AA-NH/PI Heritage Month 2023

Asian American-Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month has been nationally recognized in the month of May by Congress since 1977. On the EWU campus, we honor this month by recognizing and celebrating the contributions, rich history, and diversity of AA-NH/PI people, and by standing in solidarity with these communities at EWU, in Cheney, Spokane, and globally.

On behalf of the EWU AA-NH/PI Planning Committee we invite you to participate in the many events throughout the month. Please see our calendar below. If you have any questions please contact John Hoffschneider jhoffschneider@ewu.edu

Library Resources for AANHPI Heritage Month

AANHPI Month Materials Display

May 1 to May 31, 2023

Location: JFK Lobby

Featuring some of the library’s recent books on AANHPI histories and cultures, including children’s books from the Curriculum Center.

View the collection of EWU Library AANHPI resource suggestions:  https://research.ewu.edu/AANHPI

For more information, please contact Qing Stellwagen at qstellwagen@ewu.edu and Steven Bingo at sbingo@ewu.edu


“Dear Corky” Documentary Screening + Panel with Filmmaker Curtis Chin

May 1, 2023 | 6pm-7:30pm 

Location: Magic Lantern Theatre, 25 W. Main Ave. Spokane

The event will include a screening of the documentary film “Dear Corky” about the influential Asian American photographer, Corky Lee, who documented significant moments in Asian American communities for decades.

Author and Filmmaker Curtis Chin will talk about the making of the film and answer questions from the audience. 

This event is co-sponsored by EWU and APIC-Spokane

For more information please contact Dr. Pui-Yan Lam at plam@ewu.edu


Filmmaker and Author Curtis Chin on his memoir Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant with Q&A

May 2, 2023 | 12pm-1:30pm

Location: PUB 317/319

Filmmaker and Author Curtis Chin on his memoir Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant .

Curtis Chin’s memoir about coming of age and coming out traces the author’s journey through 1980’s Detroit as he navigated rising xenophobia, the AIDS epidemic, and the Reagan Revolution to find his voice as a writer and activist — all set against the backdrop of his family’s popular Chinese restaurant.

The book, which features plenty of Chinese food, Motown vibes, and crack cocaine, will be published by Little, Brown in the fall of 2023.

This event will be live-streamed at https://ewu.zoom.us/j/99010729043

For more information please contact Dr. Pui-Yan Lam at plam@ewu.edu


Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders Club: Lu’au 2023- It takes a Village

May 6, 2023 | Doors open at 3pm

Location: EWU- Pavilion Reese Courts

On behalf of the Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders Club of EWU, we invite you to spend an evening in the Pacific! Members of the NHPI Club will be performing Polynesian, Melanesian, and Micronesian dances to celebrate and share their heritage with the Eastern Washington University and surrounding community.

This event not only includes a show, but Polynesian dishes and catering.

Please go to following link for tickets: Tickets

For more information, please contact Rosary Sami at rsami1@ewu.edu


“From the public schools to the public sector”- Labor Secretary Leila Clark Fleming-Staffler, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands

May 11, 2023 | 12pm-1:30pm

Location PUB 319

Secretary of Labor Staffler is a politician and former educator from the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI), a small U.S. territory in the Pacific. A member of the Democratic Party, Staffler served on the 22nd Commonwealth House of Representatives for Precinct Five and was a part of the first all female tandem to run in the CNMI 2022 gubernatorial election. Despite not winning the gubernatorial election, she was nominated and confirmed to serve as Labor Secretary. Secretary Staffler has dedicated over 20 years to public service, doing what she can to improve conditions for the residents of the CNMI.

Prior to her role in the government, she served as an educator in the CNMI Public School System from 2001-2020. She has taught for Tinian Jr. Sr. High School (Tinian) and transitioned to Kagman High School (Saipan). While at Kagman High School, she moved to administration with her advancement to Vice-Principal and eventual Principal in 2013. In 2020, she made the decision to resign her position at KHS to run for the CNMI House of Representatives.

Secretary Staffler will be talk about her journey from the small islands in the Pacific, her college education in the Pacific Northwest, returning to work in the classroom, and transition to her role in government.

For more information, please contact John B. Hoffschneider at jhoffschneider@ewu.edu


Diversity Essentials: How Can We Better Support Our Asian/Asian-American Students

May 18, 2023 | 12pm-1:30pm

Location: PUB 317

This workshop will be facilitated by Pui-Yan Lam, Professor of Sociology and Justice Studies at EWU. this workshop, we will take an intersectional approach to look at the complex and diverse Asian American populations, learn about identity development among Asian American students, and discuss strategies to help address common challenges faced by Asian American students.

Please register for the workshop at: https://forms.gle/wEvcAurPMgYdkK9v7

For more information, please contact Dr. Pui-Yan Lam at plam@ewu.edu


Asian Student Association-Spring Market 2023

May 25, 2023 | 10am-3pm

Location: Arevalo Campus Mall

The Asian Student Association (ASA) will be having their inaugural Spring Market. This baked goods fundraising event will feature Asian pre-packaged snacks, silent auction, and other items to raise funds for their student organization. Other student organizations will be present with booths set up providing similar items for sale.

For more information, please contact Anna Pugh at apugh2@ewu.edu


Cultural Conversation: EWU and the AA-NH/PI Student Experience.

May 31, 2023 | 12-1:30pm

Location: PUB 319

This program provides a panel of Asian/Asian American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander student experience at Eastern Washington University.

Students will share their experiences at EWU to highlight and bring attention to the unique needs of this community.

We encourage staff, faculty, and fellow students to come and learn form the shared experiences to provide a greater understand of this particular community.

For more information, please contact John B. Hoffschneider at jhoffschneider@ewu.edu


Thank you to our sponsors and planning committee members!

Sponsors: Multicultural CenterEagle EntertainmentEagle SoundASEWUEWU LibrariesStudent Activities, Involvement & LeadershipOffice of Diversity, Equity & InclusionAPIC –  Spokane Chapter

AA-NH/PI Month Planning Committee: Pui-Yan Lam, Qing Stellwagen, Michael Ochi, Steven Bingo, Giovanny Rosario, Nick Franco, and John Hoffschneider.