In Pursuit of the Pakistani-American Identity

By Aisha Qamar –April 2008
Pakistan Link
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On April 26, 2008, the Pakistani American Foundation (PACSI) will hold a fundraiser at the Crowne Plaza Cabana Hotel in Palo Alto. The theme for the evening is “The Polarization of Cultures.” The program will feature prominent voices to illustrate the need for cultural education and the development of a Pakistani-American identity. Professor Sara Suleri Goodyear of Yale University, Bapsi Sidhwa, author of Pakistani Bride, and Professor Paula Moya of Stanford University each will address both Pakistani-American and American themes.

Rendezvous – Khalida Kareemi

November 13, 2007
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Khalida Kareemi has been teaching English Composition Writing at the De Anza College for the last 15 years. She is also coordinator for the Urdu program that is offered through the Intercultural /International Studies Division. She has also just started a non-profit organization called the Pakistani American Cultural Studies Institute (PACSI) with a dedicated youth wing called Generation Pakistan (GP). Khalida is dedicated to promoting the Urdu language to provide Pakistani-Americans with a way to maintain their linguistic culture and to introduce Urdu to non-Pakistanis. She is also dedicated to introducing and promoting literary works in English by Muslim authors to dispel negative stereotypes associated with Muslims. Her work and thoughts are highly relevant to people in our community who are striving to balance a dual identity, and we hope our conversation with her will provide you with more inspiration.