Asian Fortune Your source for all things Asian American
By Yi Chen
Washington, D.C. – Mayor Vincent C. Gray’s 2013 Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month celebration will take place on Thursday, May 30 at the historic Lincoln Theater. “Each May, our Nation comes together to recount the ways Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders helped forge our country.” President Obama said in his proclamation, “Their story is the American story, and this month, we honor them all.”
The DC celebration is entering its 13th year, however, the Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (OAPIA) and the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities are bringing the celebration to the historic Lincoln Theater for the first time The DC Mayor’s Office is expecting over 1,000 attendees. Soohyun “Julie” Koo, Director of OAPIA, said “The event is open to all residents, allowing everyone an opportunity to experience the rich culture of the AAPI community.”
Because the District’s AAPI population is getting younger the Mayor’s office made an effort to bring in contemporary entertainment for the event. There will be hip-hop dancing, beatboxing, spoken word, violin performances as well as cultural entertainment.
The Mayor will also present the Community Service Awards at the event. A tradition of the May celebration each year, the awards honor the unsung heroes who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to serving the District’s AAPI community. This year, executive director of the Asian Heritage Foundation Wui Ping Yap and the Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project will be honored.
The annual Mayor’s AAPI Heritage Month Celebration starts at 7pm on May 30. Details and RSVP link can be found on OAPIA’s website.
Asian Fortune interviewed Julie Koo in anticipation of the event below.
