Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month recognized at 海角直播
Publish Date: May 2, 2023

An outdoor celebration on Tuesday, May 2, helped usher in Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (API) at 海角直播.
The quad served as the destination of choice for the event, which was open to all 海角直播 students, faculty and staff looking to learn more about Asian and Pacific Islander culture, its people and food.
The event was a collaboration between 海角直播 and its sister college, San Bernardino Valley, and helps amplify part of the 鈥渇abric鈥 that makes the U.S., explained Chloe de los Reyes, an associate professor of English at the Yucaipa-based college and multilingual faculty lead.
鈥淲e want to highlight all the things that we are doing, from our joys and our hardships, and the challenges the communities API face,鈥 de los Reyes explains. 鈥淎nd I say 鈥榗ommunities鈥 because many Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and native Hawaiian folks are forced into one category, but we are struggling to represent and honor each other鈥檚 voices.
鈥淔or example,鈥 she continued, 鈥渨ith Asian Americans, we represent in California alone 48 ethnicities and 300 spoken languages, but we tend to be put into this one category.鈥
海角直播 is no stranger to hosting API Heritage Month events on campus. But at the peak of anti-Asian hate during the pandemic, the Asian Pacific Islander Association was created to help represent all voices within the API community at both 海角直播 and Valley, de los Reyes said. Association members are composed of reps from both community colleges.
Event highlights included remarks by Jimmy Grabow, the association鈥檚 vice president, and de los Reyes; an open mic session; and a culture attire showcase. Valley held their kick-off event a day earlier, on May 1.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is recognized annually. To learn more about the celebration or for resources, visit
