Find Out How to Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month in 2022 Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

Learn Feast and Celebrate With 2022 AAPI Heritage Month Events

Take a Filipino cooking class visit a Bruce Lee exhibit and attend festivals

Chris Hondros / Getty Images More than 30 years ago, for the first time, Congress designated May as what’s now called Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month as a way to officially recognize and celebrate the community. Since then, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have become the in the United States, with a population that’s expected to surpass 35 million by 2060, according to the Pew Research Center. This multicultural community encompasses people who speak more than 100 languages with roots in more than 20 countries, including China, India and the Pacific islands, such as Samoa. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. This year, AAPI Heritage Month comes as the community continues to grapple with anti-Asian attacks, including against . But there is also plenty to celebrate. “With the spike in anti-Asian hate and rhetoric, it’s an opportunity to pause and reflect on the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to the fabric of America,” says Roland Hwang, vice president of public affairs for OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates and cofounder of American Citizens for Justice. It’s “an opportunity for Americans to appreciate who we are, as members and contributors to society, and to celebrate that.” Having spent much of the past two-plus years supporting , as well as combating anti-Asian hate, AAPI community members have the chance in May to celebrate being together in person. “With everything that’s happening in our community, I’m glad we have our space and events where our communities are centered,” says Emilio Manuel Camu, whose roles include director of the Asian Link Project and director of the Pilipino American Association of Utah. Read on for ways to observe AAPI Heritage Month.

Support Asian-owned businesses and restaurants

As pandemic restrictions ease, go out and support Asian-owned restaurants and . Many Asian neighborhoods were hard hit financially and otherwise by the COVID-19 pandemic and some saw a drop-off in business due to anti-Asian rhetoric, says Debbie Chen, executive vice president for OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates. and food businesses. A work in progress, it launches May 1 for AAPI Heritage Month, with some of the businesses offering special restaurant promotions through early June. Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers > “Food is such an important part of our community,” Chen says. “My hope is that part of AAPI Heritage Month is to support small mom-and-pop businesses, going out to eat, ordering takeout and celebrating this month with your families and friends.” If you’d rather provide support virtually, take a tour through Gold House’s , featuring AAPI-owned businesses. Gold House, a nonprofit supporting AAPI entrepreneurs, creators and leaders, established the online marketplace to showcase AAPI-founded start-ups. Many of the businesses will offer special discounts during AAPI Heritage Month.

Dive into AAPI books and entertainment

Take the opportunity to learn more about the lives, experiences and rich histories of AAPI communities through , films and shows. Throughout May, for example, the Asian Authors Alliance will post featuring conversations with AAPI authors. also reviews the latest books, films and television shows through a South Asian American lens. Or tune into a podcast, featuring stories about the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, and produced by Densho, an organization that preserves Japanese American stories. , the annual film festival organized by the Center for Asian American Media, will run May 12-22 with a full lineup of virtual and in-person showings, plus food and music in the San Francisco Bay Area. Pacific Islanders in Communications also offers compelling documentaries and films, including the documentary series , an authentic look at Pacific Islander culture and issues. OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates is also launching a series of videos and virtual events during May highlighting the relationship and deep history AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe and food businesses. A work in progress, it launches May 1 for AAPI Heritage Month, with some of the businesses offering special restaurant promotions through early June. Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers > “Food is such an important part of our community,” Chen says. “My hope is that part of AAPI Heritage Month is to support small mom-and-pop businesses, going out to eat, ordering takeout and celebrating this month with your families and friends.” If you’d rather provide support virtually, take a tour through Gold House’s , featuring AAPI-owned businesses. Gold House, a nonprofit supporting AAPI entrepreneurs, creators and leaders, established the online marketplace to showcase AAPI-founded start-ups. Many of the businesses will offer special discounts during AAPI Heritage Month.

TREND NOW

Find Out How to Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month in 2022

Learn Feast and Celebrate With 2022 AAPI Heritage Month Events

Take a Filipino cooking class visit a Bruce Lee exhibit and attend festivals

Support Asian-owned businesses and restaurants

Dive into AAPI books and entertainment

Dive into AAPI books and entertainment

Comments (0)