Recap: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2021
Caitlin Behle
Jun 30, 2021
In case you missed it, May was Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Asianati and our parent organization, Asian American Cultural Association of Cincinnati, celebrated with events and activities throughout the month. We also assembled a community calendar with events across the city. Here are a few highlights
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Opening Party
AACAC and Asianati kicked off Asian Pacific American Heritage Month the best way we know how — with a party! Over 200 people came out to Five Points Alley in Walnut Hills for music by Andrew Lin Quartet and incredible Hawaiian food from Kealoha's Kitchen. (Photo: youssef elhachimy)
Black and Asian Solidarity
What does Black & Asian solidarity look like in the era of #BlackLivesMatter and #StopAsianHate? Nearly 80 people attended Urban Consulate Cincinnati's stimulating conversation about racial identity, solidarity, and healing. (Photo: Hannah Kenney)
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"Food is Our Love Language" Mural
AACAC worked with local artist Anissa Pulcheon to create a semi-permanent mural in Over-The-Rhine. Saigon Market, Cincinnati's oldest surviving Asian market, was the perfect location for Anissa's mural, "Food is Our Love Language." Te celebrated with a small dedication where we got to hear more about Anissa's process. (Banner Photo: Samantha Burke; Group Photo: JP Leong)
Asian Food Week 2021
AACAC and Asianati launched Asian Food Week late last year to encourage customers to visit Asian restaurants across the city. This year, the week-long restaurant campaign expanded to 50 participating restaurants across Greater Cincinnati including Oxford, Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Thousands of people visited the restaurants all week to explore all the different cuisines our city has to offer. (Photo: Catie Viox)
Cooking and Conversation: The Truth Behind MSG
Grace Yek, renowned food writer and program chair for Cincinnati State's Culinary and Food Science program, joined the Cincinnati Museum Center to break down stereotypes surrounding MSG, the preservative most often associated with Chinese food. Grace also prepared okonomiyaki.
Story Tree Time
AACAC brought together some of their friends to read stories for Cincinnati Museum Center's virtual Story Time. Asianati co-editor Nikki Siababa handpicked each story to highlight different parts of the AAPI experience. Each book was also written by an Asian or Pacific American author. (Photos: Afrochine)
Hot Pot Night!
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How To Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion
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Willie Wins
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Watercress
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Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Closing Party
We wrapped up the month with a laid back get together at Five Points Alley, where we kicked off the month. Before the party, Esoteric Brewing Company hosted a pre-party happy hour and co-owner Marvin Abrinica took visitors on a tour of the brewery. Afterward, we ate Cambodian tacos from Mahope and listened to jazz by Andrew Lin's Daybreak Trio.