Long Beach State’s celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month will be a display of vibrant cultures -- as manifested in such forms as cuisine, the performing arts and activism -- during a series of events taking place in April.

 The idea of a month-long celebration was the brainchild of Jeanie Jew, then president of the Organization of Chinese American Women, who in 1976 contacted government officials in response to the lack of representation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders during United States bicentennial events commemorated that year.

 Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week was established three years later by Congress and President Jimmy Carter, and the celebration was first expanded into a month-long event in 1990. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush signed legislation calling for celebrations of Asian American and Pacific Islander culture to take place in May of every year.

 At Long Beach State, the celebration was moved to April this year to include the Pacific Islander Luau and Graduation on April 27.

 A Conversation with Chef Diep Tran

Chef and recent owner of Good Girl Dinette

Wednesday, April 17 * 12 pm

Location: LA1-204

Pacific Islander Presence

Wednesday, April 17 * 5 p.m.

USU Room 205

Presented by Pacific Islanders’ Association

 Eric Wat Lecture

Author of “The Making of a Gay Asian Community: An Oral History of Pre-AIDS Los Angeles”

Thursday, April 18 * 5 p.m.

Location: LA1-308

35^th annual Cambodian Cultural Show

Love in the Crab Farm

Friday, April 19  * 7 p.m.

CSULB Carpenter Performing Arts Center

Cost $10 * Tickets available here

Presented by Cambodian Student Society

 33^rd Pilipino Cultural Night

Ang Aming Panahon

Saturday, April 20 * 6 p.m.

Carpenter Performing Arts Center

Cost is $15 * Tickets available here

Presented by Pilipino American Coalition

 Francis Cullado Talk

Executive Director, Visual Communications

Tuesday, April 23 * 2 p.m.

LH-150

 2^nd annual Princess Ka’uilai Day of Service

Friday, April 26 * 8:30 a.m.

Faculty Office 3, Multicultural Center

Register here

Presented by Office of Multicultural Affairs

 28^th annual Pacific Islander Luau and Graduation Ceremony

Saturday, April 27 * 6:15 p.m.

USU Ballrooms

Cost $10 at the door

Presented by ASI Beach Pride Events

 Lian Cheun Lecture

Executive Director, Khmer Girls in Action.

Tuesday, April 30, 2 p.m. 

LH-150

 An Evening with Ken Jeong

Tuesday, April 30 * 6 p.m.

Carpenter Performing Arts Center

Free for CSULB students; Tickets available at USU Info and Ticket Center

Presented by ASI Beach Pride Events

 An Address by Dr. Karen Umemoto

Mountain Movers: Student Activism and the Legacy of Asian American Studies

Wednesday, May 1 * 6 p.m.

USU Ballrooms

Presented by Asian American and Asian Studies & Division of Student Affairs