The Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education will organize a series of events at Elon to celebrate Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month throughout April.
The Elon community is invited to explore the multifaceted and remarkable history and heritage of the Asian & Pacific Islander communities during the Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration. Nationally recognized in May to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States in 1843, Elon observes Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month in April, with the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education (CREDE) hosting a series of events throughout the month.
As the Asian & Pacific Islander communities are comprised of many unique cultures, communities and histories, this year’s theme, “bouquets,” showcases the ways in which the dynamic and wide-ranging Asian & Pacific Islander communities have come together in pursuit of a stronger future.
“We hope that this year’s celebration of APIHM will not only foster a richer, deeper understanding and appreciation of the many cultures that comprise Asian & Pacific Islander heritage but also bring the whole Elon community together,” said George Dou, assistant director of the CREDE.
Highlights of this year’s events include the annual kickoff celebration and a special themed College Coffee. New to this year’s celebration is the Southern Mix Exhibit: Asian Voices in the South, a traveling exhibit available for viewing from April 1 through April 21. The exhibit highlights the stories of the Asian diaspora in the U.S. South.
For additional questions, please contact Dou at gdou@elon.edu.
Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Events at Elon
Communi-Tea Time
Every Monday in April | Noon–2 p.m.
CREDE (Moseley 221)
Join the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE) for a cozy afternoon of conversation, community, and tea! Each Monday, we’ll provide a variety of teas and snacks—just drop in, hang out and connect with others in a relaxed space. Each week will have a different theme:
- April 7 – Rainbows of Asia
- April 14 – Floral Teas
- April 28 – International Coffee & Teas w/ the GEC
Southern Mix Exhibit: Asian Voices in the South
April 1–April 21
Moseley 224
Southern Mix is a travel exhibit highlighting the stories of the Asian diaspora in the U.S South.
College Coffee–APIHM Edition
Tuesday, April 1 | 9:40 a.m.
Phi Beta Kappa Commons
API Heritage Month Kickoff
Thursday, April 3 | 5:30–7 p.m.
Medallion Plaza
This celebration will feature different foods, cultural performances, local businesses and engaging activities that highlight the contributions and traditions of API communities.
APIHM Bingo
Thursday, April 3 | 10–11 p.m.
Upstairs Lakeside
APSA: Ramen Across Asia
Friday, April 4 | 6–7 p.m.
Moseley Center Kitchen
API Heritage Month Spicy Food Challenge
Tuesday, April 8 | 5:30–7 p.m.
El Centro Kitchen
Think you can handle spicy food? Join the CREDE for the Spicy Food Challenge! Test yourself and sample different spicy foods from different Asian cultures. RSVP to reserve your spot.
Holi Celebration
Friday, April 11 | 4 p.m.
Speaker’s Corner
A Hindu spring festival of color and sharing love, Holi marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The Elon community gathers at Speaker’s Corner to throw colored powder on one another to celebrate the earth returning to color and life and good triumphing over evil. If you plan to throw color, please wear old clothing that can get dirtied by paint. There will also be crafts, food, and other ways to celebrate the holiday.
Chinese Club’s Language Hour: Qingming Festival
Friday, April 11 | 7–8 p.m.
Carlton Commons
APSA & K-DNS: Tanghulu & Dance Workshop
Friday, April 11 | 7–8 p.m.
La Rose Student Commons
Speaker: Collecting Oral Histories with Asian Diaspora
Monday, April 14 | 4 p.m.
Moseley 224
Join the CREDE for a talk with Maydha Devarajan, the interviewer for Southern Mix, an oral history project. Southern Mix is a travel exhibit that highlights the stories of the Asian diaspora in the U.S South. The exhibit will be temporarily hosted in Moseley 224 until April 21.
To learn more about the exhibit, visit their website.
Community Dinner
Thursday, April 17 | 5–6:30 p.m.
Lakeside 212
In collaboration with the CREDE, APSA is hosting a dinner where you’ll have the chance to connect not only with people across campus but also with different faculty and staff at Elon. We’ll spend some brief time helping people connect, and then participants will enjoy different Asian foods. All are encouraged to attend. RSVP to reserve your spot.
Vamos A La Cocina: APIHM Edition
Friday, April 18 | 1–3 p.m.
El Centro
Asian Studies Movie Screening: Upstream
Tuesday, April 22 | 6 p.m.
Global Media Room
Food for Thought: Pacific Islander
Wednesday, April 23 | 5:30–7 p.m.
CREDE (Moseley 221)
Chinese Club: Painting 101
Wednesday, April 23 | 10–11 p.m.
Upstairs Lakeside
APSA: Paint at the Plaza
Friday, April 25 | 5–6 p.m.
Medallion Plaza
GLC: Rainbow Boba
Wednesday, April 30 | 4–6 p.m.
CREDE (Moseley 221)
For a detailed calendar of events, visit the CREDE website.