HOUSTON, June 1, 2024 — Asia Society Texas celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with the fourth annual presentation of its 31 Ways to Celebrate APAH Month calendar.

Designated as APAH Month in 1992, May was selected by Congress in commemoration of the May 1843 immigration of the first Japanese people to the U.S. and the May 1859 completion of the transcontinental railroad that was made possible by thousands of Chinese laborers. Over the last three decades, the month has been a dedicated time to honor Asian Pacific American heritage.

The 2024 calendar — AST's most robust yet — featured an exciting lineup of live programs and an expanded array of on-demand content including Staff Picks for what to read, watch, and listen to and Deep Dive articles exploring genres such as video games and Bollywood films. Additional content celebrated the vibrant diversity, stories, and traditions of Houston's communities through Foodie Friday features on local restaurants and Spotlights on community partners, volunteers, and the Houston leaders highlighted in AST's Adventures of Asia online learning platform.

Live Events

Panel discussions included AST's signature Bank of America Women's Leadership Series, whose ninth season concluded with a discussion on workplace inclusivity led by Rice University professors Dr. Mikki Hebl and Dr. Eden King and TakeRoot TakeRoot Leadership Consulting and Coaching president Judy Le in conversation with Bank of America Houston president Hong Ogle. A panel in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston and the Korean Economic Institute examined the status of the U.S.–South Korea relationship, including challenges posed by China and North Korea.

For a sold-out crowd in AST's second Homegrown Houston tasting tour, a roster of local chefs curated by Street to Kitchen's Benchawan Jabthong Painter and Graham Painter presented tasty dishes and drinks to the theme of "All Asian, No Fusion." Julian Saporiti's No-No Boy project returned with collaborator Emilia Halvorsen Saporiti for an encore concert celebrating the new album Empire Electric and illuminating hidden Asian American histories through folk songs, live projections, and storytelling.

Literary-focused programs included a free educator workshop highlighting the Freeman Award-winning graphic novel The Boy From Clearwater, an author talk with CEO and TED speaker James Rhee, and the third annual BIPOC Book Fest, whose showcase of panels, readings, and a book fair centered Black, Indigenous, people of color, and other creatives representing marginalized communities.

The month concluded with a whirlwind weekend featuring a saké tasting tour event as well as a sold-out author talk with Kevin Kwan — the iconic author of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy and new book Lies and Weddings — who enthralled a full house with reflections on his career and upbringing in the Houston suburbs.

Throughout the month, AST's exhibitions Explore Asia, Xu Bing: Word Alchemy, and Rafael Domenech and Tomas Vu: Heat Silhouette were highlighted through free Thursday admission presented by Regions Bank, 23 guided tours for private groups and nine schools, Super Saturday activities, Wellness Series classes in partnership with the Jung Center, and community-led events. In addition to free exhibition admission and discounted tickets, AST members enjoyed a screening of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings at an exclusive appreciation event.

Outreach Events

Offsite programming included ExxonMobil's Asian Heritage Fair, bp's AAPI Market, CenterPoint's Asian Professional Network event, David Peck Book Club, an AANHPI Networking Mixer and an Asian Restaurant Month Luncheon hosted by the Asian Chamber of Commerce, and a mixer hosted by the Korean American Chamber of Commerce. AST's Education and Outreach team presented interactive workshops at five Harris County Public Library branches, a schoolwide lion dance performance at HISD's Mandarin Immersion Magnet School, and additional workshops with the Houston Astros, HISD's Ed White Elementary, and Pasadena Library. Education and Outreach Manager Phuong Ha moderated a conversation with MasterChef Season 3 winner Christine Ha at Robinson-West Chase Neighborhood Library.

Community Support

Finally, AST was honored to receive proceeds donated by Houston-area restaurants and businesses including David Peck, Lena's Asian Kitchen, Riel, Parlor Doughnuts, Saigon Pagolac, Raising Cane's, Blood Bros BBQ, and Sunday Press.

APAH Month at AST was presented by Regions Bank. Additional APAH Month sponsors include Comcast and Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP. Houstonia was the official media sponsor. School workshops and the lion dance were funded by the Arts Action Fund @ Arts Connect Houston.

Past APAH Month Calendars

2023: Highlights | Details
2022: Highlights | Details
2021: Details

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.

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