Why Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage?
Belmont, MA is known as the “Town of Homes.” Now this close-knit community of about 26,000 residents embraces a diverse population, including about 4,500 (17.2%) Asian Belmontonians. We are a group of volunteers coming from Belmont’s Asian residents. In April 2021, in the face of the rise of anti-Asian hate incidents nationwide, we organized a series of activities across Belmont to honor the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage Month, as we yearn to reaffirm communal solidarity and make our voices heard.
Our 2021 events include donating 200 AAPI books to Belmont Public Schools, displaying AAPI-themed posters at all Belmont schools, and fundraising by distributing specially designed bookmarks that showcase a curated list of 119 AAPI books for different age groups. Our successful fundraising enabled us to establish the Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage Fund in May of 2021 for supporting similar activities in Belmont in the future.
Our mission is to organize and promote activities that celebrate the AAPI Heritage Month each May in Belmont. Our events are joyful get-togethers to celebrate what we value in life - from AAPI cultural heritages to family, friends, athleticism, innovation, and so much more. Through our events, we aim to celebrate the history, contributions, and achievements of AAPI people, as well as to advance the safety, inclusion, and sense of belonging of the AAPI community in Belmont. Moreover, our events will help promote mutual understanding across diverse cultures and develop the next generation of global citizens. We envision that Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage will soon become a beloved Belmont tradition to bring together Belmont’s AAPI communities and all who call Belmont home. We welcome you to join us!
Our 2021 events include donating 200 AAPI books to Belmont Public Schools, displaying AAPI-themed posters at all Belmont schools, and fundraising by distributing specially designed bookmarks that showcase a curated list of 119 AAPI books for different age groups. Our successful fundraising enabled us to establish the Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage Fund in May of 2021 for supporting similar activities in Belmont in the future.
Our mission is to organize and promote activities that celebrate the AAPI Heritage Month each May in Belmont. Our events are joyful get-togethers to celebrate what we value in life - from AAPI cultural heritages to family, friends, athleticism, innovation, and so much more. Through our events, we aim to celebrate the history, contributions, and achievements of AAPI people, as well as to advance the safety, inclusion, and sense of belonging of the AAPI community in Belmont. Moreover, our events will help promote mutual understanding across diverse cultures and develop the next generation of global citizens. We envision that Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage will soon become a beloved Belmont tradition to bring together Belmont’s AAPI communities and all who call Belmont home. We welcome you to join us!
2023 Event Highlights
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We're planning various events and activities for the 2023 AAPI Heritage Month. Here is a preview of some of them. Details and more updates are coming soon!
1. AAPI Restaurant Week (5/7 - 5/14/2023)
From May 7 to May 14, some AAPI restaurants in Belmont will showcase diversity of Asian cuisine. Special dishes and/or discounts will be offered. Please click here for details.
2. AAPI Speaker Series
3:00-5:00 PM, Sunday, May 14 & 12:00-1:30 PM, Saturday, May 20
Assembly Room, Belmont Public Library
We've invited inspirational AAPI persons who excel in fields such as science/technology, business, politics, healthcare, education, literature, etc. to be our panelists. They will share stories about their lives, careers, successes, and struggles.
Please click here to see their bios.
3. Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage Student Essay Contest
We are sponsoring an essay contest for 7th to 12th grade students in Belmont. Winners will receive gift certificate prizes and publication in a book!
Write an essay of 300-500 words on either of the following topics:
- Describe how a person or an experience with AAPI roots has impacted or shaped your community or personal life as an American.
- Discuss what AAPI heritage means to you or to the Belmont Community.
Important Note: One does not need to be of AAPI heritage to submit. AAPI influences are everywhere (e.g. food, culture, travel, experiences, books, music) and we encourage you to share your own personal, unique, and creative perspective!
Deadline: Wednesday, 11:59 PM, June 7th, 2023 (extended for two weeks)
Click this link for submission instructions and other details.
4. AAPI Book Donation & the Guest Reader Program
We'll work with the teachers and the curriculum directors of the Belmont Public Schools again this year to donate AAPI books to the school district. Parent volunteers will read some of these books to the students as guest readers during the library time in four elementary schools.
Here is what teacher is saying
The meaning of belonging and equality is just what we explored in depth during May with the book donations from the Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage (BCAH). A BIG thank you to Ruchi Pinisette, who organized the book donations from the BCAH.
What a fantastic month exploring new authors, different cultures, heroes, and heroines. Learning about diversity and inclusion is crucial to increase awareness of our differences, but most important is understanding that, in the end, we are all the same. We are human beings craving to belong, possessing strong feelings of being accepted and we share a desire to provide a bright future for our little ones.
The books inspired the Extended Learning teachers to explore new ideas and activities with our students. For instance, the older students visited the younger students to read the books as reading buddies, and students learned about important characters like Yo-Yo Ma, Duke Kahanamoku, Kahlil Gibran, Hazel Ying Lee, Maya Lin, Patsy Mink, Kamala Harris, and many others. Some of the activities were collaborating on a paper quilt, designing bookmark affirmations, incorporating facts and crafts, creating superheroes capes, Polynesian surfboards, Korean turtle ships, tiki masks, paper moon, and having students discover the meanings of their names.
Check out the artwork made by our students, which will be displayed on Thursday, June 8th, at the end of the school year celebration.
Our students learned that honoring inclusion is an experience that should be embraced by all.
Maridel V. Perdomo, she/her/hers
Program Director
Winn Brook Extended Learning
https://winnbrookexl.org/
1. AAPI Restaurant Week (5/7 - 5/14/2023)
From May 7 to May 14, some AAPI restaurants in Belmont will showcase diversity of Asian cuisine. Special dishes and/or discounts will be offered. Please click here for details.
2. AAPI Speaker Series
3:00-5:00 PM, Sunday, May 14 & 12:00-1:30 PM, Saturday, May 20
Assembly Room, Belmont Public Library
We've invited inspirational AAPI persons who excel in fields such as science/technology, business, politics, healthcare, education, literature, etc. to be our panelists. They will share stories about their lives, careers, successes, and struggles.
Please click here to see their bios.
3. Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage Student Essay Contest
We are sponsoring an essay contest for 7th to 12th grade students in Belmont. Winners will receive gift certificate prizes and publication in a book!
Write an essay of 300-500 words on either of the following topics:
- Describe how a person or an experience with AAPI roots has impacted or shaped your community or personal life as an American.
- Discuss what AAPI heritage means to you or to the Belmont Community.
Important Note: One does not need to be of AAPI heritage to submit. AAPI influences are everywhere (e.g. food, culture, travel, experiences, books, music) and we encourage you to share your own personal, unique, and creative perspective!
Deadline: Wednesday, 11:59 PM, June 7th, 2023 (extended for two weeks)
Click this link for submission instructions and other details.
4. AAPI Book Donation & the Guest Reader Program
We'll work with the teachers and the curriculum directors of the Belmont Public Schools again this year to donate AAPI books to the school district. Parent volunteers will read some of these books to the students as guest readers during the library time in four elementary schools.
Here is what teacher is saying
The meaning of belonging and equality is just what we explored in depth during May with the book donations from the Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage (BCAH). A BIG thank you to Ruchi Pinisette, who organized the book donations from the BCAH.
What a fantastic month exploring new authors, different cultures, heroes, and heroines. Learning about diversity and inclusion is crucial to increase awareness of our differences, but most important is understanding that, in the end, we are all the same. We are human beings craving to belong, possessing strong feelings of being accepted and we share a desire to provide a bright future for our little ones.
The books inspired the Extended Learning teachers to explore new ideas and activities with our students. For instance, the older students visited the younger students to read the books as reading buddies, and students learned about important characters like Yo-Yo Ma, Duke Kahanamoku, Kahlil Gibran, Hazel Ying Lee, Maya Lin, Patsy Mink, Kamala Harris, and many others. Some of the activities were collaborating on a paper quilt, designing bookmark affirmations, incorporating facts and crafts, creating superheroes capes, Polynesian surfboards, Korean turtle ships, tiki masks, paper moon, and having students discover the meanings of their names.
Check out the artwork made by our students, which will be displayed on Thursday, June 8th, at the end of the school year celebration.
Our students learned that honoring inclusion is an experience that should be embraced by all.
Maridel V. Perdomo, she/her/hers
Program Director
Winn Brook Extended Learning
https://winnbrookexl.org/
Asian Culture Night Presented by Belmont High School Asian American Club (BHS AAC)
6 PM, Saturday, May 27
BHS Auditorium
Event profits this year will be donated to UNICEF, an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide.
Sponsorship opportunities at different levels available!
6 PM, Saturday, May 27
BHS Auditorium
Event profits this year will be donated to UNICEF, an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide.
Sponsorship opportunities at different levels available!
Free Museum of Science Admission
All Weekends in May
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Every May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrates the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Throughout the month of May, the Museum of Science presents a series of guest speakers and activities. And on every Saturday and Sunday in May, admission to the Museum is FREE!
All Weekends in May
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Every May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrates the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Throughout the month of May, the Museum of Science presents a series of guest speakers and activities. And on every Saturday and Sunday in May, admission to the Museum is FREE!
Meet the director and producer of documentary film Far East Deep South
Last year, Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage and the Chinese American Association of Lexington - CAAL co-organized the AAPI documentary Far East Deep South screenings, followed by a live online Q&A session with the film director Larissa Lam and producer Baldwin Chiu with great success. On the 4th and 6th of this May, Larissa and Baldwin will visit Boston for two in-person screening and discussion events. Details and ticket information are available here.
Last year, Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage and the Chinese American Association of Lexington - CAAL co-organized the AAPI documentary Far East Deep South screenings, followed by a live online Q&A session with the film director Larissa Lam and producer Baldwin Chiu with great success. On the 4th and 6th of this May, Larissa and Baldwin will visit Boston for two in-person screening and discussion events. Details and ticket information are available here.
2023 Belmont AAPI Run
Join hundreds of runners and walkers in our community for a 5K race & 2K fun run on Sunday, May 7, 2023 to raise the voices and visibility of AAPI residents in Belmont!
The run is organized by the Belmont Chinese American Association (BCAA) and sponsored by local businesses.
Click the image on the left for more details.
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the 2nd annual Belmont AAPI Run!
Look for your race day pictures? Here is the link. The complete 5K race results can be found here.
The run is organized by the Belmont Chinese American Association (BCAA) and sponsored by local businesses.
Click the image on the left for more details.
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the 2nd annual Belmont AAPI Run!
Look for your race day pictures? Here is the link. The complete 5K race results can be found here.
2022 Event Highlights
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Fundraising for AAPI Heritage Fund by Belmont athletes
Monday, April 18 Congratulations! Our athletes crossed the finish line at the 126th Boston Marathon. They run their race to support the Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage Fund. We're so proud of them! Lixin Qin 3:14:24 Yi Zhang 3:41:46 Cheng Zhong 2:55:39 Update: Total fund raised as of 6/1/2022 - $5,694 For Ms. Zhang and Mr. Qin, this was their first Boston Marathon. Please check out their fundraising pages and congratulate them! |
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Virtual Celebration with the producers of documentary film Far East Deep South
Friday, April 29 Co-organized by the Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage and the Chinese American Association of Lexington (CAAL) and co-sponsored by 18 organizations, the screenings and the live Q&A session of the AAPI documentary "Far East Deep South'' was a resounding success. Both events were well-attended and well-received. We have over 400 participants in total attending either the virtual or four in-person screenings. There were over 1,200 views (and counting) of the recording of the Q&A session. In addition, we have received great feedback from the students, parents, and other community members. For a replay of the Q&A session, please click either one of the links below: BCAA YouTube live or BARTV YouTube Live For more details about these events, please click here. This project was funded in part by a grant from the Belmont Cultural Council (BCC), a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. |
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Inaugural AAPI 5K Run ‘n’ Walk
Sunday, May 1 Congratulations to the winners and every runner and walker who participated in the inaugural AAPI 5K Run ‘n’ Walk! You were amazing! Race Results Thank you for supporting the AAPI community in Belmont and the Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage Fund. The 5K kicked off the AAPI Heritage Month celebrations, and we are off to a good start! The AAPI 5K Run 'n' Walk is organized by the Belmont Chinese American Association (BCAA) and sponsored by local businesses. |
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Belmont Public Library Seminars
Tuesday, May 3 & Wednesday, May 11 In honor of the AAPI Heritage Month, Belmont Public Library will host two virtual seminars this May. The first seminar is at 7:00 PM EDT, MAY 3 by Professor Vicente “Vince” Diaz. He will share how Indigenous canoes and waterways among Dakota and immigrant Pacific Islanders prove to be crucial site of Indigenous political, cultural, and intellectual resurgence for the 21st century. Please sign up here. The second seminar is at 7:00 pm EDT Wednesday, May 11. The Chinese- American author Robin Yuan will speak on his book Red Bishop, the story of his grandfather Robin Chen, the last presiding bishop of the Anglican Church in China. See event description and register here. |
AAPI Cooking Class and a Classic Movie
Friday, May 20
The Beech Street Center is hosting two exciting events to celebrate the AAPI Heritage Month!
AAPI Cooking Class with Roberta Hing, 11 - 1 p.m.
The class includes dishes from three different countries. We’ll start with fresh Vietnamese spring rolls - healthy and delicious - and an addictive dipping sauce for them. Next, we’ll make classic Chinese dumplings - a symbolic food in Chinese culture. Finally, we’ll make a refreshing Thai mango ice cream - so simple and decadent. At the end of class, we’ll enjoy our creations. Cost: $25.
Feature Film: The Joy Luck Club, 1 p.m.
The Joy Luck Club is a 1993 drama film about four older women, all Chinese immigrants living in San Francisco, who meet regularly to play mahjong, eat, and tell stories. Each of these women has an adult Chinese-American daughter. The film reveals the hidden pasts of the older women and their daughters and how their lives are shaped by the clash of Chinese and American cultures as they strive to understand their family bonds and one another. Cost: Free.
Please call 617-993-2970 or go to Myrec to register.
Friday, May 20
The Beech Street Center is hosting two exciting events to celebrate the AAPI Heritage Month!
AAPI Cooking Class with Roberta Hing, 11 - 1 p.m.
The class includes dishes from three different countries. We’ll start with fresh Vietnamese spring rolls - healthy and delicious - and an addictive dipping sauce for them. Next, we’ll make classic Chinese dumplings - a symbolic food in Chinese culture. Finally, we’ll make a refreshing Thai mango ice cream - so simple and decadent. At the end of class, we’ll enjoy our creations. Cost: $25.
Feature Film: The Joy Luck Club, 1 p.m.
The Joy Luck Club is a 1993 drama film about four older women, all Chinese immigrants living in San Francisco, who meet regularly to play mahjong, eat, and tell stories. Each of these women has an adult Chinese-American daughter. The film reveals the hidden pasts of the older women and their daughters and how their lives are shaped by the clash of Chinese and American cultures as they strive to understand their family bonds and one another. Cost: Free.
Please call 617-993-2970 or go to Myrec to register.
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Asian Culture Night
Friday, May 20 The Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage Fund is one of the proud sponsors of this year's Asian Culture Night organized by the Belmont High School Asian American Club (BHS AAC). This is one of the club's most engaging activities of the year, showing younger generations that Belmont is a place where we value diversity, embrace our heritage, and celebrate each other. All profits this year are to be donated to UNICEF. |
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AAPI Book donation and the guest reader program
May, 2022 The Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage made a donation of 140 AAPI books to the Belmont Public Schools (BPS). For the 4 elementary schools, 8 copies of 10 biography books of inspiring AAPI figures, selected by our volunteers, were donated to school libraries and are being used to support the guest reader program. For the high school, 5 copies of 12 books, selected based on the recommendations of the BPS teachers and administrators, were donated to diversify the English language arts curriculum by following the Belmont Diversity Task Force guideline. What is new this year is our guest reader program. With the help from the school and the district, our Winn Brook Asian-American parent volunteers have carefully chosen 10 biography books that showcase the incredible work done by many AAPI role models in America. Both Asian and non-Asian heritage parents are encouraged to read these books to the students as guest readers during the library time. This program was later rolled out successfully in other three elementary schools. Students are excited to learn about inspiring AAPI figures and their contributions. The AAPI book guest reader program during the AAPI Heritage Month has officially brought the parent reader activity that has been canceled for over two years due to the global pandemic back to our elementary schools. |
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AAPI-themed poster exhibits
May, 2022 Congratulations to the AAPI poster design contest winners Vince Huang, Alex He, Emily He, and Annie Liu! 2022 AAPI posters 2021 AAPI posters Schedule of the AAPI poster exhibits: Week of 5/1 - Wellington Elementary Week of 5/8 - Winn Brook Elementary Week of 5/15 - Burbank Elementary Week of 5/22 - Butler Elementary Weeks of 5/1 and 5/8 - Belmont High School Weeks of 5/15 and 5/22 - Chenery Middle School Eight AAPI-themed posters designed by the Belmont High School Asian American Club (BHS AAC) students were displayed at all six of Belmont’s public schools in May, 2021. These posters drew the attention of many students to the diverse history, cultures, and role models of Asian-American communities. In 2022, six more posters, including four that are designed by elementary school and lower middle school students through a poster design contest, and two new posters again by BHS AAC, are added to our collection. The funding of this project was provided by the Belmont Celebrates AAPI Heritage Fund. |
Banner photos by courtesy of Helen Zhang, David Hu, Ganesh Ramachandran, D. Young, Jane Guo, Sophie Wang, Xinxin Guo,
Guoliang Yu, and Yufei Xu. All images used with permission.
Copyright © 2021-2024 belmontcelebratesaapiheritage.org All rights reserved.
For questions, please contact belmontcelebratesaapiheritage@gmail.com.
Guoliang Yu, and Yufei Xu. All images used with permission.
Copyright © 2021-2024 belmontcelebratesaapiheritage.org All rights reserved.
For questions, please contact belmontcelebratesaapiheritage@gmail.com.