NOW Live from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

From federal organizations to state departments all over the country, Americans of all backgrounds can learn about the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to this nation. The Smithsonian Institution provides many such opportunities for education in public programs, exhibitions, and events, in addition to the various educational resources for schoolteachers available at the Smithsonian Education website.

Throughout the month of May, the Smithsonian Institution will feature many public programs, exhibitions, and events. A calendar of events can be found here.

Related Links:

• Info about Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month
• President Obama’s Proclamation Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
• Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
• Smithsonian Press Release on APA Heritage Month
• Smithsonian Education – APA Heritage Month

The following is an official message from the Smithsonian Secretary, Wayne Clough, commemorating APA Heritage Month.

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that the Smithsonian is celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month from May 1 to 31, with more than 15 events, including films, performances, talks, tours and family programs.  I hope you will all take this opportunity to learn more about the important contributions of these Americans to our nation’s culture and history. As appropriate, supervisors may grant up to three hours of administrative leave to all staff members who wish to attend these events.

This year’s feature event is a family festival at the National Museum of American History on Saturday, May 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This day of activities centers on “Sweet & Sour,” an exhibition case that traces the evolution of Chinese food in the United States and the long history of Chinese immigration. Visitors can watch the film “Killing of a Chinese Cookie” and then join a discussion with director Derek Shimoda. Children and their families can work with book artist Sushmita Mazumdar to create a “kitchen memories” storybook and record their stories with teens from the Hirshhorn’s ARTLAB+ video production program. Admission is free and no reservations are required.

This is the third event in the Smithsonian Heritage Months 2011 series titled “Sights and Sounds of Heritage.” Participating Smithsonian units are the National Museum of American History, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Heritage Committee, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program, the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies and the Smithsonian Heritage Months Steering Committee.

Visit www.SmithsonianEducation.org/Heritage for a complete schedule of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month programming.

Many thanks to the Smithsonian Heritage Months Steering Committee and to all the units that contributed to these programs.  I hope you will join me in this annual celebration of Asian Pacific American history and cultural heritage.

Sincerely,

Wayne Clough
Secretary, Smithsonian Institution