In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month this May, Urban’s Asian Pacific Islander (API) and American Born Confused Desis (ABCD) affinity spaces are collaborating to plan events centered around cultural expression and collaboration. API and ABCD will host an all-school meeting (ASM) and multiple lunchtime events — such as performances, student art galleries and discussions about identity — to honor the history behind AAPI Heritage Month.

API co-leader Lucy Fraga ’27 helped organize the month’s events, including the kickoff ASM on May 15. “API [has] typically … done a collaborative ASM with ABCD. I know that we’re hiring some dancers, which will be very fun,” Fraga said. The ASM featured dancers from Stanford Bhangra, who performed bhangra dance and invited students to participate.

ABCD organized the performance for the ASM with a specific goal in mind. “People haven’t seen a lot of authentic representation of [bhangra] and I think it was really important to us to make sure that we acknowledge the appreciation vs appropriation factor,” said ABCD co-leader Satya Balchandani ’27.

South Asian culture and style have recently gained popularity in the media. “After you’ve seen South Asian dances ending up in Coachella and things like that, we’re making sure that we’re honoring the moment by also honoring the roots and the heritage around it,” said Jason Ernest Feldman, dean of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. “I think the student leaders wanted to focus more on ABCD and South Asian heritage as something that we haven’t done for a little bit — especially at an ASM scene — and bringing in performers who are also in national conversations.” 

In addition to the ASM, API is reviving API Creations, an event they first organized in 2024. “In [API Creations], we showcase Asian American art from students. So, any Asian student is welcome to show their art, and it’s kind of like a gallery walk. You all walk around and see it, just to honor Asian voices of students and see art, ” Fraga said.

Feldman spoke about AAPI Heritage Month’s evolution over the years.  “The acronym continues to grow, from API or Asian American Heritage Month to then thinking about Native Hawaiians. … I think at one point last year, we tried to think about, ‘What are we really trying to do here by adding all these letters?’” Feldman said. “I’ve noticed, both in MultiCulti at Urban and in general, that we’ve really tried to just think about … the spirit of [being] Asian American as an identity in Asian American Heritage Month.”

Urban’s multicultural leaders acknowledge and celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, along with MOU and other heritage months. “I think in heritage months, the important part is that [it] brings a lot of visibility [to] these minority groups,” Fraga said. “A lot of times, minoritized people can kind of get looked over.”