Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Guo VanDan.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My family immigrated from Taipei to Denver in 1988. At the time, my mom was a journalist working as a news reporter but gave up her career when coming to the U.S. due to language limitations. She would then work in retail for the next twenty years.
When I started college in 2004, I left Denver for the University of Missouri to study journalism. As I was about to graduate, my mom approached me about starting an Asian American community magazine together. She felt that with my degree and interest in journalism, we could work together. She was finally confident enough to pursue what she really loved — being in the community and capturing people’s stories.
In 2006, she left the retail business and we co-founded Asian Avenue magazine. The Denver monthly publication has now served the community for 13 years, providing Asian cultural news and information. At times, it has been hard keeping the doors open as the print media industry is evolving and many publications have shut down. But I am always reminded of the sacrifices my mom and many other Asian immigrant families have made that I truly value the importance of having such a publication in Denver. We persevere, in order to share the important stories of Asian American Pacific Islanders in Colorado.
Has it been a smooth road?
The world of print media has changed drastically due to the growth of digital media. As such, running a print magazine has not been easy this past decade with many publications turning to online solutions and shutting down print operations.
At Asian Avenue magazine, we have also considered various options as we look ahead into the next decade. Our audience, which includes older generation Asians in Denver, still prefers to read the print version of the magazine. Many of these readers do not have access to a computer or have limited understanding of how to read the online magazine from their phones. This has been one of our greatest challenges as we juggle print costs, industry trends and audience needs.
For young women interested in pursuing their own business, the only advice I’d have is to never forget your ‘why.’ There will always be tough days, but when you remember why you started, let that kick start your drive again. Persistence will get you where you want to go. And be adaptable to the unexpected along the way.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Asian Avenue Magazine – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Asian Avenue Magazine (www.asianavemag.com) is a monthly print publication based in Denver, a city with less than 5% Asian Pacific Islanders (APIs). In recent years, we have seen how important representation is for ethnic communities — in entertainment and media, as well as other spaces. The magazine was founded in 2006 to highlight the stories and voices of the API community that are often overlooked in mainstream media.
We have featured meaningful stories about our API LGBT communities, Colorado refugee families, the importance of voting and civic engagement, as well as API health issues. We have also highlighted cultural pieces such as the traditions behind lunar new year, the meaning of tea ceremonies, how to use chopsticks, and how bubble tea started. The magazine fills a much-needed presence in Denver’s community to provide awareness and education about API culture and lifestyle that helps serve as a bridge for our diverse readers.
As co-founder of Asian Avenue Magazine, I am most proud of the positive impact we’ve made in the Denver community. We’ve connected many people to resources/services they need; we’ve helped many businesses grown and flourish; and we’ve even introduced couples that eventually got married. The magazine, now in its 13th year, hosts monthly “API Eats” events, annual lunar new year dinners and other celebrations. These events have allowed us to meet the community we are serving, which is always motivating. Many of our readers thank us for keeping the magazine alive after all of these years.
Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well-positioned for?
While there is still a long way to go in terms of equality for women, I do think women are well-positioned for opportunities in many spaces (unlike even a decade ago). Women bring many positive attributes to the workplace, especially in regards to our innate planning/organizing skills and compassion/empathy towards others. I believe these qualities will open doors for women as we head into the next decade. So many women are representing as the ‘first woman’ in professions across all sectors. Women are rising in leadership and management positions… even civic leadership and political power! As a mother of two daughters, I am grateful for the women who are paving the way for my children to be able to truly be “anything they want to be.”
I definitely think there are opportunities for women in the world of entrepreneurship. Women can grow their product and brand, run their businesses, and manage their staff — with their own leadership styles and approaches! We can be our own bosses and even mentor/elevate younger women.
Pricing:
- One Year Subscription to Asian Avenue Magazine – $25
- Two Year Subscription to Asian Avenue Magazine – $40
Contact Info:
- Website: www.asianavemag.com
- Phone: 303-937-6888
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @asianavemag
- Facebook: fb.com/asianavemag
- Twitter: twitter.com/asianavemag
Image Credit:
Asian Avenue Magazine
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