Community Corner
Brookline To Hold Inaugural Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Day In May
The all-day celebration will uplift the rich and diverse stories of Brookline's Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
BROOKLINE, MA – Brookline will hold its first annual Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Day celebration on Saturday, May 20 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
In December 2022, Brookline passed a resolution, co-sponsored by the Brookline Asian American Family Network (BAAFN), designating May as AAPI Heritage Month and establishing an official town celebration.
The day of celebration is presented by BAAFN, Brookline public schools, the Brookline office of diversity, inclusion, and community relations, and the public library of Brookline.
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The all-day celebration will uplift the rich and diverse stories of Brookline’s Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
Activities will include author talks for readers of all ages, book signings, performances, arts and crafts, games and prizes, a food truck, free snacks, and much more. The events will take place on the Town Hall Lawn, at the Pierce School, and at the Brookline Village Library.
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The day will culminate at the Coolidge Corner Theater for BAAFN’s eighth Asian American Student Essay Contest Award Ceremony.
Below is the celebration schedule:10:00 a.m.
- Author Rajani LaRocca (Where Three Oceans Meet) in Hunneman Hall, Brookline Village Library
- Author Young Vo (Gibberish) in the Pierce Elementary School Library
- Moyzilla Food Truck, Asian Foods, Tasty Snacks
- Arts, Crafts & Creativity; Books & Bookmaking; Zines with Shaina Lu; Games, Prizes & Performances
- Arts and Crafts Table Offerings:
- #1 My Story – Book Making
- #2 Origami Bookmarks
- #3 Korean Calligraphy – Name Station
- #4 Ollie the Cat Artwork by Artist Rayna Lo
- #5 Community Art – Wish Streamers
- #6 Meet a Local Author – Susan Park
- #7 BHS Henna Offering
- #8 BHS Sticker Crafts
- #9 Zines with Shaina Lu
- #10 Puppet Showplace Theatre
- Leigh Baltzar of From Me To You Puppetry presents Puppet Story Time featuring AAPI authors
- Author Sheela Chari (Karthik Delivers) in Hunneman Hall, Brookline Village Library
- Author Tae Keller (Jennifer Chan is Not Alone) in the Pierce Elementary School Library
- BAAFN’s 8th Asian American Student Essay Contest Awards at the Coolidge Corner Theater
- Flute Duet: Jiayi Guo – Huluzi, Jane Wang – Dizi
- Guest Speaker Vincent Po, Photographer & Chronicler: Portrait of a Young Couple – Stories of Life and Love. Unvarnished. Unabridged.
- 8th Asian American Student Essay Contest Awards
- BAAFN Award: Kalina Brookfield – Rediscovered Memories
- BAAFN Award: Soomin Lee – Rice Cake
- Creativity Award: John Watson – Walking on Shattered Glass
- Content Award: Tina Li – Why Do I Hate Wearing Red Clothes?
- Emerging Writer Award: Lila Yoon – Joy is Resistance
- Keynote Speaker Grace Talusan – Author, The Body Papers; Winner of the Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing; Winner of the Massachusetts Book Prize in Nonfiction; Currently teaches Nonfiction Writing Program at Brown University
- Guest Speaker Karen Tran – TikTok Entrepreneur – tinyfeltedjoy.com: Adding a little joy to the world!
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