2025 Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month graphic

CSUSB is kicking off its Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month celebration in April with a variety of in-person and virtual events that will honor the rich culture and accomplishments of the Asian, Pacific Islander and South Asian communities.

Nationally, Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month is celebrated during the month of May, but because the university has a short month due to finals, CSUSB starts its celebration in April. This year, there will be a variety of activities aimed at promoting camaraderie, showcasing culture, and celebrating the diversity that makes up the CSUSB community.

The events will feature cultural performances, art exhibits and culinary experiences, where participants can taste a variety of traditional dishes from Asian, Pacific Islander and South Asian cuisines. The campus community is invited to attend the diverse lineup of festivities.

The 2025 APIDA events include:

Celebrating Philippine Culture: April 5, 4:30-8:30 p.m., Santos Manuel Student Union (SMSU) North Conference Centers A, B and C.
Celebrate Filipino culture with vibrant traditions, colorful dances and delicious flavors. Immerse yourself in the heart of Filipino heritage, an event you won’t want to miss.

QTRC Radical Book Club: April 8, noon-1:30 p.m., Queer and Transgender Resource Center (QTRC), SMSU North, Room 3315.
Join the QTRC as they read “Falling Back in Love with Being Human: Letters to Lost Souls” by Chinese Canadian transgender activist and spiritual healer Kai Cheng Thom. Participants will receive a copy of the book and are invited to attend two book club meetings with snacks, community and a guide on how to fall back in love with being human.

APIDA/Arab American Heritage Month Mixer and Poster Art Exhibit: April 10, 2-4 p.m., APIDA Center, Santos Manuel Student Union North, Third Floor.
Join us to kick off APIDA and Arab Heritage Month with great conversations, community building activities, and an educational art exhibit in the APIDA Center. 

Pasifika Culture Night: April 16, 4:30-8 p.m., SMSU North Conference Center B/E.
Pasifika Culture Night serves as a powerful space for cultural celebration, identity affirmation and community-building. Through performances, storytelling and shared traditions, the event will honor and celebrate the richness of Pasifika cultures while empowering students in their academic and personal journeys. Attendees must RSVP.

CSUSB Korean Festival 2025: April 18, 2:30-8 p.m., SMSU North Conference Center and SMSU South Event Center.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the CSUSB Korean Festival, as well as the 80th anniversary of Korean National Liberation. The opening of the festival will showcase Kimchi, a Korean staple dish. There will be a demonstration of Kimchi-making, and all attendees will make Kimchi to take home. The opening ceremony is first-come, first-served. Guests will be served Hansik with Bap and Banchan at the dinner reception at 5 p.m. Following dinner, a performance showcase will take the audience to Korea through an art exhibition, traditional Korean performances and K-pop cover dances.

“Performing Chinatown: Hollywood, Tourism, and the Making of a Chinese American Community”: April 23, 1-2 p.m., online via Zoom.
In 1938, China City opened near downtown Los Angeles. Featuring a recreation of the House of Wang set from MGM’s “The Good Earth,” this new Chinatown employed many of the same Chinese Americans who performed as background extras in the 1937 film. Chinatown and Hollywood represented the two primary sites where Chinese Americans performed racial difference for popular audiences during the Chinese exclusion era. In “Performing Chinatown: Hollywood, Tourism, and the Making of a Chinese American Community,” William Gow, assistant professor of Asian American studies in the Ethnic Studies Department at Sacramento State University, examines the ways that Chinese Americans in Los Angeles used performances in Hollywood films and Chinatown for tourists to shape widely held understandings of race and national belonging during this pivotal chapter in U.S. history. RSVP online. For more information, contact Robie Madrigal at rmadriga@csusb.edu.

Cambodian New Year Traditional Dance Workshop: April 30, noon-2 p.m., SMSU South Theatre.
The workshop is designed to teach attendees about the rich culture and history of Cambodia. The information taught is not widely known and will help spread awareness about the culture. For more information, contact Taraneh Tabatabai at taraneh.tabatabai@csusb.edu.

Visit the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month website for additional event details.