BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University's annual observance of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month will kicks-off March 27th, with the return of Asianfest, which features arts and crafts, Asian cuisine, cultural performances, a fashion show, and a screening of “Ten Times Better'' by Director Jennifer Lin, as the opening event at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. This event is in collaboration with the city of Bloomington and is open to the public.
“Together with IU's Asian Culture Center, the city of Bloomington is excited to partner in this endeavor, appreciating and amplifying the rich cultural heritage that enriches our shared spaces," says Shatoyia Moss, the Safe and Civil City Director of Bloomington. “Indiana University Bloomington's celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is not only a testament to the rich tapestry of cultures within our community but also a vital recognition of the invaluable contributions made by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. As we join in this celebration, we are reminded of the profound importance of diversity and the significance of honoring intersectional identities.”
Although Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is nationally celebrated in May, the IU Asian Culture Center and its partners celebrate during April to accommodate the academic calendar.
Melanie Castillo-Cullather, Director of the Asian Culture Center, is excited for this month-long series of events that not only highlights issues facing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, but also celebrates their culture, identity, and history. Some of these events include: The AAPI film festival in collaboration with IU Cinema, with an exclusive Q&A session with filmmaker Neha Gautam;“ Uniform Convergence, a one-woman play and performance by Dr. Corrine Yap; and a cooking demo for Nepalese cuisine.
“AAPI Heritage month is a reminder of what we as a community and as a country have accomplished together,” says Melanie Castillo-Cullather. “It’s a time to reflect on how far we’ve come along in improving people’s lives, and how much work there is to do.”
The theme for this year’s AAPI Heritage Month is Celebrating Intersectional Identities of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community. Just as Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are not monolithic groups, individuals belonging to these communities are unique. As we celebrate 2024 AAPI Heritage Month, we invite you to join us in exploring and recognizing the intersectional identities of the AAPI community. What are the legacies, histories, cultures, and other individual characteristics that combine with one another and give meaning to a person’s identity? How do they impact the collective? And how do we honor these overlapping identities as springboards to forming solidarities with other groups? Let us make the celebration reflect the diversity within the larger umbrella of AAPI by learning and uplifting their stories, accomplishments, and contributions in making progress possible where we live. The programming intends to accomplish the following goals:
- Raise awareness of the diversity within Asian cultures by celebrating and showcasing intersectional AAPI voices and groups on campus and in the community.
- Promote awareness of the diverse experiences of Asian American and Asian diaspora.
- Resist anti-Asian racism by empowering the community with knowledge so they can be informed allies to the AAPI community.
- Collaborate with minority groups and allies in developing and exploring ways to address issues of anti-Asian racism, myths, and stereotypes.
The sponsors and participating organizations for the 2024 Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month include the Asian Pacific American Faculty and Staff Council; the City of Bloomington; the Buskirk-Chumley Theater; the College of Arts and Sciences; Collins Living-Learning Center; Positive Link; IU Center of Excellence for Women & Technology, CEWIT; College Office of Diversity and Inclusion; East Asian Studies Center; East Asian Languages and Culture; Department of Mathematics; IU Bloomington VPFAA Horizons of Knowledge Lecture Fund; IU Office of Accessible Educational Services; IU Cinema; Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), IU Student Government; IU Arts and Humanities Council; IU student organizations including IU Raas Royalty, Raas at IU/Hoosier Raas, the Asian American Association, the Filipino American Association, Japanese Student Association, the Vietnamese Student Association, Myanmar Student Association, D-Force, Alpha Kappa Delta Phi, and Taekwondo at IU.
All events are free and open to the public.