Intercultural Center Monthly Events

In the month of May we take time to recognize and celebrate the important role that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) have played in our shared history.  

In 1977 the U.S. Congress (spearheaded by Representative Frank Horton of New York and Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawai'i) chose the first ten days of May to commemorate the history and contributions of Asian American communities here in the U.S. According to some, this stemmed from a story shared by the founder of the Congressional Asian-Pacific staff caucus, Jeanie Jew. Her grandfather had helped build the transcontinental railroad, and was then killed during anti-Asian events. The week's observance became a month, the very month in which the first Japanese immigrants came to the U.S. in 1843. We also commemorate the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, as the majority of workers who laid those railroad tracks were Chinese immigrants. And that's why AANHPI Heritage Month is in May.  

Join us as we celebrate and embrace all that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) have played in our shared history.