April is officially designated as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month on campus at the University of Utah. The month celebrates the traditions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders that bring richness to campus through their sharing of familial unity.
The newly created Center for Community and Cultural Engagement (CCE) is developing programming to highlight the significant cultural contributions of the individual communities as well as the many values they all share.
“The national theme for AAPI Heritage Month is leadership and resilience,” said LeiLoni Allan McLaughlin, CCE director. “We are working with campus student organizations to do a panel discussion with the students to examine the cultural aspects of leadership and resilience within Asian, Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian cultures.”
Another planned event is a workshop with the Pacifica community to talk about the historical and cultural significance of lei making. Participants can learn to make leis for their friends and family who are graduating.
“Since this is the CCE’s first year, the center is gathering feedback from everyone across campus on how they would like their history and heritage preserved, celebrated and highlighted,” Allan McLaughlin said.
Biracial with Pacific Islander ancestry herself, Allan McLaughlin said, “I’ve been doing some reading and talking to people about Pacifica culture and especially the climate we’re navigating now. The community feels like it’s important and we are talking about how we need to highlight traditions like multi-generational households, which is something that is common in our culture.”
Having a family of varying ages and life experiences available to share their knowledge can be invaluable to people from every generation who are willing to listen and learn.
“Those are the most meaningful connection–when you get to sit down, you’re eating good food, you’re laughing and just being able to gain knowledge from your family,” Allan McLaughlin said. “Honestly, I feel like that’s how I’ve learned the most about my heritage.”