April is Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month and the Asian/Pacific American Cultural Center held their first ever kick-off event at CSU on April 1. The rest of the month will feature several events including guest speakers, the “Chai to Understand” series, and student performances.
The Chai to Understand series will take place every Tuesday at 5 p.m. and serve as a platform to educate attendees on current issues the APIDA community faces. The next meeting will be on April 16 and feature a panel of adoptees.
“We have a lot of students who are adoptees and they will be discussing their experience of being adopted by folks who may not share in their racial identities,” said Vani Narayana, the assistant director of the Asian Pacific American Cultural Center.
The series will conclude on April 30 with the “Ramadan’s Approaching Fast! What you need to know” panel. Muslim students will be discussing the holiday and what events take place during the month of May. Fasting is a crucial part for those who observe the holiday and students will be discussing the challenges of fasting during their upcoming finals week.
Keynote Speaker
Hari Kondabolu will be the keynote speaker featured for APIDA Heritage Month and will perform in the LSC Theater on April 10 at 5 p.m.. Kondabolu is a comedian, writer and podcaster based in Brooklyn, New York. He has been described by The New York Times as “one of the most exciting political comics in stand-up today.”
In 2018, his Netflix special “Warn Your Relatives” was released, and he was named one of Variety’s Top 10 Comics To Watch. Kondabolu also is an activist for the APIDA community and is well known for his documentary The Problem with Apu. The documentary explores negative stereotypes, racial microaggressions and slurs against people of Indian and South Asian heritage disseminated through the character on the longtime running, tv show, The Simpsons.
“Hari Kondabolu has keynoted at several conferences that I have attended about race and education,” said Narayana. “He is truly hilarious though his content is centered around political and social justice if you can only attend one event this month this should be it.”
New menu at the Aspen Grill
Staff members of the Aspen Grille have also planned a special menu to celebrate Asian Pacific Islander and Desi American Heritage Month on Thursday, April 11, and Friday, April 12. They’ve developed a three-course meal for the community to enjoy.
The meal will be $13. For the first course, guests will enjoy Arroz Caldo, which is a Filipino-Style ginger and garlic Rice Soup that is more commonly known as a rice “porridge.” This will be followed by a choice of two entrees: a braised Filipino Pork Belly Adobo or a stir-fried Pancit with Tofu. Guests will finish with banana lumpia and salted caramel. Seating is limited so reservations are recommended. Call (970) 491-7006.
Events
Keynote: Hari Kondabolu
April 10, LSC Theater, 5 – 6 p.m.
Filipino Food Specials
April 11 & 12, Aspen Grille,
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Chai to Understand: Transracial Adoptee Panel
April 16, LSC 333, 5 p.m.
Hula Performance: The Northern Colorado Hula Studio April 18, LSC North Ballroom, 6 p.m.
Biracial/Multiracial Identities: Critically Assessing Media Representation with Dr. Eric Aoki
April 19, LSC 312, Noon
Chai to Understand
April 23, LSC 333, 5 p.m.
Movie Showing: Crazy Rich Asians
April 24, LSC Theater, 4 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Chai to Understand
April 30, LSC 333, 5 p.m.
