Blog

May 2026: AAPI Heritage Month

5/18/2026 12:00:00 AM

 
“When you learn something from people, or from a culture, you accept it as a gift, and it is your lifelong commitment to preserve it and build on it.” — Yo-Yo Ma
 

READ — Authors to Know

 

Bengali Harlem and the Lost Histories of South Asian America By Vivek Bald

This book delves into the forgotten history of Bengali men who arrived via Ellis Island as silk traders and ship workers, and who made new homes in Harlem, as well as Black, Hispanic, and Creole neighborhoods in Baltimore, Detroit, New Orleans, and beyond.

 

Asian Vegetables by Caroline, Stéphanie, and Patricia Ho-Yi Wang

There is a lot more to Asian vegetables than bok choy. Caroline, Stéphanie, and Patricia Ho-Yi Wang, three sisters of Cantonese heritage, have cultivated a beautiful cookbook centered on 15 Asian vegetables, each aligned with the changing seasons. A bit of science, history, and horticulture are sprinkled in this collection of 40 recipes that demonstrate how versatile and delicious greens can be.

 

Empire of Care: Nursing and Migration in Filipino American History By Catherine Ceniza Choy

Catherine Ceniza Choy examines the unique relationship between the professionalization of nursing and the twentieth-century migration of Filipinos to the United States. The book-length study of the history of Filipino nurses in the United States, Empire of Care brings to the fore the complicated connections among nursing, American colonialism, and the racialization of Filipinos.

 

Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning By Cathy Park Hong

This collection of essays blends biographical stories with cultural criticism to explore the complexities of discrimination against Asian Americans and Hong’s experiences being pigeonholed as an artist and writer.

 

 

 

WATCH

 

Daughter from Danang

From the Collection: The Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Experience Daughter From Danang cuts between mother and daughter as the two recall the pain of their separation, and retraces Hiep’s journey from Vietnam to Pulaski, Tennessee, where she is adopted by a single woman and renamed Heidi.

 

Young Rock

Relive the extraordinary coming-of-age story of Dwayne Johnson in “Young Rock.” As he hilariously recounts his life while running for president, this series sheds light on the fun and formative experiences that shaped The Rock. Released in 2021, it remains a celebration of resilience and ambition.

 

My America... or Honk If You Love Buddha

In MY AMERICA, the filmmaker recalls her childhood--back in the days when her vacationing family would cross five state lines without ever catching a glimpse of another Asian face. Returning to the road more than 20 years later, she finds that new immigration has suddenly put Asian Americans on the map.

 

 

 

LISTEN

 

Dear Asian Girl is produced by Dear Asian Youth, which was founded in May of 2020 by Stephanie Hu, a 16-year-old who wanted a platform for her poetry. It has grown into an organization with more than 100 members focused on intersectional activism, politics, equality, and equity. The podcast is hosted by AAPI creators, Alina Rahim, Genesis Magpayo, and Naina Giri. Its aim is focused on uplifting, highlighting, and supporting Asian girls everywhere with their cultural identity.

 

Asian Enough is produced through the LA Times and hosted by Jen Yamato, Johana Bhuiyan, Tracy Brown and Suhauna Hussain. Each episode dives into the expansive diaspora of Asian America; its complexities, definitions and the disparate and personal stories of politics, racism, and cultural identity within the community.

 

At the Moment: Asian American News Hosts Sylvia Peng and Janrey Serapio tackle news and politics through an intersectional Asian American lens to give insight on complex, messy issues impacting Asian Americans.

 

Native Stories is a platform for authentic stories and experiences of Pacific Islanders. Each episode connects listeners with Pacific Island storytellers, historians, and cultural practioners to strengthen pilina — connection — to place. 

 

EXPERIENCE — Local Events

 

New York

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: Birds of Eastern Culture
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 9 AM – 10:30 AM
Parking Lot in Clove Lakes Park, Clove Road and Park Drive, Staten Island
Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with NYC Parks! Join the Urban Park Rangers during spring migration in search of birds that are significant to East Asian culture and folklore. Rangers will discuss influential birders and ornithologists as well as the role of birds in different cultures. Binoculars will be provided.

 
STEAM Time: 
AANHPI Off the pages

Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 3 - 4 PM
Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 3 - 4 PM
Clason’s Point Library, 1215 Morrison Avenue, Bronx, NY 10472
Join staff from the Clason’s Point Library for an exciting, hands-on program dedicated to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Join us for an activity from titles in our nonfiction collection. Afterward, explore our recommended titles!

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: Historic Chinatown Parks and Monuments
Saturday, May 23, 2026, 1 PM – 2:30 PM
Entrance: East Broadway & Essex St in Seward Park Accessible, Manhattan
Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with NYC Parks! The Urban Park Rangers will guide you through Chinatown parks, highlighting significant events and commemorations.

 

 

Seattle

Asian American Pacific Islander Community Days
Wednesdays & Sundays in May 
Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, WA 98101
Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at the Seattle Aquarium! Join us for special programming, a scavenger hunt and more throughout May. We’ll have special talks on Wednesdays and Sundays related to AAPI communities and marine conservation.

 
2026 Seattle AAPI 5K

Sunday, May 17, 2026, 8AM
Brooks Trailhead Store in Fremont (3400 Stone Way North)
The AAPI 5K is a 5K series celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

 
Rice on Repeat: An AAPI Circus

Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:30 PM to Sunday, June 28, 2026, 3:30 PM
12th Avenue Arts | Seattle, WA
Acrobats will set the table, serve the rice, and share their life stories through dance and circus arts. It’s an ordinary routine full of extraordinary acts: handstands on the lazy susan, bowls of rice served from a flying pole, and a chosen family celebrating their shared experiences through movement.

 

Minneapolis

CAAMFest 2026
Thursday, May 7, 2026, 6 PM to Sunday, May 10, 2026, 10 PM
CAAMFest is returning for its 44th year, May 7-10, 2026, featuring over 60 films that capture the current zeitgeist of Asian American communities. The festival’s completely in-person screenings, panel discussions, and other programs will be centered around the AMC Kabuki in San Francisco Japantown, highlighting the city’s long history as a hub for Asian American community building with national impact. 

Asian Dumpling Cooking Class
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 2 PM
Sunday, July 12, 2026, 2 PM
Sunday, August 9, 2026, 2 PM
Insight Brewing Company, 
2821 E Hennepin Ave. 
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Join us for a fun, hands-on dumpling-making experience designed especially for beginners! In this interactive class, you’ll discover the flavor-packed world of dumplings—learning everything from making dough at home to mastering the art of wrapping and sealing.

 

 

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