NC State students kicked off APIDA Heritage Month in Talley Student Union on March 18, 2019. Recognized nationally as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, NC State expands on the goals of the month by recognizing heritages across the full spectrum of Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi-American identities.

At the kickoff, diverse sights and sounds filled Talley. The many student organizations affiliated with APIDA identities, such as, Kappa Phi Lambda, the Fillipino American Student Association and Liberty in North Korea lined the lobby with colorful and musical tables.

The theme for the month is “Pieces of Our Identity,” inspired by students’ desire to explore multidimensional aspects of identity, including gender, race, nationality, sexuality and ability, within the APIDA spectrum.

Kyle Lorenzo, at the Fillipino American Student Association table, said, “APIDA Heritage month is great because we have a chance to talk about our organizations, which all represent really important causes.”

Lorenzo encourages students to come out to “Legacy of Lumpia” on Thursday, April 4, 2019 from 7:00.-8:30 p.m., to learn about the delicious intersection of food and identity in the Fillipino tradition. Lumpia is a spring-roll like food filled with pork, vegetables, dried shrimp and bamboo shoots.

This month, students can explore Asian identities by learning about culture, history and activism. Students are encouraged to participate in as many events as possible and learn about cultures that are new to them. Programs for APIDA Heritage Month will run through April 15, 2019.

Event Calendar

• See the full calendar at go.ncsu.edu/apida.

Leah Block is a senior majoring in interpersonal, organizational and rhetorical communication, with a minor in sociology, and a communications intern in the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity.