Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Events In Las Vegas
Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders — also abbreviated as AAPI — make up about 7.6% of the total population in Las Vegas,…
Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders -- also abbreviated as AAPI -- make up about 7.6% of the total population in Las Vegas, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. When calculating this demographic for the entire state of Nevada, this percentage increases to 11%.
In fact Las Vegas is also called the "ninth Island" due to the large amount of native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders who live and visit Vegas. People who identify as Hawaiian or Pacific Islander make up nearly 1% of the population in Las Vegas, according to an article by 8 News Now.
Research from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas states that about 1 in 10 citizens of Hawaii visit Las Vegas each year. There's no doubt that native Hawaiian culture has spread to Nevada from the festivals, food scene and more.
Nevada also ranks seventh for states that have the largest AAPI populations.
The largest group of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is Filipino. According to data from AAPI Data, a website dedicated to data and research on AAPI communities, the Filipino population represents more than half of the entire Asian population.
In the Nevada Legislature, there are seven AAPI lawmakers.
Asian American Heritage Month started off as an idea by congressional staffer Jeanie Jew. According to Arlington Public Schools, Jew first approached Rep. Frank Horton about "designating a month to recognize Asian Pacific Americans, following the United States’ bicentennial celebration in 1976."
This celebration of Asian heritage was first introduced as a 10-day celebration. Former President Jimmy Carter issued a presidential proclamation for the first seven days of May to be Asian and Pacific American Heritage Week. he signed this proclamation on March 28. 1979, according to the Library of Congress.
This week-long celebration transformed to a full month in 1990.
"On May 14, 1991, a public law was passed unanimously by congress and then signed by Bush, proclaiming May 1991 and May 1992 as Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month."
Beasley Media Group is proud to support Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Las Vegas. As we celebrate the communities contributions, here are some local events happening that aim to inspire, education and honor the AAPI community.
HAAPIROOTS Celebration: Honoring Asian and Pacific Islander Roots
The HAAPIROOTS Celebration is about honoring the diverse cultures of Asian and the Pacific Islands. This fun festival will take place at Container Park on Sunday, May 28 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Attendees can enjoy vendors, family events, live music and more. The event is free. But, if you pre-register for the event then you'll be entered in a drawing for a special prize, according to the event's EventBrite page.
Asian Culture Festival
The Asian Culture Festival is taking place Sunday, May 21. There will be performances from Korean, Filipino, Chinese and Islander cultures with star singer Rita Lim set to perform. The event is taking place at the Lantian Cultural Center located on 8668 Spring Mountain Road Las Vegas, NV 89117.
Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders in Southern Nevada Presented by Mark Padoongpatt
Enjoy this free presentation about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Southern Nevada. Mark Padoongpatt, an associate professor in UNLV’s Department of Interdisciplinary, Gender, and Ethnic Studies, who serves as director of the Asian and Asian American Studies program will be the one leading this discussion. This event will be enlightening, and we encourage everyone to attend!
B.Y.O. Book Club: Asian/Pacific Islander Authors
The Sahara West Library will be having a lively conversation/book talk about Asian and Pacific Islander authors. This will be a great opportunity to dive deep into your favorite book's plot, characters, themes and more. This book club is geared more toward adults, according to the event's listing.
Yoko Koto Ensemble
Enjoy traditional Japanese music from the Yoko Koto Ensemble, led by Las Vegas musician Yoko Fitzpatrick. The Koto is the national instrument of Japan and is a version of a harp. Audience members will also be able to play a few notes on the Koto after the performance.
"Whether you’re Japanese or not, Yoko encourages audience members to wear or bring a Kimono to the concert and find out more about the the Yoko Kimono Fun Club, a group that meets and wears their Kimonos to teas and other events," the event page says.
Explore Hawaiian Culture
On Wednesday, May 24, The Enterprise Library will be hosting an event that explores Hawaiian culture, tradition, language and arts. The event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Culture & Conversation: Philippines
On Tuesday, May 30 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Windmill Library will be hosting an event dedicated to honoring the Philippines and Filipino culture with guest speakers. Lumpia will also be served at the event!
