Celebrate AAPI Month at these Grand Rapids Public Library events

Madalyn Buursma
·2 min read

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month starts Wednesday, and the Grand Rapids Public Library is hosting several events to celebrate.

Starting May 1 and running throughout the whole month, the district will have a Grand Rapids’ Asian History Exhibit on display at the Main Library, in partnership with the Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Foundation.

On May 16 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Main Library, GRPL is hosting Jennifer Tompkins, the community history and education director for the Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Foundation, for a presentation called “Chinatown’s Most Prominent Family.” Tompkins will talk about Chan Hoy, Charles B. Young and Harry Clyatt, and the early Chinese community in Grand Rapids.

An event aimed at kids will take place on May 25 starting at 11 a.m. at the Main Library. Shifu Mei from the Golden Tiger Kung Fu Academy will give a demonstration on Taolu Wushu, a traditional form of Chinese Kung Fu, and will also teach kids the basics.

On May 30, three regional AAPI artists will talk on a panel about their work.

“We’re … going to have a really cool artist panel of regional artists who have AAPI heritage that can talk about how their identity affects their work and is incorporated into their work,” GRPL Librarian Betsy Zandstra said. “That’ll be a really interesting panel, I think, to learn more about AAPI artists in the region.”

All events are free, but registration is required for the artist panel.

Each GRPL branch will also have AAPI craft kits throughout the month for kids.

Zandstra said everyone is welcome at the events.

“I think it’s really important to celebrate AAPI month … just to be able to celebrate all the community voices that we have here in Grand Rapids,” she said. “Here at the library, we’re welcome and open for everyone, and that includes people from all different backgrounds and all heritage heritages. And so it’s just an opportunity to especially highlight this community.”

For more information, go to grpl.com.

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