May is Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month, when the Northwestern community celebrates the diverse APIDA community on campus. The Northwestern APIDA community hosts a variety of speakers, events, shows, workshops, and performances throughout the month in addition to all the events hosted by Multicultural Student Affairs.
Solidari-Tea: MSA x APAC
May 25, 2025 | 5-6:30pm | MCC-107 | RSVP: https://bit.ly/4crYosD
Resisting Militarization in Oceania
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. As we center the Pacific Islander community, join us for a dialogue led by Lula Blas Fox, undergraduate student and co-president of Asian Pacific American Coalition (APAC).
Solidari-Tea
May 22, 2025 | 5-6:30pm | MCC-107 | RSVP: https://bit.ly/4crYosD
Imperial Narratives: Incomplete and diverging representations of the U.S. Pacific empire between the metropole and the periphery in K-12 Social Studies Education Standards
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. As we center the Pacific Islander community, join us for a dialogue led by Lauren Atalana Marsiglia, a PhD student in the Department of Sociology at NU.
NU Moon Reception
Saturday, May 31, 2025 | 5-7pm | Louis Room - Norris Center
As we conclude the end of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American (APIDA) heritage month and the 2024-2025 academic year, join us for our end of the year celebration. A celebration of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American (APIDA) community's accomplishments and culture on campus featuring MSA, AASP, Alumni, and most importantly the student community! Let us revisit our past, reflect on the present, and envision the future together. All are welcome to attend the event.
The Power of Chinatown with Dr. Laureen Hom
May 8, 2025 | 3:30pm | Crowe 1-132
Come listen to Dr. Laureen Hom's talk about her latest book, The Power of Chinatown!
The book includes over 4 years of intensive fieldwork in the 2010s, including interviews with over 50 community leaders and activists across generations, participant-observations in the neighborhood, and archival research spanning over 80 years of Chinatown's history. Dr. Hom interrogates how community leaders are responding to urban pressures that shape neighborhood development and what that means for creating community, political belonging, and a just future for Chinatown and beyond.
Dr. Hom is an interdisciplinary scholar and educator at the intersection of Urban Studies, Ethnic Studies, Public Administration, and Public Policy. Her research examines spatial politics, racialization, gentrification, (im)mobilities, and community formations in urban neighborhoods, with a particular emphasis in Asian Americans and immigrant communities in California.
No registration required.
BITTERROOT Screening and Discussion
May 8, 2025 | 6:30pm (Reception); 7:00pm (Screening) | Annie May Swift Hall | RSVP: Eventbrite
Please join AASP for an event organized with the Block Cinema—a screening of the feature film BITTERROOT, on May 8th!! Please click here to learn more about this event.
The film tells the fictional story of a Hmong man caring for his mother in rural Montana. It’s set in, and made in collaboration with, a real-life Hmong American community. It touches on many issues: intergenerational dynamics, grief, spirituality, familial expectations, community connection, assimilation, and more. The lead actor, Wa Yang, will be on campus for this event and we will have a post-screening discussion with both him and the director, Vera Brunner-Sung.
Kamakakēhau Fernandez Ukulele Workshop & Performance
May 9, 2025 | 6-7:30pm | Wirtz 201 (1949 Campus Drive) | RSVP: bit.ly/kamakanu
Join Asian American Studies Program for a special evening with Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning artist Kamakakēhau Fernandez, known for his soulful falsetto and deep love for Hawaiian language and tradition. Enjoy a live performance and ukulele workshop, with local food provided! In addition to the free workshop and performance, there is also a ticketed May Day Lei Day performance for Mother’s Day on May 10th ($45 tickets, discounted for NU students and staff)!
Don’t miss this unforgettable night of music and culture!
Franny Choi Poetry Reading and Q&A
May 28, 2025 | 5:00pm | Harris Hall 108 | RSVP: Eventbrite
Please join Northwestern’s Asian American Studies Program for a poetry reading, Q&A, and book signing with Franny Choi!
Franny Choi is a poet and essayist. Their books include The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On (Ecco, 2022), a finalist for the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award, Soft Science (Alice James Books, 2019), and Floating, Brilliant, Gone (Write Bloody Publishing, 2014). Franny’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Paris Review, and elsewhere. Franny is the current Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA and the founder of Brew & Forge. She has two books forthcoming: a collection of essays about robots, and an anthology, We the Gathered Heat: Asian American and Pacific Islander Poetry, Performance, and Spoken Word, co-edited with Terisa Siagatonu, No‘u Revilla, and Bao Phi. Franny is Faculty in Literature at Bennington College.
Space is limited, so please RSVP to reserve your ticket with EventBrite.
Following the Q&A, there will be a book signing line. Evanston's Bookends & Beginnings will provide copies of Franny's books for sale before and after the event.
Spring Speaker: Rosalie Chiang
Saturday, May 3, 2025 | 1pm | Tech LR3 |
Join Taiwanese American Students Association (TASA) and Hong Kong Student Association (HKSA) for their Spring Speaker event. Shining from a young age, Rosalie starred in the famous film "Turning Red" as the voice actor of Mei Lee and other fantastic roles in "Suzume", "Soiled", "The American Dream" and "Sakamoto Days". Don't miss out on the chance to hear her story of working as an Asian American actor!
Thai Night
Saturday, May 3, 2025 | 6-8pm | Parkes Hall
Join Thai Student Association (ThaiSA) to learn about Thai culture, play games, watch talented performances, and eat FREE Thai food!
Unfolded Zine: "Moment" Launch Party
Thursday, May 8, 2025 | 7pm | Multicultural Center (MCC)
Join Asian Pacific American Coaltion (APAC) and Unfoldedzine for their zine launch party!
KASA: sKuid games
Friday, May 9, 2025 | 7pm | Ryan Auditorium | Ticket: NBO
Get ready for an unforgettable experience of thrilling performances, featuring singing, dancing, taekwondo, and a special guest headliner you won’t want to miss! Step into the arena for a night filled with energy, talent, and surprises at KASA SHOW 2025: sKuid games. Tickets:- $5 for NU Students*- $10 for General Tickets
*NU students: remember to log in using your NetID to receive the discounted price!
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Northwestern KASA on Instagram @northwesternkasa or email kasa@u.northwestern.edu
NO REFUNDS - NO EXCHANGES
Pinoy Show 2025
Saturday, May 10, 2025 | 6-9pm – Tech Auditorium | Ticket: NBO
Kaibigan is excited to announce our 23rd annual Pinoy Show: Kai-ry Potter! Join us for an evening of music, cultural dances, hilarious skits and delicious Filipino food. See you at the Ryan Family Auditorium (2145 Sheridan Rd.) on Saturday, May 10 at 6 p.m. as we all meet the Pinoy Who Lived!
Tickets are $7 for NU undergrads and the general public. Includes admission to the show and a Filipino dinner* afterward.
Tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged. Please reach out to kaibigan@northwestern.edu or @nukaibigan on Instagram for any questions or concerns.
*Dinner portions are limited and are served on a first-come, first-served basis.
Asian Night Market
Friday, May 9, 2025 | 5-9pm | Oakton College | RSVP via Eventbrite
Come join us for a night filled with delicious AAPI food, vibrant cultural performances, and unique handmade crafts. Get ready to immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and flavors of Asia right here in our community!
Indulge in a variety of mouthwatering dishes from different Asian countries, watch traditional dances and music performances, and shop for one-of-a-kind souvenirs to take home. Bring your friends and family for a fun and unforgettable evening at Asian Night Market. See you there!
Umbrella Arts Festival 2025
Saturday, May 31, 2025 | 12-5pm | Fountain Square, Evanston | RSVP via Eventbrite
Evanston ASPA is hosting its 5th Annual Umbrella Arts Festival! This event is a celebration of Asian American art, music, dance, food and culture featuring over 50 artists, artisans and food vendors, traditional and contemporary performances, and many hands-on art and cultural activities for all ages to enjoy!