2022 Events
Throughout the month of May, celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with events and activities across Cincinnati. All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Check individual event details for most accurate information.
* family friendly event
AAPI Heritage Month Kickoff Party*
April 30 | 4 - 8 PM ET | Esoteric Brewery
Celebrate the beginning of AAPI Heritage Month with music, drinks from Esoteric, Cincinnati’s only Black & Asian owned brewery, Korean fried chicken from Decibel, and the launch of “Where Are You Really From?”, a zine about the AAPI experience in the Midwest. Kids’ activities, including a DIY zine making station, music by DJ Druskii, and a Tai Chi demonstration for World Tai Chi Day. Stick around for a karaoke after party hosted by Esoteric.
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Beyond Barbed Wire
May 1 | 4 PM ET | Virtual or live at Harriet Beecher Stowe House
Denny Kato shares his family's living legacy of the Japanese internment camps in WWII. This will be a hybrid program, with limited tickets available for on-site seating. It will also be live streamed online to those who have reserved tickets. Online participants will be able to hear and participate in live Q&A after the lecture.
Register here $7 general / free for HBSH members
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An Evening with Simon Tam & The Slants
May 4 | 6 PM ET | Joy and Matt’s Books
Joy and Matt's Books is thrilled to welcome Simon Tam author of Slanted: How an Asian American Troublemaker Took on the Supreme Court — the story of an indomitable spirit who so believes in the idea of justice that he’s willing to risk everything along the way for the dignity of self-identity. Simon reveals a deeply personal account that will take you from anime conventions to the Supreme Court, all in the name of justice. The story provides a raw look at our legal system with unflinching honesty and offers timely insights on freedom of speech, how to connect with others we disagree with, and the power of music.
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Story Tree Time*
May 4, 11, 18, 25 | 11 AM ET | Virtual
For AAPI Heritage Month, the Cincinnati Museum Center is partnering with Asianati to feature Asian and Pacific Islander authored books, read by local AAPI leaders through their Story Tree Time series. A new video will be released every Wednesday. Stream all readings on the Cincinnati Museum Center’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. This is a great event for kids to also celebrate AAPI heritage, language, and creativity.
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Oriental Wok + Rhinegeist “WokStar” Collaboration Beer First Tap*
May 4 | 4 - 6 PM ET | Hyde Park Oriental Wok and Ft. Mitchell Oriental Wok
Join the Midwest Chinese Chamber of Commerce for a special Beer & Guanxi networking event. Come to Oriental Wok for a special sneak peek of their new beer, “WokStar,” a collaboration beer developed by Oriental Wok and Rhinegeist brewery. Appetizers will be served as you enjoy the first tastes in the city of this new brew.
IACC Network Event with Mayor Aftab Pureval
May 4 | 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM ET | Champlin Architecture
Join the Indian American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) for their mid-year celebration. Network and socialize with other professionals and businesses in the Greater Cincinnati area with honored guest Mayor Aftab Pureval.
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Counterstories of Asian Americans in Higher Education
May 5 | 12 - 1 PM ET | Virtual
Join us as we celebrate and uplift the voices of Asian Americans at Miami University. This panel experience will be a space for faculty and staff on campus to share their lived experiences as Asian Americans in higher education.
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We F*cking Love Free Speech: A Celebration of the First Amendment
May 5 | 6:30-8:30 PM ET | 21C Museum Hotel
Join the ACLU to celebrate the anniversary of Matal v. Tam and all things free speech. The event will start with live music and conclude with a panel of experts who will share more about this landmark SCOTUS victory, current free speech lawsuits in Ohio, and the recent onslaught of anti-free speech legislation at the Ohio Statehouse. Panelists include Simon Tam and Joe X. Jiang of The Slants and David Carey, Gary Daniels, and Cindy Tomm of ACLU Ohio.
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Rhinegeist “Wokstar” Beer Launch*
May 6 | 3 - 7 PM ET | Rhinegeist Brewery OTR
Let’s celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with beer, games, and appetizers in the Rhinegeist tap room! Rhinegeist and Oriental Wok collaborated to created a new brew called “WokStar,” which Rhinegeist will feature in honor of AAPI Heritage Month. During the event, special appetizers will be available with proceeds benefitting Asianati.
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Asian Food Fest*
May 7 - 8 | Court Street, Downtown Cincinnati
The 11th annual Asian Food Fest is the banner event for AAPI Heritage Month and the first major Cincinnati food festival scheduled for 2022. This vibrant community festival celebrates culture and cuisine from Asian and Pacific Island countries including Cambodia, China, Hawaii, India, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. While food is definitely the heart of this festival, the event also features live entertainment, local craft and Asian beer, fun family activities, and more.
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Workshop: Taoism & Taichi
May 10 | 9 - 10 AM ET | Virtual
Join the Midwest USA Chinese Chamber of Commerce for a preview of their education and cultural awareness workshop series with Taoism & Tai Chi – An Evolution of Philosophy to Self Defense Combat Skills. Take a look at how a philosophy originated in ancient China became the founding principles of self defense techniques.
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Exploring Asian Culture For Kids & Teens*
May 14 | 2 - 4 PM ET | Symmes Township Branch Library
Experience traditional cultural displays, music and performances, arts and crafts, and snacks from various Asian countries. Plus, ask questions and interact with a group of youth from the local Asian community. Made possible by the Greater Cincinnati Chinese Cultural Exchange Association and the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library.
AAPI Heritage Celebration Gala
May 14 | 5 - 9 PM ET | Memorial Hall
Asian American Coalition of Ohio (AACO) is proud to host Ohio’s first ever AAPI Heritage Celebration and Award Gala. The gala will provide an opportunity for the local community to unite with lively music, dance performances, recognition of AAPI contributions, and appreciation of diversity. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval will deliver the keynote speech, accompanied by other speakers including Oxford Vice Mayor Dr. Chantel Raghu, Fifth Third Bank Senior Vice President and Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer Stephanie A. Smith, and U.S. veteran and professional coach Roy Nickerson. Music and dance performances begin at 5pm, and the gala and speeches begin at 6:30.
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Love Has No Borders*
May 17 | 7 - 8:30 PM ET | Deer Park Library Branch
Join us to experience Love Has No Borders, a storytelling campaign that aims to uplift local, Ohio & Midwestern immigration narratives and shift public support for comprehensive immigration reform that will reunite and keep families together. Explore OPAWL’s (Building AAPI Feminist Leadership) Love Has No Borders project which includes diverse storytellers who have been impacted by the U.S. immigration system who share their stories via photography, short-form video, podcast episodes, personal essays, and poetry on social media and a digital gallery. All immigrants deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and to have a permanent place to call home. In partnership with OPAWL Cincinnati Caucus in honor of AAPI Heritage Month.
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Beer & Guanxi
May 17 | 5 - 6 PM ET | Uncle Yip’s
Join the Midwest USA Chinese Chamber of Commerce for this popular monthly networking event hosted at different venues throughout the region. Their goal is to provide a networking platform for executives and professionals to interact with each other and find opportunities from, with and within the Chinese business community.
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Big Red Coffee Talk & Tasting
May 19 | 4 - 6 PM ET | Virtual or in person at Deeper Roots Coffee 4th Street
When it comes to coffee from Papua New Guinea, few are as knowledgable as Vikram Patel – Director of Benchmark Coffee Traders. In the beginning, Vikram found high quality PNG coffees to be very underrepresented in the American specialty coffee market. Through Benchmark he and his team have worked hard to crack away at that while helping to develop higher quality coffees in PNG and elevate the presence of PNG in the American coffee scene. Join Vikram in exploring the rare and unique tasting notes that can only be found in Big Red (a special PNG microlot coffee) and learn about their school project in Papua New Guinea that was funded in part through Deeper Roots Coffee's Community Giveback Program.
Full event info & registration here $5/person. Includes 4oz sample bag of Big Red to take home. *virtual event registration ends May 11th*
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Nature Origami*
May 19 | 7 PM ET | Sharon Woods
Explore the fascinating history of origami, the Japanese art of folding paper. The Japan America Society of Greater Cincinnati (JASGC) and a nature interpreter will bring together the cultural significance of a skilled art form and share information about local wildlife from Ohio. Each participant will meet live animals, then try their hands at creating each animal as origami.
Register by 5/15 here For ages 10 and up. $5/person
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"I Am Here/You Were There" Kickoff Event*
May 20 | 6 PM ET | Virtual
Join us for the kickoff event for "I Am Here/You Were There: Archiving Transgenerational Memory Within the Korean Diaspora," an online exhibition that brings together three artists – Jiwon Choi, Jesse Chun, and Kang Seung Lee – whose works navigate the transnational and transgenerational histories of the Korean diaspora. The event will include a special musical performance by St. Lenox, a keynote address by Dr. Grace M. Cho, and a breakout discussion facilitated by OPAWL.
The Experiences of Asian American Women
May 21 | 2 - 3 PM ET | Virtual
A recent survey published by National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum shows that 62% of all hate incidents nationwide are reported by Asian American women. From the very beginning, fetishization and intersection of racism and sexism have been the lived experiences of Asian women in this country. This panel discussion explores the migration history and popular perceptions of Asian women, hate incidents against this group and ways to combat stereotypes and racism/misogyny. All are welcome to join this event as allies. Panelists include Professor Judy Wu of UC Irvine, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Preval, Felicity Tao (Co-Chair of GCCCEA), & Maki Somosot (Co-Lead of OPAWL’s Kaarawan Filipinx caucus). Made possible by the Greater Cincinnati Chinese Cultural Exchange Association and the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library.
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Exploring Asian Culture For Kids & Teens*
May 21 | 2 - 4 PM ET | Norwood Branch Library
Join the Greater Cincinnati Chinese Cultural Exchange Association and Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library to enjoy traditional cultural displays, music, performances, arts and crafts, and snacks from various Asian countries. There is also an opportunity to ask questions and interact with a group of youth from the local Asian American community.
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Japan America Community Night with FC Cincinnati*
May 21 | 6 PM ET | TQL Stadium
Show your support for FC Cincinnati and Japanese striker Yuya Kubo, currently the only Japanese (and only known Asian) MLS player in the United States. For AAPI Heritage Month, discounted tickets available for this event courtesy of FC Cincinnati in one of several reserved sections of TQL Stadium.
Purchase tickets here Discount available through May 9 only. Discount code and additional ticket information at jasgc.org.
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Indian Heritage Night*
May 22 | 5 - 7 PM ET | Esoteric Brewery
Join us in the taproom for a celebration of Indian culture! There will be a Henna tattoo station, traditional Indian cuisine, and traditional Indian performances. Sponsored by Nrityarpana School of Performing Arts, India Cultural Association, and Association for India's Development.
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AANHPI Town Hall: Youth Leadership Workshop
May 24 | 4 - 5 PM ET | West Chester Township Administrative Building
Join AANHPI community leader Lee Wong for a town hall meeting in West Chester and learn about his leadership skills as the township's trustee for the 5th consecutive term.
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An Evening with Toko Shiiki and Erik Santos
May 25 | 6 PM ET | Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church
The Japan America Society of Greater Cincinnati (JASGC) will be hosting a screening of A Thousand Pebbles on the Ground, a short film by Japanese Filmmaker Toko Shiiki. Following the screening, there will be a Q&A with Ms. Shiki. The event will also feature live music by Erik Santos, who recently received the title of “The Philippine Composer of the Century.”
Full event info & registration here $20/person. Includes light appetizers from Mei Japanese Restaurant and two drink tickets
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Model Minority/Forever Foreigner: Shedding Light on Anti-Asian American Racism
May 25 | 7 - 8 PM ET | Virtual
Join the Greater Cincinnati Chinese Cultural Exchange Association and Greater Anderson Promotes Peace for a panel discussion focusing on Asian American immigration history, the impact of anti-Asian hate and practicing cultural humility in healthcare settings.
Full event info here Registration link coming soon
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AAPI Creatives Round Table
May 26 | 6 PM ET | Art Academy of Cincinnati
Join us for a conversation about AAPI creativity in Cincinnati. Though our city is known for its creative industries and arts scene, representation of the AAPI community is still relatively invisible. Panelists include Simon Tam of the band The Slants and founder of the Slants Foundation, Jay B. Kalagayan, creator and writer of MeSseD Comics, and Emily Hanako Momohara, visual artist and documentary filmmaker. Learn about projects going on in our city and the ways in which AAPI creatives are uplifting our voices and pushing our city toward an inclusive artistic culture.
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Chinese Heritage Day*
May 28 | 12 - 3 PM ET | Esoteric Brewery
Join the Greater Cincinnati Chinese Cultural Exchange Association and Esoteric, Cincinnati’s only Black & Asian owned brewery to enjoy Chinese cultural displays and performing arts while enjoying a beer crafted with ingredients sourced locally and grown organically.
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