The Asian New Year Festival is scheduled for Sunday, February 12, from 6-9 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center on GVSU's Allendale Campus. A dragon dance, samples of ethnic food, storytelling and entertainment are planned. The event is free and open to the public.
Connie Dang, associate director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, said this year she extended invitations to the Asian organizations in the community to not only attend the event but also to be a part of the program. Members of the Chinese Association of Grand Rapids, Asian Center, Filipino Cultural Group of Michigan and the Asian Hour, a community access television program, will participate in a cultural and educational New Year celebration.
Other events planned include the following:
- Asian Student Forum; February 13, 2-3:30 p.m., Cook-DeWitt Center
Dang will moderate a student panel of domestic and international Asian students, who will discuss their experiences at Grand Valley.
- The New Gender Roles of Chinese Immigrant Wives; February 14, 1-2
p.m., Kirkhof Center, rooms 215/216
Yan Yu, associate professor of sociology at Grand Valley, will give a presentation of the social and family problems encountered by Asian women as they enter the workforce -- a new role for many. Traditionally, Asian women stayed at home to care for their families. Yu gave a presentation on this topic at the Fifth International Conference on Diversity in Beijing, China, in 2005.
- Asian Adoptee Issues; February 14, 5:30-7 p.m., Kirkhof Center,
Pere Marquette Room
Dr. D. John Lee, licensed psychologist and member of the Multi-Ethnic Counseling Center at Michigan State University, will talk about the increased popularity of Americans adopting Asian children. Lee said that as these children grow up, they frequently encounter adjustment and ethnic identity issues about their "place" in society. This session is ideal for current parents of adopted children or those considering adoption.
- Establishment of the Advisory Council on Asian and Pacific
American Affairs; February 15, noon-1:30 p.m., Kirkhof Center, Grand
River Room
Susan Im, attorney and a member of the Michigan Advisory Council on Asian and Pacific American Affairs, will discuss the council's activities since it was established by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2005.
- Documentary Video: Searching for Asian America; February 15,
5-6:30 p.m., Cook-DeWitt Center
This 2003 video profiles several prominent Asian Americans: Gary Locke, governor of Washington; Martin Bautista and Jeffrey Lim, Filipino doctors in Oklahoma; and Lela Lee, actress and creator of the popular comic strip and Web site "Angry Little Girls."
- RICE Conference: Realizing and Addressing Issues in our Culture
and Education; April 8, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., DeVos Center, Pew Grand
Rapids Campus
The annual RICE conference serves to educate and raise awareness of Asian issues in the community. The conference is free and open to the public; register online at www.riceconference.com. Workshop topics can be found at the Web site.
For more information about the events, call the Office of Multicultural Affairs at (616) 331-2177. The celebration is also sponsored by Grand Valley's Asian Student Union, East Asian Studies, Padnos International Center and Office of Institutional Marketing.
