Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month occurs every May, and recognizes the cultures, milestones, history, and contributions of Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians. On May 2nd, LBUSD organized the 2nd Annual AAPI Heritage Month Celebration at Cabrillo High School. This celebration included a traditional dance by the Long Beach Poly Pacific Islander Club, as well as artwork showcased at the AAPI Art Exhibition. Local food vendors contributed to this event by serving delicious meals throughout the event.
The Whittier Elementary Principal, Dr. Angel Mikae, showed excitement for the event, explaining that “[The] District’s AANHPI event holds a special place in my heart as a proud Filipino and Sāmoan principal. It’s a powerful reminder that our identity, culture, and community matter deeply in the systems we lead and shape. Watching this next generation carry forward the legacy of representation fills me with so much pride and hope; they are not only honoring those before them, but actively inspiring our youth.”
In addition, the Long Beach Public Library hosts an array of events throughout the month, such as the Festival of AAPI Books (FAB), a day to discuss literature from AAPI authors. The upcoming events include art and book clubs at El Dorado, Thai paper garland making at Billie Jean King Main, Cambodian rock and roll at Mark Twain, and Leis for Teens event at Harte. The last event that will conclude the celebration will occur on June 11th at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, where the Festival of AAPI Books will occur.
Although the month of May focusses on appreciating AAPI culture, there are accessible resources and communities that are present all year round. For example, the Long Beach Asian Pacific Islander (API) Family Mental Health Center specializes in serving API individuals from LA County. Because treatment services are directly tailored to the API community, clients are able to be healed to their full potential when being cared for by a treatment team with lived experience, as well as fluency in various Asian languages and cultures.
Long Beach always shows support for people of AAPI heritage through every month, but the month of May serves as a reminder of the importance of celebrating Asian culture. The events that take place from May 1 to June 11 not only spread AAPI customs, but they also are able to build communities for Asians all over.
By honoring the incredible diversity, resilience, and history of our neighbors, Long Beach fosters a lasting environment where every culture is valued and supported long after the final festival. Another example that students like to go to these events are because of how they express themselves and how they feel and feel a part of their race. Braylen Reyes, a Long Beach Poly Sophomore who is in the 10th grade and is in the pathway CIC stated that “ I attended the Cambodia Town Parade with my parents and my brother and we loved the food and my parents loved the music and art they had. I like going to these parades because they show you how much Cambodians there are and how you are not alone”.
Another student from Long Beach Poly named Allison Ket, a sophomore who is in the CIC pathway expressed her feelings about these events, “ I love attending the Khamie girls in action program because it helps build leadership skills and rejects all the parts of racism out of your mind and helps you be more woke”. Students love attending these programs and festivals to figure out more about their backgrounds and make them feel they are not alone.
