Apr. 20 kicked off Asian Pacific Culture Week (APCW), presented by the Student Programs & Activities Center, ASUCD, Office of Campus & Community Relations and Student Affairs.
The week’s events include stress workshops, a cooking class, an open mic night, dance performances and a retreat focused on the sociopolitical issues that the Asian Pacific Islander community faces.
Cheri Buenaflor, student director for APCW, described the underlying tone of the week as “celebrating the diverse lineup of aspects that make up the Asian Pacific culture community.”
Food makes up a large part of any culture, and APCW members made sure that recipes found in Asian Pacific culture will be shared with “Mixed Sweet Treats.” Students can learn to make Turon (a Filipino dessert of deep fried bananas), Che Bap (Vietnamese dessert soup) and Dango (Japanese rice balls with red bean). The event will be held tonight at 8 in MU II.
APCW Arts and Lecturers Co-chair Sing Wang, who will be involved in the cooking class, sees her participation in the event as a hands-on learning experience.
“I felt it was a good way to learn more about the history behind the foods,” Wang said.
In addition to the celebratory events, the week will address serious issues related to the Asian Pacific Islander community. “Miscommunication and Misconceptions,” a “safe space” open dialogue, will focus on miscommunications between the Asian Pacific Islander community and the African American community on Thursday at noon in the Memorial Union.
APCW week will also touch on the considerable impact that Hepatitis B has on people of Asian Pacific descent with “Lyrical Expressions: Benefiting the Jade Ribbon Campaign,” which takes place Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Griffin Lounge. Donations made will benefit the Jade Ribbon Campaign.
APCW publicity chair Mark Balderama explained the importance of an event like this for the API community.
“The open mic night was designed to help people with Hepatitis B because statistically it affects Asian Pacific Islanders more than others,” he said.
Featuring a cultural fusion of fashion, music and dance is “Hybridity: In the Mix,” which takes place on Friday at 7 p.m. in Freeborn Hall. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The event will feature special performances by dance crews Fanny Pak, who appeared on season two of MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew,” and Eye Eighty. Bay Area-based clothing label The Imaginary Zebra, which was founded by UC Davis student Benson Chou, will showcase new designs.
For more information about Asian Pacific Culture Week and a full schedule of events, visit spac.ucdavis.edu/programs/apcw.
JULIA MCCANDLESS can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
