been seen in iconic roles such as Carmen (Carmen), Bloody Mary (South Pacific), and Edwin/Eddie (Earth to Kenzie). Melody is regularly invited to speak at top arts universities and Fortune 500 companies, as well as consult with many of the most renowned opera companies in the nation. Most recently, she consulted on Los Angeles Opera’s 2024 production of Turandot, designed by Sir David Hockney and debuted in 1992, as well as LAO’s 2024 US debut of Mario Gas’ Madame Butterfly. In 2021, she created the Chang Heaton Scholarship for Music Excellence to award five first-generation BIPOC college students studying music or theatre with unrestricted funds for items required for theatre/music degrees that aren’t usually covered by traditional scholarships. She has been recognized as a top ANHPI Mover & Shaker (2022), received a 2021 Women in Business Leadership Award for her work in the arts, and was named YWCA’s 2024 Woman of Achievement in Arts & Culture. She is regularly seen onstage at Spokane Valley Summer Theatre and will be appearing in their 2025 production of Rodgers’ & Hammerstein’s A Grand Night for Singing.