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Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month celebrates the collective accomplishments of the heterogeneous communities that make up the APIDA population.

Congress passed a joint Congressional Resolution in 1978 to commemorate Asian American Heritage Week during the first week of May. This date was chosen because two important anniversaries occurred during this time: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in America on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad (by many Chinese laborers) on May 10, 1869. It was later expanded from a week long to a month long celebration in 1990.

Since then, the month of May has been designated as national APIDA Heritage Month, similar to monthly celebrations like Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March. However, because of Illinois’s academic calendar, we typically celebrate APIDA Heritage month on campus during April.

APIDA Heritage Month April 2023

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While we celebrate the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) community year long, the US Congress proclaimed May as Asian /Pacific American Heritage Month in 1990. However, because of the academic calendar, we celebrate APIDA Heritage during the month of April on campus. APIDA Heritage Month is a celebration of APIDA members highlighting accomplishments, cultures, and stories of the APIDA community.

  • April 3 — Model Minority Myth and AAPI Mental Health
    By the Counseling Center
    6 PM @ AACC
  • April 4 — We are the Ones We've Been Waiting For
    By AACC (Food for Thought)
    12 PM @ AACC
  • April 5 — Informal Language Conversations: Arabic
    By University Library
    3 PM @ Main Library
  • April 6 — AACC Leadership Meeting
    By AACC
    5-6 PM @ AACC
  • April 7 — Grapes that Connected Peasants to the Shogun: A New Perspective on Early-Modern Japanese Society through Regional Brand Food
    By Center for East Asian & Pacific Studies (CEAPS)
    1-2:30 PM @ 306 Coble Hall
  • April 8 — Holi 2023
    By Asha for Education
    12-5 PM @ University of Illinois Arboretum
  • April 8 — South Asian American Leadership Conference (SAALC)
    By AACC
    1-5 PM @ Siebel Center for Design
  • April 11 — Centering Community Voices Through Community-Based Exhibitions
    By AACC (Food for Thought)
    12 PM @ AACC
  • April 12 — Japanese Tea Ceremony
    By Japan House
    5:30 PM @ Japan House
  • April 13 — APIDA Trivia Night
    By AACC & Engineering Council
    6-7 PM @ AACC
  • April 14 — When did East Asians Become Yellow?
    By Dr. Michael Keevak
    11 AM-12 PM on Zoom
  • April 15 — East Asian Story Time: "Drawn together"
    By CEAPS & Champaign Public Library
    10-10:30 AM @ Champaign Public Library
  • April 15 — Spring Open House
    By Japan House
    Starts at 11 AM @ Japan House
  • April 16 — Filipino Culture Night
    By Philippine Student Association
    11 AM-3 PM @ the Quad
  • April 17 — The Attack on DEI in Higher Education: Teach in on Affirmative Action
    By AACC
    5:30 PM @ AACC
  • April 18 — Discussion on Turning Red & Intergenerational Trauma
    By AACC (Food for Thought)
    12 PM @ AACC
  • April 18 — Redefining our Narrative: A Dialogue on Asian Identity and Hate in American
    By AACC & Kappa Pi Beta
    5-7 PM @ 124 Burrill Hall
  • April 19 — Informal Language Conversations: Mandarin Chinese
    By University Library
    3:30 PM @ Main Library
  • April 23 — Krannert Center Debut Artist: Esther Lee
    By Krannert Center
    3 PM @ Foellinger Great Hall
  • April 24 — Asian Beauty Standards & Self Image
    By AACC & Women's Resource Center (WRC)
    12 PM @ WRC
  • April 24 — Leadership Awards
    By AACC
    7 PM @ Alice Campbell Alumni Center
  • April 28 — Directions in Music Research by Asian Americans (At Tea Time)
    By Joy Yang
    4 PM on Zoom
  • April 29 — East Asian Story Time: "Suki's Kimono"
    By CEAPS
    2-2:30 PM @ Urbana Free Library
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April 2023 APIDA Heritage Month schedule poster including text about the events and orange and pink flower illustrations in the upper left and lower right corners