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Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2024

While Arab American heritage month is celebrated nationally during the month of April and Asian American & Pacific Islander heritage month is celebrated nationally during the month of May, due to the way the academic calendar falls we celebrate AAPI in the month of April. This year students have led the efforts to highlight both AA + AAPI by combining both celebrations.

Arab American and Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Kickoff

All are welcomed to join the Jeh Vincent Johnson ALANA Cultural Center in collaboration with ALANA student leaders and campus partners for a special evening celebration to kickoff Arab American x Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month on Thursday, April 18th from 5-7 p.m. in the Villard. The special evening celebration will include lively dance/spoken word performances, students remarks, faculty keynotes, an engaging student-led activity and community organization tabling. A variety of delicious food and beverages will be available. The event will be in person and open to all. Please RSVP to confirm your attendance.

This year's celebration featured:

Student moderators: Kenzy Aldaher ’27 and Mingjia Ni ’26

Mingjia Ni and Kenzy Aldaher, standing side by side with mics in their hands while facing the audience as they deliver the moderator welcome.
Photo credit: Kiran Rudra ’24

A Calligraphy Activity by Raymond Wang ’25

Nine students seated side by side around a round table smiling at the camera.
Photo Credit: Kiran Rudra ’24
Students participating in the calligraphy activity. Four students are seated and one student is standing holding the calligraphy brush against the paper as the students look down at the paper.
Photo Credit: Kiran Rudra ’24
Five students seated side by side around a round table. While two students are speaking face-to-face, the three students are partcipating in the calligraphy activity.
Photo Credit: Kiran Rudra ’24
Two students seated side by side, similing and holding up their calligraphy piece.
Photo Credit: Kiran Rudra ’24

Student Performances:

Guzheng Instrumental Performance by Sizhu “Shirley” Chen ’25

Sizhu "Shirley" Chen '25 looking down at the Guzheng (string instrument) using both hands to play as the mic and music stand are positioned in front of her.
Photo Credit: Kiran Rudra ’24

MENASA Dance Performances:

Four students positioned in a rectangular shape as the perform a belly dance set.
Belly Dance Performance ~Photo Credit: Kiran Rudra ’24
Two students positioned side by side with their right arms extended as they perform a bandari dance set.
Bandari Dance Performance ~ Photo Credit: Kiran Rudra ’24

Portrait Readings: Ulysses Bergel ’26 and Ian Watanabe ’27

Ian Wantanabe '27 reciting a short story he wrote, as he stands in behind a podium, speaking into the mic.
Ian Wantanabe ’27 reading an excerpt of a short story he wrote about Japanese Americans in WW2, published in this semester’s issue of Portrait. Photo Credit: Kiran Rudra ’24

Faculty Speakers: Dr. Mootacem Mhiri and Dr. Benjamin Ho

Dr. Mhiri standing at the podium as he speaks into the mic and looks down.
Dr. Mhiri, Senior Lecturer in Arabic ~ Photo Credit: Kiran Rudra ’24
Dr. Ho standing at the front of the Villard with his right arm extended as he speaks to the auidence.
Dr. Ho, Professor of Economics ~ Photo Credit: Kiran Rudra ’24

Community Tabling: Brain and Body Coalition and Chinese Student Community (CSC)

Mariam Eshetu '24 seated at a table with a green table cloth and paper resources representing the Brain and Body Coalition.
Photo Credit: Kiran Rudra ’24
Two students seated side by side at a table, smiling at the camera while representing CSC with displays of traditional Chinese clothing (Han Fu).
Photo Credit: Kiran Rudra ’24

Additional Performances Included:

  • Bard College’s KDC
  • Dance Performance by Alua Samat representing the Central Asian Students Organization (CASO) at Bard
  • NOVA Dance Crew Performance representing the Asian and Pacific Islander Student Alliance (APISA) at SUNY New Paltz
Four students seated side by side at a table, smiling at the camera.
Photo Credit: Kiran Rudra ’24
Four student seated side by side in two pairs as they smile at the camera one student, Ian Ho poses with a peace sign.
Photo Credit: Kiran Rudra ’24

Org Spotlights Included:

  • Asian Students’ Alliance (ASA)
  • Chinese Student Community (CSC)
  • Middle Eastern/North African Students’ Association (MENASA)
  • Mountain & Water
  • Portrait
  • South Asian Students’ Alliance (SASA)
  • Southeast Asian Students’ Alliance (SEASA)

Catering by: Tamarind, Love Feast, Palace Dumplings and Zorona

Minkyo Han '25 and Nicole Beveridge, Director of the ALANA Center similing and holding tongs in their hands, as they serve attendees food from the foil pans.
Photo Credit: Kiran Rudra ’24