“Sàigòn to Seattle: Our Previous, Our Current, and Our Future” exhibit on the Yuan Ru Artwork Heart in Bellevue runs by Could 17. (Picture courtesy Mates of Little Sài Gòn)
Seattle’s story has all the time been formed by Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. For the reason that 1860s, generations of households have planted roots right here, constructed companies, and handed down cultural traditions that proceed to outline the town. Every Could, AANHPI Heritage Month gives households an opportunity to pause, be taught, and have a good time that legacy in new methods.
For fogeys trying to join their youngsters with historical past, artwork, and group this month, there’s a variety of experiences throughout the town that spotlight the power and creativity of AANHPI communities — a lot of them free or low-cost and family-friendly.
The legacy behind the celebrations
Seattle’s Chinatown-Worldwide District (CID), Little Saigon, and the town’s historic Waterfront are greater than cultural landmarks. These neighborhoods maintain tales of immigration, entrepreneurship, activism, and resilience. At this time, they proceed to function group hubs the place multigenerational households collect, manage, and thrive.
Pleasure Shigaki, President and CEO of Mates of Waterfront Park, grew up in Seattle as a fourth-generation Japanese American. She sees the town’s public areas as important to honoring those that got here earlier than.
“Waterfront Park is a chance to honor that legacy by making a public area the place everybody feels welcomed,” Shigaki mentioned. “It’s a joyful reminder of what’s attainable once we construct with group, connection, and belonging on the heart of our work.”
Occasions and displays
Seattle’s AANHPI Heritage Month calendar consists of exhibitions, excursions, and cultural gatherings throughout the area.
- “Sàigòn to Seattle” at Yuan Ru Artwork Heart (Bellevue) | This artwork exhibition shares tales of Vietnamese refugees who rebuilt their lives in King County after the Vietnam Struggle. It runs by Could 17 and is open on weekends or by appointment. Lots of the works discover themes of displacement, reminiscence, and perseverance — providing highly effective moments for household reflection.
- “We Have been Troopers, Too” at The Little Saigon Inventive | Journalist Thanh Tan brings collectively portraits and oral histories from veterans of the Military of the Republic of Vietnam. The exhibit, open by June 14, goals to protect private tales that always go untold.
- Wing Luke Museum (Chinatown-Worldwide District) | The museum gives interactive displays that concentrate on the artwork, historical past, and experiences of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. With its hands-on shows and neighborhood strolling excursions, it’s a significant cease for youths and adults alike.
- SAM Talks: Asia Society Sequence (Could 15) | Seattle Artwork Museum hosts a dialog with artist Zheng Chongbin and musician Daniel Pak exploring how visible artwork and music intersect. Whereas geared towards teenagers and adults, this occasion is a considerate strategy to introduce older youngsters to up to date AANHPI voices within the arts.
- Asian Arts and Heritage Competition (Could 31, Bainbridge Island) | The competition wraps up the month’s celebrations with performances, crafts, meals, and group gatherings. Households can head over by ferry for a day of music, storytelling, and cultural trade on the Filipino American Group Corridor.
“Sàigòn to Seattle: Our Previous, Our Current, and Our Future” exhibit on the Yuan Ru Artwork Heart in Bellevue runs by Could 17. (Picture courtesy Mates of Little Sài Gòn)
Assist AANHPI-owned companies
In neighborhoods just like the Chinatown-ID and Little Saigon, native eating places and cafes maintain generations-old recipes alive whereas introducing new flavors and concepts.
Bao Nguyen, proprietor of Phin Espresso, selected to open his enterprise in Little Saigon due to the neighborhood’s deep-rooted values.
“This group has all the time prioritized the AANHPI expertise,” Nguyen mentioned. “Phin, my modest providing to this lovely group, may solely ever belong right here.”
Listed below are just a few spots value exploring:
- Phở Bắc Súp Store – Seattle’s authentic pho store within the Chinatown-ID
- Musang – Chef Melissa Miranda’s acclaimed Filipino restaurant in Beacon Hill
- Ba Bar – Informal, family-friendly Vietnamese meals in a number of neighborhoods
- Hood Well-known Café & Bar – Ube cheesecake, Filipino espresso, and extra within the Chinatown-ID
- Buddha Bruddah – Asian-Hawaiian plate lunches in Rainier Valley
- Tokara Bakery – Japanese sweets in Phinney Ridge, usually wrapped like little edible presents
Intentionalist, an area on-line listing, makes it straightforward to find a whole bunch of AANHPI-owned companies by neighborhood or class. It’s a useful useful resource for households who wish to store with objective.
The tales that formed Seattle
Valerie Tran, Deputy Director at Mates of Little Sài Gòn, says the fiftieth anniversary of the tip of the Vietnam Struggle (April 30) is a crucial second for the group — and for Seattle at massive.
“With 85 immigrant- and refugee-owned small companies, Little Saigon stays a spot the place traditions thrive,” she mentioned. “As we mirror on that historical past, we additionally have a good time the resilience of our group and the longer term we’re constructing.”
Seattle’s AANHPI communities are usually not a footnote to the town’s previous — they’re an important a part of its current. The celebrations this month invite all of us to be taught extra, help native, and make area for tales that proceed to form our metropolis day-after-day.
