Spring 2026 Save the Date!

Talk and Lei Making Demonstration

• Location: Student Center, Philbrick-camp room
• Time: 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
• Date: April 8th, 2026

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Festival

• Location: Student Center Circle
• Time: 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM
• Date: April 30th, 2026

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander Festival

A Celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month

With performances, community vendors, refreshments, and more!

Date: April 30th, 2026
Time: 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Location: Student Center
Alternate/Rain Location: Welte Auditorium

Sponsored by The Central Asian American, Asian, & Pacific Islander Center

Supported by 
Asian American Pacific Islander Association
South Asian Student Association
Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies

Origami & Tea Time (Nov. 21, 2024)

Join us for a relaxing afternoon complete with origami instruction and tea! 

Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Location: AAAPI Center, Elihu Burritt Library, Room 205

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Channel 8 News Feature

New Britain Herald News Article

Lunar New Year Celebration (Feb. 12, 2025)

Join us for a celebration of the Lunar New Year (Year of the Snake)!

Time: 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Location: Student Center, Alumni Hall

Open House (Feb. 27, 2025)

Visit our new space, see our work, hear about upcoming events, and share your ideas!

Time: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Location: AAAPI Center, Elihu Burritt Library Room 205

Contemporary Asian Popular Culture with Central Authors (April 9, 2025)

Contemporary Asian Popular Culture Vol. 1
Squid Games, Utopias, and Dystopias.

Contemporary Asian Popular Culture Vol. 2
Cultural Dynamics and Global Impact

Edited by: Yeojin Kim, Dharshani Lakmali Jayasinghe, Hiba Aleem, and Karen A. Ritzenhoff

Schedule:
12:15 - 1:30 p.m. Double Taping
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Q&A with authors
1:30 - 2:50 p.m. Squid Game Session

Location: AAAPI Center, Elihu Burritt Library 205

Asian American & Pacific Islander Festival (April 30, 2025)

A celebration of AAPI Heritage Month with martial arts demonstrations, performances, refreshments and more!

Time: 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Student Center Circle

Sponsored by Asian American, Asian, and Pacific Islander Center and Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies.

AAAPI Open House (Oct. 22, 2025) 

Hear about our upcoming events, 
Learn about our past work, 
Taste and learn about Japanese Matcha, Chinese Tea, Korean Tea, Thai Tea Boba, Turkish Tea, and Vietnamese Coffee!

Time: 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM 
Location: AAAPI Center, Elihu Burritt Library, Room 205

Megan Baker: From Community to Capitol, Engaging AAPI Voices to Shape Connecticut State Policy (Nov. 13, 2025)  

Join us as Ms. Baker shares her journey in research, public service, and advocacy.

Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: AAAPI Center, Elihu Burritt Library, Room 205

AAPI Faculty & Leader Series (Nov. 18, 2025) 

Join us for an inspiring conversation as AAPI faculty and leaders share their personal and professional journeys. 

Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: AAAPI Center, Elihu Burritt Library, Room 205 

Henna and Origami (Dec. 3, 2025)

Henna creations by Ruqiya Rasool of the Henna Lounge 
Blue Devil Origami Workshop presented by the Japan Society of Greater Hartford 

Time: 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: AAAPI Center, Elihu Burritt Library, Room 205

Lunar New Year Celebration Week (Feb. 17-19, 2026)

Day 1 - Language Cafe
Day 2 - Luck & Fortune
Day 3 - Fashion Walk

Time: 12:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: AAAPI Center, Elihu Burritt Library, Room 205

Dr. Stephanie Young: Living in the In-Between (March 25, 2026)

Time: 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM

Location: Davidson Hall/ Founders Hall

A Perspective:
The Co-Evolution of Ecological Conservation (Mālama ‘Āina) and Lei Culture on Hawai'i Island

Date: April 8th, 2026
Time: 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
Location: Student Center, Philbrick-Camp Room

Lecture & Lei-Making Demonstration

In this 45 minute lecture and following live demonstration, Julia will share her professional and personal experience on the inseparable ties land stewardship and lei culture past and present on Hawai'i Island.

Ecologist and educator, Julia has led cross-cultural ecological restoration and environmental literacy initiatives across Senegal, Australia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, North Carolina, and Hawai‘i. Having lived on Hawaiʻi Island from 2014 – 2019, Julia immersed herself in local and Native Hawaiian communities, which led her to found Puale‘a Floral—a venture dedicated to revealing the gentle power of flowers and the profound intelligence of natural systems in a clear, accessible way.

Cultural Note: This session is presented for informational and educational purposes. It is not meant to express a complete or expert statement on Native Hawaiian culture. The author assumes all responsibility for mistakes or misrepresentations.