Brookline Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Day

All are invited to the inaugural Brookline Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Day Celebration on Saturday, May 20th, 2023, presented by BAAFN (Brookline Asian American Family Network); Public Schools of Brookline; Brookline Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations; and the Public Library of Brookline.

In December 2022, Brookline Town Meeting passed a Resolution, co-sponsored by BAAFN, designating May as AAPI Heritage Month and establishing an official Town celebration. We will celebrate AAPI Heritage Day 2023 by uplifting the rich and diverse stories of our AAPI community. Activities will include AAPI author talks for readers of all ages, book signings, performances, arts and crafts, games and prizes, a food truck, free snacks, and much more! These events will take place on the Town Hall Lawn, at the Pierce School, and at the Brookline Village Library.

The day will culminate at the Coolidge Corner Theatre for BAAFN’s 8th Asian American Student Essay Contest Award Ceremony! Admission to the Award Ceremony is free, but registration is required through the Coolidge Corner Theatre.

All are welcome to participate in this historic day of celebration!

Click here to view the event flyer!

Celebration Schedule:

10:00 AM:

• Author Rajani LaRocca (Where Three Oceans Meet) in Hunneman Hall, Brookline Village Library
• Author Young Vo (Gibberish) in the Pierce Elementary School Library

11:00 AM, on the Town Hall Lawn:

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

12:00 PM

• 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

2:00-3:30 PM

BAAFN’s 8th Asian American Student Essay Contest Awards at the Coolidge Corner Theatre

Program:

• 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!

This event is in partnership with Brookline Booksmith and the Coolidge Corner Theatre.

This event is generously sponsored by BAB Korean Bistro, BIG/Brookline Interactive Group, Boston Portfolio Advisers, Brookline Community Foundation, Faithful Flowers, GEICO, John Hodgman & Adele Pike, Mint Julep, PAO Arts Center/BCNC, Pho Viet’s Vietnamese Restaurant, Robert Guen DMD & Associates, Sanela Salon, Sheri Flagler, and Susan Park/Children’s Author

When

Saturday, May 20, 2023

10:00 am - 3:30 pm

Location

Brookline Village