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 events below. If you have any questions please contact John Hoffschneider jhoffschneider@ewu.edu
Library Resources for AANHPI Heritage Month
AANHPI Month Library Book Display
May 1 to May 31, 2025
Location: John F. Kennedy Library Lobby EWU Cheney Campus
Celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month with our curated collection of books highlighting the rich and diverse cultures, histories, and experiences of AANHPI communities. From compelling memoirs to captivating fiction, explore stories that showcase the resilience, contributions, and achievements of AANHPI individuals throughout history. Discover voices that illuminate the beauty of cultural traditions, navigate the complexities of identity, and shed light on the challenges and triumphs faced by these vibrant communities. Join us in honoring and amplifying AANHPI voices this Heritage Month through the power of literature.
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
EWU AANPHI Month 2025: Opening Keynote
Faaluaina (Lua) Pritchard, Executive Director- Asian Pacific Culture Center in Tacoma
Friday May 2, 2025 12pm-1:30 pm
Location: Pence Union Building (PUB) 317/319 and Zoom
Faaluaina Pritchard is the Executive Director since May 2010 and has been with APCC since early 1997. She is the executive leader of operations for APCC. She hails from the village of Amouli in American Samoa. She came to America in 1966 at the age of ten and landed in San Francisco, CA. There she was educated from elementary to graduating from Carson High School in Southern California and attended Pepperdine University in Malibu.
Faaluaina has over 35 years of non-profit management experience. She was the Executive Director of Korean Women’s Association from 1996 to 2009; and was with KWA for 19.5 years. Under her leadership there – they developed close to $100 million valued housing and community projects. In 2023, she received the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Community Leadership Award from University of Washington Tacoma. Most recently, she received the Dr. Claudia Thomas Community Service award from the Lakewood Multicultural Coalition.
Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Club
19th Annual Lu’au
May 3, 2025 | Doors open at 4:00 pm
Location: EWU Cheney Campus- Reece Courts 1136 Washington St, Cheney, WA 99004
EWU’s Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander ClubTicket Information:
It’s Dinner and a Show! EWU students $23 and Community Members $30 per ticket
Tickets can be purchased here.
Our Stories w/ Northwest MAC, ACL-Spokane, EWU Library, & Spokane Libraries
May 3, 2025 | 11am-3pm
Location: Northwest Museum of Art & Culture– 2316 W 1st Ave, Spokane, WA 99201
Asian Graduation Celebration by ACL-Spokane
May 4, 2025 | 3pm-5pm
Location: The Philanthropy Center Spokane- 1020 W Riverside Ave, Spokane, WA 99201
The Asians for Collective Liberation-Spokane organization will be coordinating an evening of academic, community and cultural celebrations for graduating students from the various high schools, community colleges, and four year universities.
Space is limited, so we ask Graduating students so we ask to RSVP at this link
An Evening with Viet Thanh Nguyen at Spokane Public Library Central Branch
May 8, 2025 | 6:30 pm-8pm
Location: Spokane Library- Central Branch 906 W Main Ave, Spokane, WA 99201
Born in war-raved Vietnam, Viet Nguyen arrived in the United States as a child refugee in 1975. The Nguyen family would soon move to San Jose, California, where the author grew up and attend the University of California-Berkley in the aftermath of the shocking murder of Vincent Chin, which shaped the political sensibilities of a new generation of Asian Americans.
Intersection of Race, Class, Gender and Immigration Status- the Work of Seattle’s Massage Parlor Outreach Project
Tuesday May 13, 2025 | 1 pm-2:30 pm
Location: Women & Gender Education Center, Monroe Hall 207. Livestream here
Sponsored by Department of Sociology and Justice Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies Program
Asian Student Association of EWU-509 MARKET
Wednesday May 14, 2025 | 10 am-2pm
Location: Pence Union Building Skirt– 926 Elm Street Cheney, WA 99004
The Asian Student Association (ASA) will be having their annual 509 Market event! This baked goods fundraising event will feature Asian pre-packaged snacks, mystery box, 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 Jordi Yamauchi jyamauchi@ewu.edu
Strategic Organizing in Beacon Hill Aviation & During Times of Chaos
by Maria Batayola, Beacon Hill Council, Chair and El Centro De La Raza Environmental Justice Coordinator
- Friday, May 23, 2025
- 12-1pm Catalyst Campus Room 309
- Sponsored by Urban and Regional Planning, EWU
Thank you to our sponsors and planning committee members!
Partners and Sponsors
- Asians for Collective Liberation in Spokane – you can see their full list of heritage month events here.
- Asian Students Association
- College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Department of English and Social Work
- Department of Sociology and Justice Studies
- JLR Multicultural Center
- Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Club
- School of Social Work
- Spokane Public Library
- Urban and Regional Planning Program
- Women and Gender’s Studies Program
