CSU partners with Cleveland Asian Festival

For Immediate Release

April 26, 2019

Cleveland, OH – The Cleveland Asian Festival (CAF) will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary on May 18 and 19, 2019.  The organizers of CAF chose May to hold the annual event because it is National Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month.

In recognition of this 10 year anniversary, the Levin College at Cleveland State University has partnered with the Cleveland Asian Festival and OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates, OCA Greater Cleveland to present AsiaTown and the Asian American Experience.

Ohio is home to over 238,000 Asian-Americans with almost 67,000 living in the Cleveland Metropolitan area and over 39,000 in Cuyahoga County. When the first Chinese arrived in Cleveland in 1870, Chinatown formed, relocated twice, and eventually evolved to the present day AsiaTown. For many years, AsiaTown remained a hidden gem that unveiled itself more widely in recent years due in large part to the popularity of the Cleveland Asian Festival and the growing Asian Pacific American (APA) community.

Starting with a full month Gallery Exhibit (May 1-31), “Faces of Chinatown”, an extensive photography exhibit capturing the evolution of the historic neighborhood, Cleveland’s Chinatown. The exhibit combines the works of award-winning artists including Steve Cagan, Luanne Bole-Becker and Bob Becker, and Katie (Major) Melnick. 

The AsiaTown & the Asian American Experience forum will take place on Thursday, May 16, 2019 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.in the Roberta Steinbacher Atrium of the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University 1717 Euclid Avenue.

Regardless of where Asian Pacific Americans live, work, or play they have a connection with Cleveland’s AsiaTown. The diverse group of panelists will talk about their own personal experiences, perspectives on AsiaTown, and the future of the APA community in Cleveland.  Panelists include 2 of the 3 CAF founders: Johnny Wu and Lisa Wong as well as Grammy winner Angelin Chang, news anchor Chris Tanaka, Chinese newspaper publisher Anne Pu and Indian Community Civic leader Asim Datta. More details and a link to registration can be found at https://www.csuohio.edu/urban/forum/levin-college-forum-051619-asiatown-and-the-asian-american-experience

In conjunction with the Forum, The Levin College will offer a Brown Bag Film Series throughout the month of May (1, 8, 22 from 12pm – 1pm), facilitated by Kyle Znamenak, Research and Inclusion Specialist, Cleveland State University. The film series is co-sponsored by the Levin College Dean’s Diversity Council. More information at https://www.csuohio.edu/urban/events/asiatown-and-asian-american-experience-brown-bag-film-series

About the 2019 Cleveland Asian Festival

The Cleveland Asian Festival is an annual celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage month in May in Cleveland’s AsiaTown neighborhood. The Cleveland Asian Festival is a landmark undertaking to unite the community through collaboration and recognition of its culture, diversity, and people.

The 2019 Cleveland Asian Festival will be held May 18 and 19, 2019 from 11am to 7pm on Payne Ave. between E. 30th St & E. 27th S.  Admission and parking are free.

http://clevelandasianfestival.org

Major sponsors include: Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, Cleveland Public Power, City Council Ward 7, Metroparks Zoo, KeyBank, Lubrizol, Ohio Arts Council, Cuyahoga Community College, ImageLab Media, ThirdFederal, PNC, City of Cleveland Water Department

Contact

Johnny Wu, johnny@mdifilm.com

1419 East 40th Street Cleveland, OH 44103

Office: 216.539.4634

www.ClevelandAsianFestival.org

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