support our heritage month programming

Conversation and Book by Viet Thanh Nguyen 

7 PM – 8 PM

First Congregational Church of Montclair

40 South Fullerton Ave., Montclair

Join us on Tuesday, April 30th at 7PM as Succeed2gether’s Montclair Literary Festival Co-sponsored with AAPI Montclair welcomes Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen in conversation about 'A Man of Two Faces'. With insight, humor, formal invention, and lyricism, in 'A Man of Two Faces' Viet Thanh Nguyen rewinds the film of his own life. He expands the genre of personal memoir by acknowledging larger stories of refugeehood, colonization, and ideas about Vietnam and America, writing with his trademark sardonic wit and incisive analysis, as well as a deep emotional openness about his life as a father and a son.

Teacher Workshop: Exploring Asian American Literature

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Virtual (Zoom)

This workshop will focus on providing K-5 teachers an overview of Asian American children literature including poetry and short stories. Several AAPI authors will be highlighted, and ways to introduce these authors and their work in an age-appropriate way will be presented. Points of consideration on how to choose appropriate literature with respectful AAPI representation will be offered. Educators will leave with lesson activities based on these AAPI literature that they can use for their own classrooms and a list of AAPI authors.

Road Trip Across Asian America: Artist Salon with Sammy Yuen

4:30 PM
Private Residence in Montclair

(Address provided upon RSVP)

Join us for a fascinating evening with visual artist and art activist, Sammy Yuen. Since the pandemic, Sammy has traveled across the country illustrating historic buildings, landmarks, and key moments in Asian American history. In addition to presenting his recent work, Sammy will share what inspired him to begin this project, stories of deep-rooted families and serendipitous encounters from his travels, and how his own family history has influenced his work. Guests are welcome to arrive at 4:30 with a presentation and Q&A from 5–6pm, followed by an hour to view Sammy's work up close and enjoy seasonal cocktails and light bites. 

Educator PD: Teaching AAPI History and Contributions

8:30 AM – 3 PM

Fairleigh Dickinson University Metro Campus, Teaneck 

In 2022, New Jersey passed the AAPI Curriculum Mandate requiring public schools to teach AAPI contributions, history, and heritage as part of a concerted effort to reduce prejudice and promote belonging for AAPI people, culture, and communities. Join Dr. Khayti Joshi at Fairleigh Dickinson University to learn how to bring AAPI history, culture, and people to life in middle school and high school classrooms. 

Lunch & Learn: How to Respond & Practice Resilience When Experiencing Hate, Bias and Microaggressions

12 PM

Virtual (Zoom) 

This 75-minute, highly interactive workshop will emphasize building resilience and long-term healing for those who have experienced anti-Asian harassment. You’ll learn how your identities can shape your experiences of harassment and the impact that harassment has on you and your community. We’ll take a deep dive into how to build your resilience on an individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and societal front, and you’ll leave with new tools on how to respond to harassment, whether your response is in the moment while that harassment is happening or long-term.

Teacher Workshop: A Brief Overview of Asian American History

4 PM – 5:30 PM

Virtual (Zoom) 

Scholar and TAAS Fellow Christy Lee leads this 1.5-hour virtual webinar focused on providing middle school and high school teachers with an overview of Asian American history from 1700-2000s and will highlight Asian American contributions to immigration and citizenship laws that have shaped the United States. Teachers will leave with practical resources, tools, and ideas on how to weave AAPI contributions into their existing curriculum. 

Montclair Film StorySlam: Immigration Stories

7:30 PM

Cinema505

505 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair

From heart-wrenching accounts of leaving loved ones behind, to uplifting tales of resilience and cultural integration; embark with us on a journey of Immigration Stories from our community members. Join us for a night of cultural celebration with a diverse storytelling tapestry of immigrant experiences, as varied and rich as the human experience itself.

AAPI Jazz Fest

12 PM – 10 PM

Express Newark 

(Hahne & Co. Building)

54 Halsey St., Newark, NJ 07192

The Institute of Jazz Studies and Yardbird Productions are excited to present the 3rd Annual AAPI Jazz Fest. This year’s festival will feature 6 Asian American and Pacific Islander jazz bands from around the world. Artists will include headliner Linda May Han Oh feat. Fabian Almazan and Akiko Tsuruga Quartet feat. Jerry Weldon. The AAPI Jazz Fest is the only one of its kind on the East Coast. The AAPI Jazz Fest is free and open to the public with a $40 suggested donation. 

Teacher Workshop: Harnessing the Power of Graphic Novels

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Virtual (Zoom)

Graphic novels (memoirs and nonfiction) and comic books are an integral tool in increasing literacy and engagement in the classroom. Through this webinar, educators will learn the scholarship and research behind the benefits of using comics and graphic novels in the classroom while also gaining access to learning activities and materials to support this work.  Participants will learn about the current research on literacy in social studies and how graphic novels improve literacy, reading comprehension, and engagement. The workshop ends with a walk-through of various activities and books that educators can use in their classrooms. Participants will receive a workshop folder, handouts, and slides at the end of the session. 

This program is suitable for middle school and high school social studies and ELA educators.

Rare Screening: Who Killed Vincent Chin? Screening and discussion with Helen Zia

7:00 - 9:30 PM

The Clairidge

486 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair

On a hot summer night in Detroit in 1982, Ronald Ebens, an autoworker, killed Vincent Chin, a young Chinese American draftsman with a baseball bat. Although he confessed, he never spent a day in jail. This gripping Academy Award-nominated film relentlessly probes the implications of the murder, for the families of those involved, and for the American justice system. Who Killed Vincent Chin?, a legacy title from POV’s archives, was recently restored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and also added to the National Film Registry. Best Documentary Nominee, 61st Annual Academy Awards.

Q&A with Helen Zia, moderated by Taylor Jung (NJ Spotlight News), to follow the screening.

Presented by Montclair Film, AAPI New Jersey, Montclair State University, United Asian Voices, Montclair History Center, Friends of the Howe House, Montclair Public Library, Temple Ner Tamid, Glen Ridge Diversity and Inclusion Association, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, SOMA Cross Cultural Works, Ridgewood AAPI Alliance, Institute for Teaching Diversity & Social Justice, Learn AAPI History.

Creating Visibility & Belonging: AAPI Collaborations with Libraries & Authors 

2:10 PM

New Jersey Librarian Association Conference

Atlantic City

Author Marina Budhos, AAPI NJ President Amber Reed, and Ariel Zeitlin of the Montclair Public Library will discuss collaborative models for NJ libraries and organizations seeking to create greater visibility, inclusion and belonging for the AAPI community and beyond at the New Jersey Librarian Association Conference in Atlantic City.

Book Event: Corky Lee's Asian America

6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Montclair Art Museum

3 South Mountain Ave., Montclair

Join us for a very special evening celebrating the launch of Corky Lee's Asian America, featuring special guest Chee Ng Wang. Doors open at 6:30pm with short film screening and discussion 7-8pm. Over the course of the evening, you will have the opportunity to view curated prints from Corky Lee's collection, meet Chee Ng Wang, and enjoy bubbly sips and delightful bites.

Presented by AAPI New Jersey, OCA-New Jersey, and the Estate of Corky Lee in partnership with the Montclair Art Museum