Community Spotlight: Lharissa Jacobs and Fit Houston
Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2025 with our calendar of live events, recommendations, and on-demand content!
Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people — and our work to advance cultural exchange is possible in large part thanks to the community partners with whom we've collaborated over the years. Each of these numerous organizations and individuals brings a unique background and area of expertise that, combined with their passion and generosity, help strengthen and enrich our programs, from innovative arts to energetic festivals and camps to lively panel discussions.
Through our Community Spotlights, we're excited to shine a light on some of our partners with whom we've been fortunate to collaborate over the years.
About Fit Houston
Fit Houston is an Asian-led nonprofit organization that encourages Houstonians to live active and healthy lifestyles. Founded in January 2022 by Lharissa Jacobs with a mission of inspiring vibrant minds, bodies and communities through free or low-cost physical activity, Fit Houston envisions a city where every community is active, vibrant, and energetic — where children arrive at school excited and ready to learn, and where everyone has access to outdoor spaces that promote a healthy lifestyle.
What we enjoy about partnering with Fit Houston
We enjoy working with Fit Houston because they are committed to uplifting the entire Houston community. They host multilingual Community Walking Groups throughout the week in different areas of Houston as well as larger events and programs. Their walks are free to join and are great opportunities to meet fellow Houstonians while building community and promoting healthy lifestyles. The walks also frequently feature expert speakers who share information about healthy living and wellness.
Fit Houston is also working to create FitLots, a network of outdoor fitness parks throughout the city offering free access to fitness equipment and free fitness classes for all.
What Fit Houston enjoys about partnering with us
Fit Houston executive director Lharissa Jacobs says, “I’m thrilled to partner with Asia Society Texas because they recognize the importance of cultural exchange and the strength found in diverse perspectives. By promoting physical activity and cultural understanding, we can create an environment where empathy thrives and communities flourish. Just as Fit Houston champions health and wellness, Asia Society Texas celebrates cultural diversity and aims to inspire a deeper understanding of our interconnected world. Together, we can enrich the lives of those in our communities, emphasizing the transformative power of both physical health and cultural appreciation.”
What we're looking forward to next!
We’re excited to partner with Fit Houston for a walk through the Museum District Walk on Saturday, May 17. The walk will include several Asian-inspired landmarks in the Museum District, including the Japanese Garden and Taipei Sister City Friendship Pavilion. After the walk, we will welcome all participants at Asia Society Texas for coffee, refreshments and a guided art tour of the Hung Hsien: Between Worlds exhibition.
Registration is free and available here.
About APAH Month at Asia Society Texas
Beginning in 2021, Asia Society Texas has celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with the Houston community and beyond through a curated calendar of events for 31 ways to celebrate over the 31 days of May. Spotlighting the traditions, talents, and contributions of Asians and Asian Americans, the calendar highlights the month's key Asia Society programming, providing a platform to showcase local artists, performers, educators, and leaders who contribute to the vibrant, multicultural tapestry of Houston while also featuring staff recommendations for our favorite music, books, movies, and more by Asian and Asian American creatives.
At Asia Society Texas, APAH Month is an opportunity to celebrate and honor Asians and Asian Americans and to uplift their stories to a broader audience as part of our goal to inspire our larger community to better understand one another through culture, conversation, and connection. For information about sponsoring APAH Month and other projects like this one, please contact Saleena Jafry at [email protected] or 713.496.9939.
Presenting Sponsor of APAH Month at Asia Society Texas
Sponsors of APAH Month
Comcast
CITGO
APAH Month 2025 Calendar
Digital Calendar Interactive/Printable PDF
Past APAH Month Calendars
2024: Highlights | Details
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.
