Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the cultures and contributions of these communities in America. One of the best ways to do this is by exploring their traditions and experiences through events at Stevens. Throughout April, the Office of Student Culture and Belonging is hosting events that honor the art, food, music, storytelling, and activism that define APIDA communities.
Stand Up Comedy Show feat. Ali Mehedi and Yoshiko Watson
On April 2, the Office of Student Culture and Belonging also hosted a stand-up comedy show featuring Ali Mehedi and Yoshiko Watson. Ali Mehedi, a software engineer and comedian, brought a global perspective to the stage, “touching on borders, culture, and language.” Yoshiko Watson opened the night with her “sharp wit and strong stage presence,” according to the Office of Student Life Ducklink. Events like this provide a space to hear perspectives from APIDA communities, similar to last year’s panel during APIDA Heritage Month, where students shared their personal stories and experiences from being members of these communities.
BreakFAST
It is often nice to have something from a different culture, and APIDA Month is the perfect time to do so for the Filipino community by having a traditional Filipino breakfast. Some staple items include savory fillings like silog, which is a combo of garlic fried rice and itlog, fried egg. Filipino breakfast is usually hearty and can include dried fish (tuyo), sweet sausage, pandesal bread, and coffee. A good Filipino breakfast is high in protein and fiber-rich, and keeps you full for the day. On April 2, the Filipino Association of Stevens Tech (FAST) shared this with the Stevens community by hosting BreakFAST, allowing students to try Filipino food while having a fun open night at the same time to keep it enjoyable.
Make your own Matcha
On April 8, the Office of Student Culture and Belonging hosted an event at Stevens where you can learn how to properly make matcha while respecting its cultural roots and history. Matcha originates from a Japanese Buddhist monk named Eisai. When he returned to Japan from China, he brought tea seeds with him and planted them using Buddhist methods for preparing powdered green tea. He planted these seeds on the temple grounds of Kyoto, which made this tea a symbol of luxury. After Eisai’s return, Zen Buddhists found a new method for cultivating the green tea plant, which increased the health benefits of matcha. Zen Master Sen-no-Rikyu then popularized Japan’s tea ceremony, which evolved into the ritual of matcha. Now, matcha is often seen as a social media trend, but it’s important to honor the culture it comes from and recognize its historical significance.
Vietnamese Coffee Workshop
Another drink being celebrated for its historical significance is Vietnamese coffee. On April 9, the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) is hosting an event where you can make your own cup using traditional tools while learning about the history of Vietnamese coffee. Coffee was introduced to Vietnam in the early 19th century when the French colonized parts of Southeast Asia. Vietnam’s tropical climate and fertile soil made it perfect for coffee cultivation, and by the early 1900s, Vietnam had become a major coffee exporter. After the Vietnam War, coffee played a major role in rebuilding the economy, becoming Vietnam’s second-largest export after rice and earning valuable foreign currency. At the VSA’s Vietnamese Coffee Workshop, students learned about the rich history of Vietnamese coffee while experiencing the traditional preparation process firsthand.
Whether you choose to attend these events or not, members of the APIDA community have graciously brought their culture to Stevens to share. The festivities and traditions of APIDA communities are not confined to one month. With the cultural organizations that have worked with the Office of Student Life and Belonging for the specifically APIDA Heritage Month itinerary, there are wonderful events year-round to celebrate their vibrant culture. These events help shape Stevens into a more diverse and inclusive space. This allows students to appreciate different traditions, contribute to a more understanding and inclusive environment to practice and honor these traditions, showing the impact of these communities.
