AMASIAN, a cultural association that aims to empower Madison’s Asian communities, will host its first-ever Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) celebration on Saturday, May 17 at the Madison College Truax Campus.
The celebration marks AMASIAN’s first large effort to host large-scale event and fundraiser. It will feature a range of offerings from Asian cuisine, performances, hands-on activities for kids, vendors and cultural education. A silent auction will be held to raise funds for AAPI education following the passing of 2024’s Assembly Bill 232 that directed schools to provide instruction on Hmong and Asian Americans.
“It feels great having [AMASIAN] grow,” said Laura Lahti, co-founder of AMASIAN. “I want us to be a community resource for everyone and for people to feel safe.”
The effort to organize the celebration started back in December when Lahti reached out to AAPI leaders and organizations around Dane County. Ideas poured together to create a comprehensive AAPI celebration.
The celebration, which occurs during AAPI month, is a milestone for the group’s efforts to increase cultural awareness. AMASIAN was founded three years ago as Lahti looked to create a community she longed for when she first moved to Madison in 2001.
“I feel like Asians are spread out all over,” Lahti said. “I’ve never felt the sense of community or people together, but now [AMASIAN], it’s to help out … to empower Asian Americans so they can have their own voice and find different ways we can help each other out.”
Lahti has worked arduously towards building a solid AAPI community — something she missed growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota. In Madison, she felt the same disconnect but strived to create what was missing from her life and for many other Asian Americans in predominantly white cities.
An additional component of the AAPI Celebration will be to raise $25,000 to support its continued efforts to empower Asian American communities and Madison College’s Community Impact programs.
The AAPI Celebration will be held May 17, 1-5 p.m. at Madison College, 1701 Wright St. It is free to attend. Registration is encouraged.
