Asian American Month Celebrates Year of the Rabbit
The month of April is brimming with an array of events celebrating the Year of the Rabbit during Asian American Month at Fresno City College. The month-long celebration begins April 10 with a Kick-off Celebration at noon on the Cafeteria Patio.
Other events include presentations with authors, poets and writers; panelists discussing important issues of the present and past; cultural demonstrations; a tour of Chinatown; and ending with the great community event, AsianFest. Another highlight will be the appearance of actor, activist and author John Cho as part of the Speakers Forum program.
This year will celebrate the Year of the Rabbit. Asian American Month is organized by the FCC Asian American Faculty and Staff Association. An event schedule can be found at https://www.fresnocitycollege.edu/AsianAmericanMonth
Kick-off Celebration
Monday, April 10, 2023
12:00PM - 1:00PM
FCC Cafeteria Patio
Join us for the campus-wide kickoff celebration of Asian American Month! Come see performances by our talented students and community members, including an exciting demonstration of Eskrima, the Filipino martial art of fencing; Hawaiian hula performed by Halau Hula I Ka La, a K-pop dance performance; anime cosplay by members of FCC’s Anime Club; and a dragon dance performed by members of FCC’s Asian American Club.
Author Talk: Soua Lee - The 5th Wife
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
12:30PM - 1:50PM - OAB 251
Local Hmong American author, Soua Lee, will read p assages from her book, “The 5th Wife” and lead a discussion about the cultural practice of polygamy in the Hmong community, with a focus on her own personal experience as a 5th wife.
Game Night: Asian American Hunger Games
Thursday, April 13, 2023
5:00PM - 7:00PM - FCC Cafeteria
Limited Capacity -
Join the fun in this inaugural event to see who will be crowned the victor! Teams of students, staff, faculty, and community members will face off in a game night competition to vie for prizes of gift cards to local eateries and favorite Asian snack items. Come flex your brain cells and show off your skills to help your team reign supreme and win bragging rights until the next Hunger Games event! Pre-registration required. Proceeds to benefit Asian American scholarships at Fresno City College.
FCC Speaker's Forum - John Cho, Actor & Author
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
11:00AM - 12:00PM - OAB Auditorium
On Tuesday, April 18, actor, author and activist John Cho will be speaking in the OAB Auditorium at 11:00 a.m. A Conversation with John Cho will be moderated by FCC English instructor and California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick. Cho has appeared in the hit slacker comedy Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle 2004 and in the hugely successful franchise reboot Star Trek 2009, in the sought-after role of Hikaru Sulu. In April 2020, he penned a thoughtful OpEd “Coronavirus reminds Asian Americans like me that our belonging is conditional” for the LA Times. His first book, Troublemaker, was released in March 2022. Troublemaker follows the events of the LA Riots through the eyes of 12-year-old Jordan as he navigates school and family, highlighting the unique Korean American perspective. The event is free and will also be live streamed. Register to watch on Zoom https://scccd.zoom.us/register
Panel: Antiracism & Intersectionality
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
12:30PM - 1:50PM - OAB 251
Come listen to a panel of FCC instructors in Asian American Studies, Chicano-Latino American Studies, and African American Studies discuss the topics of antiracism and intersectionality. Gena Lew Gong, Victoria Navarro Benavides, and Auguste Kouadio will share their thoughts and experiences as scholars and community practitioners in FCC’s Cultural, Ethnic, and Women’s Studies Department.
Panel: Asian American Faculty & Staff Association
Thursday, April 20, 2023
1:00PM - 2:00PM – ZOOM Link Here
This Zoom session will feature panelists from the Asian American Faculty & Staff Association talking about their educational journeys and how they have found rewarding careers in higher education. Panel moderator is David Yang, FCC math instructor. Panelists include Dan Wong, Fresno City College; Sarah Maokosy, Reedley College; Sareang Nhim, State Center Community College District; and Teng Her, Clovis Community College.
Fresno Chinatown Walking Tours
Saturday, April 22, 2023
11:00AM - 1:00PM - OFF CAMPUS
Limited Capacity - Register here by April 20
Dr. Gena Lew Gong, Asian American Studies instructor, will lead a guided tour of Fresno Chinatown, featuring guest speakers from Chinatown Fresno, Central Fish Market, and Kogetsu-Do Japanese Confectionary. Participants will learn about the first Chinese immigrants whose work built the city of Fresno, as well as the long history of discriminatory redlining, producing one of the most racially diverse Chinatowns in California. Part of the tour will allow participants to see the area’s underground tunnels. $35 per person ($15 per student) - includes bento lunch and mochi. Pre-registration required; attendance limited to the first 30 paid registrations. Proceeds to benefit Asian American scholarships at Fresno City College.
Filipino Arts & Culture
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
12:00PM - 1:30PM - G-101
Join Joydee Vicencio-Padua, founder of the Filipino Culture Club, and Master Jaime Visitacion for a hands-on workshop exploring the history, language, food, and culture of the Philippines. Participants are also invited to learn more about the Filipino culture through the Filipino fencing art of Eskrima, taught in the style of Estalilla Kabaroan Eskrima. Wear comfortable clothes.
Poetry Reading by Lee Herrick, California Poet Laureate
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
12:30PM - 1:50PM - OAB 251
Come listen to a poetry reading by Korean American poet Lee Herrick, FCC English Instructor and the 2023 California Poet Laureate! He is the author of three books of poems: Scar and Flower, Gardening Secrets of the Dead, and This Many Miles from Desire, and is traveling all over the state to share his poetry. Don’t miss this chance to meet Lee when he comes home to Fresno City College!
Panel: Who Are Sikhs?
Thursday, April 27, 2023
9:30AM - 10:45AM - OAB 251
Learn all about the Sikh American community, their values, beliefs, customs, and their long history of contributions to California, especially here in the Central Valley. Moderated by FCC Dean Gurminder Sangha and featuring panelists Manvinder Singh and Gurbeer Singh, this panel is also sponsored by the Sikh Council of Central California, who are generously providing free refreshments. Come hungry!
Japanese American Internment, Redress & Reparations
Thursday, April 27, 2023
1:00PM - 2:30PM - FH 103
Learn all about the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II from the direct experience of this workshop’s featured speaker, Marion Masada. Marion is a survivor of America’s concentration camps and will share stories of the trauma she endured as a pre-teen and teenager while imprisoned, as well as her family’s struggles to survive amidst rampant racism and discrimination in the years following their release.
Night Market
Friday, April 28, 2023
4:00PM - 9:00PM - FCC Cafeteria Patio and Veterans Square
Savor, sip, and dance under the stars! Sample various sakes and beers (must be 21+) and enjoy an evening celebrating Asian American culture! Free admission, cash bar. Proceeds benefit Asian American scholarships at Fresno City College.
AsianFest
Saturday, April 29, 2023
9:00AM - 7:00PM
FCC Campuswide
Do not miss Fresno’s largest Asian American festival and the culminating event for FCC’s Asian American Month! Asian Fest 2023 is an all-day festival featuring a main stage of entertainment, global vendors, anime car show and cosplayers, kids’ crafts, and a wide variety of Asian American foods!
