Edina Asian American Alliance (EAAA) to Host First Annual Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month Festival

 

Edina, MN, Apr. 18, 2023 – The Edina Asian American Alliance (EAAA) will host its annual Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month Festival: Visibility, Community, and Pure Celebration, on Saturday, May 27, 2023.

 

The Festival will be a joyful community space that’s open to all who wish to celebrate our Asian Edina/Minnesota cultures and contributions alongside friends and neighbors. Attendees will feel empowered, connected, and energized through the strength and vibrancy of our community! 

 

The event will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Rosland Park, 4300 W 66th St, Edina. The program is organized to highlight the rich cultures, voices, and strengths of the local Asian Edina/Minnesota community, as well as the incredible partnerships, friendships, and coalitions that EAAA has built this past year. 

 

Featured speakers include:

• AshaUSA Executive Director Sayali Amarapurkar 

• Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) President SK Lo

• Chinese Community Center (CCC) Executive Director and Minnesota International Chinese School (MICS) Principal Melody Zhou

• City of Edina Mayor Jim Hovland 

• Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL) Executive Director ThaoMee Xiong 

• Edina High School Asian American Pacific Islander Student Union (AAPISU) Co-Presidents Lexi Han, Emily Leung, and Sabeeh Mirza 

• Edina State Representative Heather Edelson 

• India Association of Minnesota (IAM) President Tanwi Prigge

• Korean Institute of Minnesota (KIM) Director Jennifer Arndt-Johns

 

Featured performances include: 

• DTG Lions 

• Edina’s Desi Dance Group

• JangmiArts

• Master Chang’s Yong-in Martial Arts

• School of India for Languages and Culture (SILC)

• TaikoArts Midwest  

 

Featured participants include the small businesses, nonprofits, school and community organizations, such as: 

• Anti-Racism Collective

• Black Student Union (BSU)

• Eggroll Queen

• Inherited Stories

• Ku•ma•in

• League of Women Voters of Edina (LWVE)

• Num Nuts 

 

Edina Elementary School families will host featured cultural tables that celebrate our rich Asian/Edina heritages. The Festival will conclude with naming the first recipient of EAAA’s Teacher of the Year Recognition.

 

The Festival is free and open to the public and includes a book giveaway for the first 100 attendees, thanks to the Friends of the Edina Library: local author Bao Phi’s Caldecott Honor Book, A Different Pond and You Are Life (both published by Capstone Press). Additional EAAA sponsors include Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL); Edina Community Foundation (ECF); Master Chang’s Yong-in Martial Arts; and The Petal. 

 

For more information about the event, visit  EdinaAsianAmericanAlliance.org or contact Kelly Condit-Shrestha, community liaison to the EAAA AAPI Month Planning Committee, at kelly.condit@gmail.com. Please consider registering to help us anticipate headcount.

 

Rain date is Sunday, May 28, 2 to 5 p.m.