Events will celebrate Asian American heritage

A variety of events are planned to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage at Grand Valley.

Sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and many other campus organizations, events will take place January 29-March 21. All events are free and open to the public.

The celebration will kick off with the Asian New Year Festival on Thursday, January 29, from 6-9 p.m. in Kirkhof Center’s Grand River Room. The festival will showcase the traditional Asian New Year celebration and will feature Asian cuisine and performances by Asian ethnic groups, including a dragon dance and Chinese martial arts.

Other events include:

• A Recognition of Fred T. Korematsu: January 30, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center. Japanese American activist Korematsu was incarcerated during World War II. In 1998, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton. The program will begin with a documentary on Korematsu’s life and legacy, followed by brief remarks from a panel of speakers.

• The Celebrated “China Doll”: Troubling Asian Adoption on Television: February 11, 2-3 p.m., Kirkhof Center, room 2270. “Modern Family” and “Sex and the City” TV programs will be analyzed by Kimberly McKee, assistant professor of liberal studies. She will lead a discussion on how adoptees’ representation is linked to Orientalism.

• Why Vote?: February 12, 1-2 p.m., Kirkhof Center, room 2263. This interactive workshop will explore issues of immigrations, jobs, economy, health care and education.

• Building Transformative Responses to Violence: February 24, 6-8 p.m., Kirkhof Center, Grand River Room. Community educator and organizer Mia Mingus will discuss the concept and framework of transformative justice and how to work to respond to violence without causing more harm or violence. This event is in conjunction with the Intersections annual event.

• R.I.C.E. Conference: Realizing and Addressing Issues in Our Culture and Education: March 21, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. Registration is required for this event. Contact Davis Tran at [email protected] to reserve your seat for breakfast and lunch. 

For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/oma or contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs at (616) 331-2177.