Bridge Building

At ITASA, we believe that the preservation of Taiwanese culture is a cause worth fighting for. Taiwan itself is a vibrant island, filled with breath-taking landmarks, delicious food, and exciting night-life. Its culture is a mishmash of native Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese, and western influences, among others, making its offerings undeniably unique. Contemporary Taiwanese attitudes cherish representation, civil rights, and free speech, and its government now regularly holds democratic elections despite a history (however brief) of oppression. In short, the Taiwanese American community stands for something special, and we at ITASA would like to share this with as many people as possible so that our community can continue to grow and flourish.

Today, the Taiwanese American community is stronger than ever, with musicians, actors, writers that all take an active part in its growth. Our college community in particular has greatly increased in size, and it now boasts over a hundred Taiwanese American student organizations in colleges across the country. However, not all students have access to a thriving local community. Some places don’t have many Taiwanese people, while others lack organization and a robust network. For these reasons, students often don’t have a chance to discover the full extent of experiences, connections, and empowerment that a large Taiwanese American community can offer. It’s for these people that the members of ITASA plan events, fundraise, and do outreach. We work every day to bring the Taiwanese American community closer to anyone and everyone interested in Taiwan, no matter where they live.