Northwest celebrating Asian American, Pacific Islander Month with movie night, lei making

Northwest Missouri State University celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in April with an interactive activity and film screening.

Although May is designated in the United States as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, Northwest is commemorating the month with activities in April before the University’s academic year concludes on May 2. The activities are free and open to the public.

“We celebrate all the cultures, ethnicities, nationalities and identities represented at Northwest,” Dr. Shay Malone, Northwest’s assistant vice president of institutional excellence and global engagement. “We chose to have some activities that represent the Southeast Asian and Indian cultures because we have so many international students and friends who aspire to share their cultures, values and heritage with other students. We hope that others can learn from and immerse themselves.” 

The celebration begins with a First Friday event, which enables students to participate in fun activities and build a sense of community on the Northwest campus. The Northwest community is invited to gather for the event from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, April 4, in the Student Engagement Center on the second floor of the J.W. Jones Student Union.

Then, Northwest will offer a movie night at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, in the Student Union Living Room.

The University also will host an interactive activity from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, in the Student Union’s Tower View Room, giving attendees an opportunity to make traditional leis for Northwest students graduating this spring and participate in a dance demonstration.

“Lei making is an event where participants will learn the beautiful Hawaiian art of creating leis – floral garlands symbolizing love, friendship and celebration,” Malone said. “We will also include a dance performance and information about Polynesian culture given by a few current students and their families.” 

Although it began as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week with a joint resolution passed by Congress and signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978, the entire month of May was officially designated Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in 1992 after Congress expanded the law and it was signed by President George H.W. Bush. The month commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. Today, the celebration honors the accomplishments of Asian Americans, Pacific Islander Americans and native Hawaiians.

For more information about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month activities at Northwest, send an email to diversity@nwmissouri.edu or call 660.562.1105.