Asian American / Asian Research Institute

Rockland County, NY: NYS AAPI Commission 5th Meeting & Public Listening Session
2026-04-09 17:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | NY
The New York State Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission is coming to Rockland County! Please join us for our fifth Public Meeting and Public Listening Session on April 9, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM in-person at Rockland Community College, Technology Center (Ellipse), 145 College Rd, Suffern, NY 10901.

Brown Bag Roundtable: Gen-Z and Resisting Authoritarianism in Burma
2026-04-09 12:00 - 13:00 | New York University – 19 University Place, Great Room, 19 University Place, New York, NY, 10003
The NYU Program in International Relations invites you to join us for a brown bag roundtable on Gen-Z and resisting authoritarianism in Burma, hosted by Professor Frances O’Morchoe.
This roundtable explores the toolkit of youth-led resistance to entrenched authoritarianism in Burma. Panelists will unpack the 2026 political climate, scrutinising the implications of the junta’s nominal transfer of power for the future of the Spring Revolution. The discussion highlights the methods Burmese youth have used to sustain a defiant democratic struggle amid junta violence and a protracted humanitarian crisis.

A New Journey for the Globalization of Korean Cuisine
2026-04-09 - 2026-04-10 | Bueok at Korean Cultural Center, 122 E 32nd Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY, 10016, United States
The K-Food Cooking Class is an elevated cultural program co-hosted by the Korean Cultural Center New York and CJ FOODS, offering an immersive exploration of Korean cuisine through hands-on cooking, expert chef guidance, and cultural storytelling. Thoughtfully curated to reflect both tradition and contemporary global sensibilities, the program invites participants to experience the depth, artistry, and elegance of Korean gastronomy.
This program offers participants a unique opportunity to experience Korean food firsthand, transforming it into a meaningful and memorable cultural encounter. Through a thoughtfully curated curriculum—featuring cultural lectures, live chef demonstrations, interactive cooking sessions, and communal tasting experiences—participants engage with Korean cuisine in a dynamic and compelling manner.
Led by world-renowned culinary experts, including former Michelin-starred chefs, the program ensures both authenticity and high-quality instruction while offering deeper insight into the cultural significance of each dish. The featured menu includes Galbijjim (Korean braised beef short ribs in savory soy-based sauce), presented as a Korean interpretation of Boeuf Bourguignon and inspired by the K-drama Bon Appétit, Your Majesty (폭군의 셰프), as well as Bibimbap (Korean mixed rice with vegetables and gochujang) and Doenjang-guk (Korean soybean paste soup). These dishes reflect the health-conscious and balanced nature of Korean cuisine, aligning with global trends in sustainability and mindful eating.
More than just a cooking class, the K-Food Cooking Class presents Korean cuisine as a living cultural narrative—bridging tradition and contemporary global tastes. Through this program, participants experience Korean culture, identity, and storytelling in every bite, fostering meaningful cultural exchange through the universal language of food.

Asian American Career Ceilings “Advice & Networking-Arts and Entertainment
2026-04-08 18:00 - 19:30 | China Institute, 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY, 10006

Spotlight: Resources on Korea and U.S.-Korea Relations
2026-04-08 08:00 - 10:00 | NY
Join us for a virtual tour of archival resources about Korea and U.S.-Korea relations available for virtual and U.S.-based researchers. This discussion highlights a diverse array of both longstanding and emerging collections, providing a wide survey of available historical resources. How can educators, researchers, historians, writers, and students best take advantage of this treasure trove of materials? What stories await and what impact can they have? What are some tips and tricks from librarians, center directors, and archivists?

Play - JESA (Final Performances)
2026-04-08 - 2026-04-12 | The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St, New York, NY, 10003
JESA by Jeena Yi, directed by Mei Ann Teo, is a riotous and heart-wrenching new play that explodes the idea of the “perfect family gathering.” When four estranged Korean American sisters reunite in Orange County to perform their father’s Jesa—a traditional ritual honoring the dead—old wounds erupt, secrets surface, and ghosts (literal and emotional) refuse to stay buried. With razor-sharp dialogue, explosive humor, and unexpected tenderness, JESA asks how we honor our ancestors when we can barely stand each other. Come for the sibling brawls and burning shrimp, stay for the aching truth of what binds us.
Enjoy $10 off all performances with discount code: MAYIJESA

Connecting the US and Japan Through Wine Freeman Winery Talk and Tasting
2026-04-07 19:00 - 21:30 | Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, New York, NY, 10017, United States
Freeman Winery has further been distinguished by diplomats throughout the US-Japan world. In late 2025, Freeman wines were served at a Presidential Dinner at the US Embassy in Tokyo during President Donald Trump’s state visit to Japan with newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and prior to that, Freeman wines were served at a State Department luncheon hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris to celebrate the visit of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as well as at the Obama White House at a State Dinner honoring Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. These are just three of the many diplomatic events where Freeman wines have been poured.
Join us now for a talk about wine’s place in the US-Japan world, Freeman Winery’s blending of both nations, and an opportunity to sample a selection of Freeman’s limited-production wines.

A Celebration of Arab American Poetry
2026-04-07 18:30 - 20:00 | Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL), 455 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016
Join SNFL and the Radius of Arab American Writers (RAWI) for a celebration of Arab American Heritage Month and National Poetry Month, with readings by Maha Hashwi, Ghinwa Jawhari, Lawrence Joseph, and Kamelya Omayma Youssef.

Sotong & Against This Messy World
2026-04-06 17:00 - 18:30 | NY
This Spring, GETSEA will host two short films highlighting the challenges to art and expression in Malaysia’s complex political, legal, and societal landscape.
Sotong follows four fierce local drag queens who were part of the 2022 Halloween party raided by the authorities. One of them, Juan, was arrested for ‘a man dressing up as a woman’. Two years later, they revisit on the fallout of that night as they continue to perform underground and nurture the Malaysian drag scene in all its beauty, joy, and pain.
Against This Messy World is a deeply introspective and visually captivating short documentary that delves into the heart and soul of artistic expression in Malaysia. A personal exploration, narrated by Malaysian artists, this documentary takes viewers on an evocative journey to understand the essence and purpose of being an artist in a world marked by chaos and uncertainty and piece together conversations and unfiltered moments in their lives.
Universities from across North America will come together to watch the films simultaneously, then connect via Zoom with the filmmakers for a post-screening discussion. If you are interested in holding a screening at your campus, please reach out to Chris Hulshof at chulshof@wisc.edu.

Hidden Voices: Integrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Stories into the Classroom
2026-04-06 - 2026-04-08 | Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre Street, New York, NY, 10013
Amplify Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) histories and voices in your classroom! Rooted in the NYC DOE’s Hidden Voices: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in United States History coursebook, this series offers rich historical content, classroom connections, and practical tools.
Explore the Museum of Chinese in America’s (MOCA’s) collection of over 85,000 artifacts and oral histories that illuminate the Chinese American experience, alongside insights from leading AAPI scholars. Together, educators will explore themes of law and citizenship, work and community life, and arts and culture.
Throughout the series, participants will:

Build foundational knowledge of AAPI histories, movements, and contributions—and understand their essential place in the broader American story
Develop curriculum-aligned lesson plans that thoughtfully integrate AAPI narratives and perspectives
Engage in hands-on learning with primary sources, archival materials, and museum exhibits to support effective instructional design

Light breakfast and lunch included.
Eligible participants will receive 15 CTLE hours and a per session.
Those interested should complete this linked survey and send a cover letter, a letter from an administrator, and their resume to socialstudies@schools.nyc.gov with the subject line “Hidden Voices AAPI Institute.” Applicants will be selected based on these materials provided.

Southeast Asian Studies Initiative (SEASI)’s 6th Annual Symposium
2026-04-06 | Watson School of International and Public Affairs – Brown University, 111 Thayer St, Providence, RI, 02912
The symposium will take place on Saturday, April 4th, 2026, at the Watson School of International and Public Affairs at Brown University. The program will feature a keynote address by a leading scholar in Southeast Asian Studies, student presentations from Brown University and institutions across the Northeast, a cultural performance, and catered lunch and dinner.

MOCA x NYAFF Film Club: American Girl
2026-04-02 18:30 - 21:00 | Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre Street, New York, NY, 10013
MOCA x NYAFF Film Club is a quarterly program celebrating the brilliance and boldness of Asian and Asian American cinema. This series highlights films of historic and cultural significance under the theme Margin, spotlighting daring films that challenge the norm, rewrite narratives, and push boundaries.
AMERICAN GIRL follows 13-year-old Fen, who is forced to move from Los Angeles back to Taipei with her mother and younger sister after her mother is diagnosed with breast cancer. Set during the 2003 SARS outbreak, Fen struggles to adapt to life in Taiwan—feeling like an outsider at school, reconnecting with her estranged father, and clashing with her mother. As tensions at home intensify and Fen acts out in rebellion, a health scare involving her younger sister pushes the family toward a long-overdue emotional confrontation.

Sips & Strokes Chinese Calligraphy Workshop
2026-04-02 18:30 - 20:30 | 115 Bowery New York, NY 10002, 115 Bowery, New York, NY, 10002
Join Sophie Yuan for a beginner Chinese calligraphy workshop. Learn brush strokes, create characters, and enjoy wine and light refreshments.

Sips & Strokes Chinese Calligraphy Workshop
Join Chinese language educator and children’s author Sophie Yuan for an engaging introduction to the art of Chinese calligraphy. This beginner-friendly workshop will guide participants through fundamental brush techniques and simple characters, while exploring the cultural and philosophical traditions behind this centuries-old practice. Through hands-on instruction, attendees will slow down, focus their attention, and experience the meditative rhythm of ink on paper.

Book Talk | A Solitary Traveler in the Long Night
2026-04-02 18:00 - 19:30 | China Institute of America, 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY
China Institute invites you to an evening conversation with Zhang Qin, author of A Solitary Traveler in the Long Night, an intimate portrait of Tong Jun, a pioneering architect and architectural educator whose work helped shape the intellectual foundations of modern Chinese architecture. Blending architectural history, personal reflection, and cultural analysis, the book reveals the inner world of a master architect whose influence far exceeded the limited records of his life. The conversation will be moderated by Susan Yuqing Feng, Director of Programs at China Institute, and followed by an audience Q&A and a book signing.

Pro Se Collaborative Habeas Training
2026-04-02 12:30 - 15:00 | CPC One, 45 Suffolk Street, New York, NY, 10002
This training will help NYC based community advocates and social services workers understand how habeas petitions are used in the immigration detention context and go over the basic elements of a pro se petition for common scenarios that have arose in New York. This training is for non-attorney advocates, including organizers, and others supporting detained community members. Sample filing documents and templates will be provided during the training.

Association for Asian American Studies 2026 Annual Conference
2026-04-02 - 2026-04-04 | Honolulu, Hawaii
Our 2026 AAAS gathering in Hawai‘i coincides with a series of anniversaries that present a timely opportunity to consider the promises and limits of Asian American Studies from the belly of the U.S. imperial beast. Here we’re especially thinking about how 2026 marks the semiquincentennial of the United States’ declaration of independence from the British Empire and the birth of its own world historic imperial vision that extended its reach from the Atlantic into the Pacific; the 50th anniversary of the first “landing” that liberated the island of Kaho‘olawe from decades of U.S. Navy live-fire bombing, a Kanaka Maoli-led effort that helped spark the modern sovereignty movement; and the 80th anniversary of the Great Hawai‘i Sugar Strike, an island-wide, interethnic, working-class shutdown of the plantation industry.

Contesting Indigeneity, Connecting Peoples
2026-04-02 - 2026-04-03 | 53 Washington Square S, 53 Washington Square South, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Enrique Okenve’s Symposium: A two-day program on the doing and undoing of domination across the Spanish Empire

This two-day symposium organized by Enrique Okenve will compare varied, contesting experiences of indigenous peoples and the possible ways in which their responses connected them across territories and throughout time.
Thursday, April 2, 6-8 PM: Contestations at the ground level
Friday, April 3, 12-2 PM: Connections across space and time

Akane-banashi World Premiere
2026-04-01 20:00 - 22:00 | Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, New York, NY, 10017, United States
Akane-banashi is an acclaimed manga written by Yuki Suenaga and illustrated by Takamasa Moue. The series is praised for its authentic presentation of Rakugo, a traditional Japanese style of storytelling, and for making this 400-year-old artform accessible to new generations.

AAPI Celebration: On Confluences and Connections by Sangamithra Iyer
2026-04-01 12:30 - 13:30 | Charles B. Wang Center – Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Rd, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, United States
Sangamithra Iyer will read from and discuss her debut book, Governing Bodies: A Memoir, a Confluence, a Watershed. Governing Bodies connects family history, ecological grief, the lives of animals, and the memory of water in a lyrical meditation on lineages of nonviolence. In it, Iyer also wrestles with how we live with the legacy of historical harms and how we address the current moment of multiple worldwide crises. The book sits at the confluence of prose and poetry, science and art, and personal and planetary sorrow, and draws from Iyer’s work at the intersections of engineering, writing and activism.

Eunbi Kim: it feels like a dream
2026-03-31 19:30 - 20:30 | National Sawdust, 80 North 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11249
Pianist Eunbi Kim makes her National Sawdust debut with it feels like a dream, an intimate solo program exploring family and identity, offering listeners a sound space to reflect on the dreams they carry and pass on. The program features works by Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR), Angélica Negrón, Pauchi Sasaki, and Sophia Jani for piano, pre-recorded voices, and electronics, written for and performed by Kim. The evening includes the world premiere of a new work by Pauchi Sasaki, alongside music by Zosha Di Castri.

Gallery After Hours: Kawai Kanjirō: House to House
2026-03-31 18:00 - 20:00 | Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, New York, NY, 10017, United States
We are delighted to invite you to a private Gallery After Hours tour of Kawai Kanjirō: House to House—the artist’s first solo exhibition in the United States and the only time this collection has left Japan.
Enjoy sake and light refreshments, then join Naomi Kuromiya, Senior Research Associate at the Japan Society Gallery, for an insider’s look at this landmark exhibition.

Vibe Coding + AI Prototyping (Online Workshop)
2026-03-31 10:00 - 12:00 | NY
The Tech Incubator at Queens College (TIQC) and the AAARI Innovators Fellowship team are hosting a 2.5-hour online workshop to help students learn vibe coding and practical AI tools to build quick prototypes and turn ideas into something real.
You should attend if you:

Have an idea you want to turn into a prototype (app, website, workflow, demo)

Want to learn how to build faster with AI, even if you’re not technical

Are interested in community-based innovation and real-world problem solving

This workshop is also a great way to connect with the AAARI Innovators Fellowship, which supports promising student innovators and community-based projects.

The Peking Acrobats
2026-03-29 16:00 - 17:30 | Queens College – Colden Auditorium, 153-49 Reeves Avenue, Flushing, NY, 11367
Prepare to be amazed as The Peking Acrobats® deliver a jaw-dropping performance that defies gravity and belief. This thrilling showcase blends the time-honored tradition of Chinese acrobatics with live music, bold visuals, and cutting-edge special effects—creating a high-flying experience for all ages.

Turang - an Indonesian Film Forum screening
2026-03-29 | Anthology Film Archives, 32 2nd Avenue, New York, NY, 10003
Indonesian Film Forum is proud to present the US East Coast premiere of Bachtiar Siagian’s Turang (1957) – a seminal piece of Indonesian film history, rediscovered in 2023 after having declared lost for many years.
Turang centers a love story between Batak Karo villager Tipi and Indonesian freedom fighter Rusli during Indonesia’s fight for independence from Dutch colonial rule. It is a document of Indonesian post-colonial cinema that colors a world beyond the military-centric independence narratives we often see. Turang displays Bachtiar Siagian’s neorealist streak and sincerity in telling the story of the Karo people, which also reflects his work as a member of LEKRA and the head of the 1964 Afro-Asian Film Festival – a film initiative stemming from the 1955 Afro-Asian conference in Bandung. A majority of Bachtiar Siagian’s films remains unseen to the contemporary audience, as LEKRA members were exiled or imprisoned after the 1965-66 anti-communist purge and Suharto’s presidency that emerged after.

National Muslim Women’s Summit | MALIKAH
2026-03-28 12:00 - 20:00 | The Islamic Center of New York City, 350 6th Avenue, New York, NY, 10011, United States
Every year, Malikah hosts the National Muslim Women’s Summit, one of the few nationwide gatherings dedicated to social justice rooted Muslim women. In 2026, we gather under the theme Collective Freedom and Collective Care, exploring how spiritual grounding, emotional resilience, storytelling, and community accountability shape the lives of Muslim women.
This year’s summit will take place at the Islamic Center of New York City and features a full day of conversation, creativity, and connection.
Through Qur’an recitation, poetry, comedy, music, fireside chats, and a dynamic panel discussion, we will explore how Muslim women build freedom through shared responsibility and collective care. Featuring workshops in healing justice, self defense, and creative expression, the summit offers both reflection and practical tools for personal and collective growth.

National Muslim Women’s Summit
2026-03-28 12:00 - 20:00 | The Islamic Center of New York City, 350 6th Avenue, New York, NY, 10011, United States

NY Seasonal Tea Ceremony: Matcha & the Hina Doll Festival
2026-03-28 10:30 - 12:00 | Globus Tea Room, 889 Broadway PHC, New York, NY, 10003, United States
Join us for a Hinamatsuri Tea ritual featuring a rare Kinin-date ceremony—celebrating seasonal beauty, grace, and Japanese tradition!

The DeGrasse Family of New York City
2026-03-27 18:00 - 19:30 | Asian American / Asian Research Institute, 25 West 43rd Street, Suite 1000, New York, 10036, United States
Prof. Prithi Kanakamedala will present on their project examining the life of George DeGrasse and his family, who lived on land in New York City donated by Aaron Burr in the early nineteenth century.

2026 Asian Americans and STEM Conference: Science in a De-globalizing World
2026-03-27 10:00 - 17:00 | New York University (370 Jay Street, Brooklyn), 370 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11201
Led by a cross-disciplinary team from Asian American Studies, Physics, and Computer Science, this project examines the contradictory position of Asian American scientists as both celebrated “model minorities” and perceived security threats. By integrating humanities-driven inquiry with scientific history, the initiative uncovers how U.S. and European imperialism, racial exclusion, and global geopolitics have shaped the experiences of these researchers. The work seeks to reclaim the narratives of Asian American scientists, moving them from passive objects of study to recognized agents of discovery whose contributions have often been erased or obfuscated in standard histories.
Building on an inaugural 2024 conference at Yale that drew over 100 participants, the project is expanding its reach through a second one-day symposium in collaboration with NYU and CUNY. These events foster critical dialogue on racialization and professionalization within STEM fields across the 20th and 21st centuries. The upcoming symposium continues this mission of addressing the lack of recognition for Asian American technical workers and is open to all individuals interested in the intersection of race, history, and scientific production.

Writing Legal Lives: Biography, Memoir, and the Law
2026-03-27 09:30 - 17:00 | CUNY Graduate Center – Skylight Room, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016
Please join us in this one-day conference exploring the ways in which personal narratives inform our understanding of the law, justice, and ethics.
