Cultural heritage, adoptee and educational issues and a New Year
Festival are among the programs and events Grand Valley State University
has planned for the upcoming Asian Pacific American Heritage
Celebration, presented by community leaders, a CNN news anchor and other
specialists. All events are free and open to the public.
Monday, February 11, the celebration begins with “Discovering their
Past for the Future,” featuring three Asian Pacific American leaders in
the community who will unveil their personal stories as young immigrants
starting a new life in a new country. Through story telling, discussions
and dialogues, they will share their perseverance as they travel on a
journey in pursuit of personal, educational, professional and
humanitarian achievements. The program runs from 4-5 p.m., in the
Cook-Dewitt Center, Allendale Campus. Panelists include George Aquino,
general manager, J.W. Marriott Hotel, Grand Rapids; Emmanuel Barias, MD,
president, Asian Health Outreach Foundation, Grand Rapids; and Pravina
Ramanathan, Asian-American liaison, Michigan Department of Civil Rights, Lansing.
On Tuesday, February 12, Susan Morales-Barias, director of the
Nonprofit Leadership Institute at Grand Valley, will present “Asian
American Engagement in Philanthropic and Nonprofit Sectors,” from noon-1
p.m., in room 204, Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus. This session will
highlight the challenges and opportunities of engaging the diverse Asian
American population in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership
specifically in the areas of volunteering, giving and staffing. Research
and study on the beliefs, attitudes and attributes of the Asian American
community in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership will be presented,
followed by an interactive discussion on how to enhance engagement of
Asian Americans.
Part two of “Asian Adoptees” will also take place on Tuesday, February
12, from 5:30-7 p.m., in rooms 215/216, Kirkhof Center, Allendale
Campus. Presenter Carissa Woodwyk, a licensed professional counselor and
limited licensed marriage and family therapist, is also a Korean-born
adoptee. This workshop explores the fragile beginnings of an adoptee's
life while discovering the truth and hope that exists in each adoptee's
story.
CNN anchor Betty Nguyen will present “Humanitarian Work: It Will Change
Your Life,” on Wednesday, February 13, from 4-5:30 p.m., in the Grand
River room, Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus. Nguyen is the co-founder
of Help the Hungry, an organization that strives to alleviate global
hunger by providing humanitarian relief to poverty-stricken families.
She will take audiences to some of the poorest regions of the world by
sharing stories from her humanitarian aid trips.
A performance of the dragon dance, samples of Asian Pacific cuisines,
arts and crafts, and cultural entertainment will be featured at the
Asian New Year Festival, on Thursday, February 14, from 6-9 p.m. in the
Grand River room, Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus. The highlight of
this program is the monologue “Inside the Model Minority,” written by
Kennedy Management Resources, Inc., Home of Diversity Theatre. For some
immigrants, the dreams of religious freedom, economic prosperity and
opportunity have historically attracted them to the United States. For
others, it is to escape persecution, war, terrorism and poverty. The
journey of Asian Americans in pursuit of the American dream will be told
through the monologues.
For individuals requiring special accommodations and/or parking
permits, please call the Grand Valley Office of Multicultural Affairs at
(616) 331-2177. For further event information, contact Connie Dang at [email protected].
GVSU celebrates Asian Pacific American heritage
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