Throughout May, Dartmouth is celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM) with a month of events that focus on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history, diversity, and experiences. Kayanat Paracha, OPAL coordinator, and Deborah Jung ’24 and Caitlyn King ’24, members of the planning committee, talk about the history and importance of this year’s celebration.

The purpose of AAPIHM is to celebrate, honor, and educate the Dartmouth community on issues of Asian Pacific American identity, history, and culture through educational programs, talks, and community-building events. Formerly known as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the celebration was renamed to be more inclusive of Pacific Islander identities and experiences within the larger Pan Asian community.

This year’s theme, “Elements,” focuses on “both the overarching whole and the individual components that come together to form AAPI culture,” says Jung.

The series of events, hosted by the Office of Pluralism and Leadership, will continue throughout the month.