AAPI Heritage Month
May 2025
SPONSORS
About AAPI Heritage Month
AAPI Heritage Month is a time to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities, to honor and learn about our history, cultures and achievements, and to promote understanding and inclusion.
The month of May was chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad — where Chinese immigrants played a crucial role — on May 10, 1869.
As conversations shift around how we recognize and celebrate different communities, it remains essential to foster understanding and bring people together.
We’re excited to bring SOMA Celebrates AAPI Heritage Month back for another year, with more events, a bigger venue, and additional engagement.
Support AAPI Heritage Month by donating via Venmo to @soma-ccw.
Events
May 13
6-9pm
Movie Night: Yellow Rose
Screening, snacks and discussion with AAPI New Jersey.
Screening Room, The Baird, South Orange, NJ
May 15
4-5pm
Kids Hour: Boba Bear Bilingual
A reading, songs and craft with renowned, local author Ran Baker.
Library, The Baird, South Orange, NJ
May 17
11am-4pm
Holi Fest NJ
Holi is the festival of colors celebrated by throwing powdered dye at each other to honor spring, love, fertility.
Memorial Park, Maplewood, NJ
May 17
5-8pm
AAPI Celebration and Potluck
Dishes from Pandang, Neelam and the community; Performances by CHS Mandarin Program, FA Dance, and Natya Gurukula; Face-painting, Henna, and Karaoke.
Gym, The Baird, South Orange, NJ
Gallery
How You Can Support Us
Volunteer
We are continuously seeking dedicated volunteers to assist in planning and organizing our events. Your involvement is invaluable to our success
Contact aapi@somaccw.org
Donate
All our festivals and initiatives are funded by the generosity of community donors. Our festivals are free to the public, and donations are tax-deductible.
Venmo @soma-ccw
Sponsor
Corporate and small business sponsors form the backbone of our support.
Our well-attended events offer excellent marketing opportunities.
Contact aapi@somaccw.org
Organizers
Lanny Cheuck
Organizer
Committee
Ran Baker, Chi Nguyen Brauner, Mike Choi, Deepak Jhalani, Mona Karim, Blake Smith