Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month kicks off this Friday, March 31! Hosted by Multicultural Affairs in collaboration with student organizations and other campus departments, AAPI Heritage Month provides a space to commemorate, celebrate and honor the cultures, traditions, histories, contributions and talents of our AAPI community. Nationally acknowledged in May, Syracuse University celebrates AAPI Heritage Month in April to allow a full month of campus celebrations with a variety of events centered around performances, speeches, games, community-building, and much more! Read on for seven AAPI Heritage Month events highlights, and be sure to check out the full schedule of events on the AAPI Heritage Month event calendar and AAPI Heritage Month webpage.
AAPI Heritage Month Kickoff
Attend the opening celebration for AAPI Heritage Month on Friday, March 31, featuring student performances, AAPI student organizations and campus departments, and the unveiling of the annual Anti-Asian Hate Crime Exhibit. Student organizations and campus departments start tabling at 4 p.m. in Schine Student Center’s first floor atrium, with the main programming beginning at 5 p.m.
Lunchtime Lecture: Mithila Art at the SU Art Museum
Are you an art fan? Then check out the incredible artistry from the Mithila region of India at a lunchtime lecture on Wednesday, April 5, with Susan Wadley, professor emerita of anthropology! The featured works are part of the “Take Me to the Palace of Love” exhibit that is available to view until May 14. This event lasts from 12:15-1 p.m. and features Wadley discussing her own work that examines topics of femininity, family, social expectations and religion. Come see these incredibly vibrant and beautiful works of art!
Paving the Way Alumni Speaker: Sharon Lee ’14, G’15
Join Multicultural Affairs and Multicultural Advancement on Thursday, April 13, from 7-8:30 p.m. to hear from the Paving the Way alumni speaker, Sharon Lee ’14, G’15! Sharon Lee is an undergraduate and graduate alumna of the iSchool in information management and technology. During her time at Syracuse, Lee worked as a resident advisor as well as a member of the AAPI Heritage Month Planning committee, was president of both Asian Students in America and the Hong Kong Cultural Organization, served on the Senior Vice President’s Council of Diversity and Inclusion, and was a University Senator for the Graduate Student Organization. Lee has spent the past seven years working for Microsoft, and now in the position of product manager, she returns to share her career and personal journey spanning from her time at Syracuse to post-graduation in order to inspire students to pursue their own goals while embracing their AAPI identity.
Orange After Dark: AAPIHM Grocery Bingo
Join us on April 13 from 8-10 p.m. in Gifford Auditorium as Orange After Dark collaborates with AAPI Heritage Month for an AAPI twist on OAD’s classic Grocery Bingo event. Play bingo and win prizes of some of the best food and snacks from Asian cultures, picked specifically by the AAPI Heritage Month Planning Committee! Bring your friends or meet new foodies at this fun late-night event!
AAPI Mental Health Awareness Workshop
Looking to develop healthier habits and learn something new? Come discuss mental health challenges at the AAPI Mental Health Workshop on Tuesday, April 18, from 5:30-7 p.m. Mental health awareness and maintenance is ever important, and workshop leader Jin Zhao, M.A., M.S., Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology, is here to help us learn helpful strategies to lead fulfilling lives and tackle mental health challenges within the AAPI community. This event is sponsored by the Asian Americans and the Law seminar, Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA), Korean Law Students Association (KLSA) and the South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA).
AAPI Heritage Month Commemorative Lecture with Hua Hsu
The campus community is invited to attend a lecture by Hua Hsu on Thursday, April 20, from 7-9:30 p.m. in Gifford Auditorium. Hua Hsu is a professor of English at Bard College, a staff writer at the New Yorker and the bestselling author of his memoir, “Stay True,” in which he reflects on his life’s journey of self-discovery, identity, friendship and family through his experience as the son of Taiwanese immigrants growing up in California. Hsu joins us to share his own experiences, answer student questions and sign copies of his memoir.
ASIA Night
Join Asian Students in America (ASIA) on Friday, April 21, from 7-10 p.m. for their annual ASIA Night event, celebrating the talents of the AAPI community! The performance showcase features dance crews, Greek organizations and individual performers dancing, singing and more. Come out to support your peers and elevate the talents of the AAPI community on campus!
Written By Lia Jiening Fu Margolis ’23, School of Architecture, and MaryKate Keevins ’24, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications