April is Asian American Month at Fresno City College
Fresno City College will celebrate Asian American Month during April with an array of events starting with an Eskrima/Filipino Martial Arts Workshop on April 9.
Other events include a Chinese American Women Leaders panel, a panel discussion with Sikh Americans and a Lao and Hmong Life Cycles Workshop.
The last weekend of the month will feature an event popular every year with the community: the Night Market Sake Garden on Friday, April 26, and Asian Fest on Saturday, April 27. This year’s Asian Fest will celebrate the Year of the Dragon with non-stop live performances featuring Taiko Drummers, Lion Dancers, Dragon Dancers, and the excitement of traditional and contemporary performances. Food trucks, cultural displays, and martial arts demonstrations are included.
Check out the Asian American Month web page for all dates and times.
2024 Asian American Month Events
ESKRIMA/FILIPINO MARTIAL ART WORKSHOP
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
11:00AM - 12:15PM
OAB 190
Join Master Jaime Visitacion and Joydee Vicencio-Padua for a hands-on workshop to learn about Eskrima, the Filipino martial art of fencing, taught in the style of Estalilla Kabaroan Eskrima. Wear comfortable clothes.
JOSE ANTONIO VARGAS, AUTHOR/JOURNALIST (SPEAKERS FORUM EVENT)
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
11:00AM - 12:30PM
OAB Auditorium
Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and author of “Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen” addresses the Fresno City College campus community as part of the college’s Speakers’ Forum series.
CHINESE AMERICAN WOMEN LEADERS: PANEL DISCUSSION
Thursday, April 11, 2024
11:00AM - 12:30PM
OAB 251
A panel of speakers will discuss their identity as Chinese American women and their path to leadership. Speakers: Floridia Cheung, Principal, Design Science MCHS; Malissa Lau, U.S. military veteran; Dr. Ya-Shu Liang, Director, Clinical Psychology, Alliant University; Janice Wong, Student Activities, Fresno City College. Moderated by: Dr. Gena Lew Gong, Instructor, Asian American Studies, Fresno City College. Co-sponsored by the Chinese American Museum Project (CAMP), who are generously providing free refreshments.
SIKHS IN AMERICA AND THE BIRTH OF KHALSA! PANEL DISCUSSION
Monday, April 15, 2024
12:30PM - 2:00PM
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.
ASIAN AMERICAN FACULTY & STAFF ASSOCIATION PANEL
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
12:00PM - 1:00PM
Zoom - link will be made available one week prior to the event.
This Zoom session will feature panelists from the Asian American Faculty & Staff Association discussing their educational journeys and how they have found rewarding careers in higher education.
CHINATOWN RISING FILM & DISCUSSION WITH FILMMAKER JOSH CHUCK (2 SHOWINGS)
Thursday, April 18, 2024
11:00AM - 1:00PM and 2:00PM - 3:15PM
FCC Theater
CHINESE AMERICAN MUSEUM PROJECT & CHINATOWN FIELD TRIP (PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED)
Friday, April 19, 2024
10:00AM - 3:00PM
Kearney Mansion
Chinese American Museum Project @ Kearney Mansion, Fresno Chinatown
Pre-registration required.
Travel back in time to experience the journey of Chinese Americans in Fresno with the Chinese American Museum Project (CAMP) exhibit, “From China to Fresno: A 150-Year Cultural Journey.” After visiting CAMP, we will also visit Fresno Chinatown to learn about the Chinese Americans who settled here and built downtown Fresno. Van transportation and lunch will be provided to and from the FCC campus for all registered participants.
DAZE OF JUSTICE FILM & DISCUSSION WITH CAMBODIAN FILMMAKER MIKE SIV
Monday, April 22, 2024
4:00PM - 7:00PM
OAB 251
Free and open to the public
Born in Cambodia in 1975 during the bloody regime of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, filmmaker Michael Siv and his mother barely escaped the infamous “killing fields.” Thirty-five years later, Mike films a group of Cambodian Americans who are civil parties in a historical trial against the Khmer Rouge. Come meet the filmmaker and discuss the impact that making this film has had on his life today. This event is co-sponsored by the United Khmer Cultural Preservation.
LAO & HMONG LIFE CYCLES WORKSHOP
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
12:30PM - 1:45PM
OAB 188
Learn about Lao and Hmong cultures and traditions from Kami Thepphavong and Dr. Tchay Her, co-coordinators of FCC’s United Southeast Asian American Academic (USEAA) success program. Both speakers will discuss birth, marriage, and death traditions, allowing participants to compare cultural traditions as well as modern-day practices.
JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION PANEL WITH MARION MASADA AND DALE IKEDA
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
12:30PM - 1:45PM
FH 101
Learn about the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II from the direct experience of Marion Masada, a survivor of America’s concentration camps. Marion 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. Judge Dale Ikeda, whose parents were incarcerated, will discuss the history and legacy of the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans. A reception sponsored by the San Joaquin Valley Media Alliance will immediately follow the panel in the new Social Justice Center, OAB 139.
NIGHT MARKET / BEER GARDEN
Friday, April 26, 2024
4:00PM - 9:00PM
FCC Cafeteria Patio
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 - YEAR OF THE DRAGON
Saturday, April 27, 2024
10:00AM - 4:00PM
FCC Campuswide
Do not miss Fresno’s largest Asian American festival! AsianFest 2024 is an all-day festival featuring a main stage of entertainment, global vendors, anime show and cosplayers, kids crafts, kickboxing tournament, and a wide variety of Asian American foods!
HAWAIIAN HULA HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Monday, April 29, 2024
12:30PM - 1:45PM
Practice Gym
Get your hula on with local hula instructor, Kumu Joydee Vicencio-Padua, of Halau Hula I Ka La (“Hula school in the sun”)! Hula can be described as the manifestation of the history and beliefs of the Hawaiian people. The words of the songs and the movement of the dancers can describe nature, historical events, and bring to life the gods and goddesses who shape the lands of Hawai’i. Students will learn an original choreography in this hands-on workshop. Wear comfortable clothing and be ready to sway those hips!
ETHNIC STUDIES PANEL
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
2:00PM - 3:15PM
FH 101
Come listen to a panel of FCC instructors in Asian American Studies, Chicano-Latino American Studies, African American Studies, American Indian Studies, and Ethnic Studies discuss the topics of antiracism and intersectionality. Gena Lew Gong, Victoria Navarro Benavides, Auguste Kouadio, Erik Escovedo, and Rigoberto Garcia will share their thoughts and experiences as scholars and community practitioners in FCC’s Cultural, Ethnic, and Women’s Studies Department.
