March 25, 2022
Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) and the 33rd Annual Asian Heritage Month committee are presenting both in-person and remote events for BMCC faculty, students and staff throughout April.
The heritage month is co-chaired by Tribeca Performing Arts Center Technical Director Mark Goodloe, Media Center Videographer Lisa White, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Erwin Wong and CUNY Start Program Coordinator Laura Zan.
In a group statement, the committee explains that the purpose of Asian Heritage Month is to share with the BMCC community all the accomplishments that Asians and Asian Americans have made throughout history, and how those contributions have been incorporated into the fabric of everyday life. The theme of 2022 Asian Heritage Month is “transform.”
BMCC community invited to ping pong, badminton, poetry and image competitions, and other events
“This year’s Asian Heritage Month will provide a wide range of events, including amateur ping pong games on April 6 that any student, faculty or staff member can sign up for, and closing badminton games on April 27,” says Asian Heritage Committee Member Zan.
Other events include a collaborative presentation with the BMCC Center for Career Development on the Japanese publishing industry (April 12, in person); a Martial Arts Demonstration (April 11, in-person); Healing Foods and National Trees and Flowers of Asia (April 14, Zoom) and a session on mindful awareness (April 14, Zoom).
Popular events carried over from years past include a haiku contest open to BMCC students, faculty and staff who want to try their hand at the short form of poetry, as well as an Image Contest for aspiring photographers.
All creative entries are challenged to express the Asian Heritage Month theme, “transform.” Winners will receive a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card.
Film series takes the viewer to California, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Texas, Afghanistan and India
Asian Heritage Month will also feature a series of films curated by Vincent Tzu-Wen Cheng, Chair of the Speech, Communications and Theater Arts Department.
Touch of the Light (April 6, Theatre 1) is set in Taiwan and highlights the friendship between a blind piano prodigy and an aspiring dancer working at a tea shop.
East Side Sushi (April 8, Zoom) takes place in Oakland, California and stars a young Latina single mother pursuing the dream of becoming a sushi chef.
Hikchi (April 11, Theatre 1) is set in India and presents a woman with Tourette’s syndrome who turns her biggest challenge into her greatest strength.
My Voice, My Life (April 25, Zoom) is set in Hong Kong and tells the story of underprivileged youngsters who undergo vigorous training to produce a musical on stage.
Yellow Rose (April 28, Theatre 1), set in Texas, features an undocumented 17-year-old Filipina. The screening will include a guest appearance by filmmaker Cecilia Mejia.
Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl) and Kumu Hina (April 30, Zoom). Learning to Skateboard … is an Academy Award-winning documentary about a skate school in Afghanistan that strives to help girls in impoverished neighborhoods. Kumu Hina is an autobiographical documentary about a transgender Native Hawaiian teacher who inspires a young girl to become the leader of her school’s all-male hula troupe.
Covid requirements are in place for in-person events
Please note that for the in-person events presented by Asian Heritage Month, BMCC students, faculty and staff can gain access with their BMCC ID and Cleared4.
Invited guests without BMCC ID and Cleared4 will be required to show photo ID along with either proof of full vaccination or a Negative PCR test within 72 hours.
Masks are required for all attendees during live events.
View the entire list of Asian Heritage Month events for 2022, and register now to save your place.
Asian Heritage Month relates to BMCC’s Strategic Plan, including but not limited to Strategic Goal 5: Strengthen our culture of care for students, faculty and staff.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Asian Heritage Month provides amateur ping-pong games, meditation, martial arts, film screenings and more, throughout the month of April
- 2022 planning committee is BMCC community members Mark Goodloe, Lisa White, Erwin Wong and Laura Zan
- Some events are in-person, such as film screenings in Theatre 1 (with Covid requirements in place), and others are on Zoom.
