NIU celebrates Asian American heritage in the month of APril

ASIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH - APRIL '03

NIU celebrates Asian American heritage in the month of April, focusing on the cultures, heritage and accomplishments of Asians and Asian Americans.

Each year in May our country celebrates its diversity and focuses on the Asian and Pacific American community and experience. First celebrated in 1979 as Asian/Pacific Heritage Week, since 1990 the month of May has been designated as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. But because May 15 is the end of the spring semester at NIU we decided to celebrate the month of April as the Asian American heritage month.

The United States has gained a rich cultural heritage from Asian and Pacific Islander immigrants. Asian and Pacific Americans have contributed to all aspects of American popular culture and to advances in science that influence all other American's lives.

According to the U. S. Census Bureau , 7.2 million U. S. residents in 2000 were born in Asia. This number comprises 26% of the nation's total foreign-born population. Still, there are only about 10 million Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States, or 4 percent of the total population. The diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander American population includes members of more than 30 ethnic groups who speak more than 300 languages and dialects.

White House Proclamation of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, 2001

There are many activities lined up throughout the month to celebrate the Asian and Asian American Heritage.

Click Here for the Calendar of Events for April.