Dmae Roberts
Encyclopedia
Dmae Roberts is an Asian-American independent public radio producer, writer, actress and playwright. Much of her work focuses on cross-cultural issues or personal storytelling. Roberts was born in Taipei, Taiwan and grew up in Japan till she was eight. Her family moved to Junction City, Oregon
when she was 10 years old. Roberts moved to Eugene, Oregon
and graduated from the University of Oregon
with a BS in journalism. Roberts re-located to Portland in 1989 to pursue her acting career while continuing to do her national radio work. She is executive producer of the nonprofit MediaRites and is based in Portland, Oregon
. She is a member and served on the board of directors of the Association of Independents in Radio as well as a member of the Asian American Journalists Association
.
. In 1989, she produced Mei Mei, A Daughter’s Song, a documentary about her relationship with her mother and her mother’s childhood in Taiwan
, for which she received a George Foster Peabody Award. She also received a Peabody for her eight-hour series about Asian-American history, Crossing East
. The series aired in 2006 and aired on more than 230 public radio stations. It was the first and only Asian American history series to air on public radio.
Recent works by Roberts include “Coming Home: The Return of the Alutiiq Masks,” which tells the story of the Alutiiq people of Kodiak, Alaska, which was a co-production with Koahnic Broadcasting, Inc and KNBA in Anchorage, AK. The hour-long program aired on 180 radio stations across the country. In 2008, Roberts produced a piece called “Secret Asian Woman” that explores her mixed race identity.
Roberts is also the executive producer of MediaRites, whose mission statement describes it as a “ a non-profit media arts organization dedicated to telling the stories of diverse cultures and giving voice to the unheard.” Among MediaRites’ outreach projects was “The Breast Cancer Monologues”, in which women with breast cancer shared their experiences with the disease. This work was a 2004 winner of the Golden Reel award from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters
.
Since 1996, Roberts has hosted “Stage & Studio” a weekly radio program on KBOO
about the performing, literary, and media arts. She features nearly 100 artists and arts organizations each year.
in Portland
that was an adaptation of her 1989 radio piece. In 1993 she continued writing about her family’s early years in "Breaking Glass" at Portland Repertory Theatre. Her 1996 play, Picasso in the Back Seat produced at Artists Repertory Theatre
was a winner of the Oregon Book Award
as well as a Portland Drama award.
Junction City, Oregon
Junction City is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. The population was 5,392 at the 2010 census.- History :In the 1870s, Junction City was named by railroad magnate Ben Holladay, who decided this would be where the rail line on the east side of the Willamette Valley would meet the rail...
when she was 10 years old. Roberts moved to Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
and graduated from the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
with a BS in journalism. Roberts re-located to Portland in 1989 to pursue her acting career while continuing to do her national radio work. She is executive producer of the nonprofit MediaRites and is based in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. She is a member and served on the board of directors of the Association of Independents in Radio as well as a member of the Asian American Journalists Association
Asian American Journalists Association
The Asian American Journalists Association was founded in 1981 by several Asian American journalists who felt a need to support greater participation by Asian Americans in the news media.Its goals are:...
.
Radio Work
More than 400 of her documentaries and audio art pieces have been featured on programs from National Public Radio and Public Radio InternationalPublic Radio International
Public Radio International is a Minneapolis-based American public radio organization, with locations in Boston, New York, London and Beijing. PRI's tagline is "Hear a different voice." PRI is a major public media content creator and also distributes programs from many sources...
. In 1989, she produced Mei Mei, A Daughter’s Song, a documentary about her relationship with her mother and her mother’s childhood in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, for which she received a George Foster Peabody Award. She also received a Peabody for her eight-hour series about Asian-American history, Crossing East
Crossing East
Crossing East is a documentary series for public radio produced by Dmae Roberts and MediaRites and is hosted by George Takei and Margaret Cho, the sometimes controversial stand-up comedian...
. The series aired in 2006 and aired on more than 230 public radio stations. It was the first and only Asian American history series to air on public radio.
Recent works by Roberts include “Coming Home: The Return of the Alutiiq Masks,” which tells the story of the Alutiiq people of Kodiak, Alaska, which was a co-production with Koahnic Broadcasting, Inc and KNBA in Anchorage, AK. The hour-long program aired on 180 radio stations across the country. In 2008, Roberts produced a piece called “Secret Asian Woman” that explores her mixed race identity.
Roberts is also the executive producer of MediaRites, whose mission statement describes it as a “ a non-profit media arts organization dedicated to telling the stories of diverse cultures and giving voice to the unheard.” Among MediaRites’ outreach projects was “The Breast Cancer Monologues”, in which women with breast cancer shared their experiences with the disease. This work was a 2004 winner of the Golden Reel award from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters
National Federation of Community Broadcasters
The National Federation of Community Broadcasters is a national membership organization of community-oriented, non-commercial radio stations, producers, and other organizations and individuals committed to community radio in the United States....
.
Since 1996, Roberts has hosted “Stage & Studio” a weekly radio program on KBOO
KBOO
KBOO is a non-profit organization, listener-funded FM Community radio station broadcasting from Portland, Oregon. The station's mission is to serve groups in its listening area who are underrepresented on other local radio stations and to provide access to the airwaves for people who have...
about the performing, literary, and media arts. She features nearly 100 artists and arts organizations each year.
Writing
Roberts’ written work has been featured in the Oregon Humanities Journal and she writes a regular column for the Asian Reporter. She was published in 2010 in an anthology of essays Reality Radio published by UNC Press. Her play "Breaking Glass" was published by Temple University Press in the anthology of American plays "But Still, Like Air, I'll rise" edited by Velina Hasu Houston.Theatre
Roberts is an actress and the author of numerous plays. In 1991 she wrote a multimedia stage play called "Mei Mei" for the Interstate Firehouse Cultural CenterInterstate Firehouse Cultural Center
The Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center is a community-based arts center located in Northeast Portland, Oregon, United States.The IFCC was founded in 1982 by Portland's first Afircan American elected official, Commissioner Charles Jordan...
in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
that was an adaptation of her 1989 radio piece. In 1993 she continued writing about her family’s early years in "Breaking Glass" at Portland Repertory Theatre. Her 1996 play, Picasso in the Back Seat produced at Artists Repertory Theatre
Artists Repertory Theatre
Artists Repertory Theatre is a critically acclaimed professional non-profit theatre located in Portland, Oregon. The company was established in 1982 and focuses on presenting the works of contemporary playwrights, including many world premieres...
was a winner of the Oregon Book Award
Oregon Book Award
The Oregon Book Awards are presented annually by Literary Arts, Inc. for "the finest accomplishments by Oregon writers who work in genres of poetry, fiction, literary nonfiction, drama and young readers literature." -History:...
as well as a Portland Drama award.
Honors and Awards
- George Foster Peabody Award for Mei Mei: A Daughter’s Song, 1990
- Drama Critics Circle Award for Merry Wives of Windsor, 1995
- Drama Critics Circle Award for Picasso in the Backseat, 1995
- Oregon Book Award for Picasso in the Backseat, 1996.
- The Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism for “Colin’s World—The Lives of Children”
- Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, 1996
- Two Heart of America Awards/American Legion Auxiliary, 1998–1999
- National Lesbian/Gay Journalists Award for “Miracle on the Streets”, 2003
- Two Clarion Awards, Writers Digest Award, 2000–2004
- National Federation of Community Broadcasters, Silvers/Gold for “Miracle on the Streets,” “Living Flag,” and “Breast Cancer Monologues”
- Two Asian American Journalists Association Awards, 2005–2006
- George Foster Peabody Award for Crossing East, 2007
- Dr. Suzanne Award for Civil Rights and Social Justice from the Asian American Journalists Association, 2007
- United States Artists Rockefeller Fellow, 2007