Fiesta Asia May 12, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Wuiping Yap
March 20, 2007 [email protected]

202-470-0899







ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH TO CELEBRATE WITH ASIAN-STYLE "FIESTA"

DC area Asian organizations will showcase artistic talents, culinary delights, and imported crafts in a May 12th street festival to commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month







WASHINGTON, D.C. - In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the Asian Heritage Foundation will add a bit of Asian flair to the capital city streets with the second annual Fiesta Asia – National Asian Heritage Festival. The Grand Celebration will be on Saturday, May 12, 2007 along Pennsylvania Avenue NW in the District of Columbia with a multi cultural fair, and will continue throughout the month of May.



"Fiesta Asia is an opportunity to raise awareness of the diversity of Asian culture and contributions of Asian Americans", explains, Wuiping Yap, the founder and executive director of the Asian Heritage Foundation, "We are proud to have the support of the DC Government through the Office on Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs, DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities and the Metropolitan Police Department’s Asian Liaison Unit in commemorating the federal holiday through this festival. This event promises to be a tremendous opportunity to showcase the finest in Asian art and culture to the broader metro population."



During the May 12th Street fair, area residents and visitors will have an opportunity to savor the many flavors of Asian culture. Participants of all ages will enjoy a wide array of activities, including live performances by musicians, vocalists and performance artists, Pan-Asian cuisine, martial arts and lion dance demonstration, a multi cultural marketplace, cultural displays and interactive activities, and much more. A new addition to the fair will be a Health Pavilion featuring free health testing for the fair attendees.



Admission to Fiesta Asia kick-off event is free and open to the public. In addition to the May 12th event, DC metro area residents can explore and experience a variety of cultural activities sponsored by location businesses and associations including activities planned with Friends of the Zoo, Asia Society, the DC Asian Pacific American Film Inc, Old Post Office Pavilion and Chopstix. Prospective participants and attendees are asked to visit www.asiaheritage.org for additional information.



The event is being supported by AZN Television, Pacifica Radio WPFW 89.3 FM, Washington Metro Transit Authority, City Living Source Magazine, Girl Scouts of the USA , Cultural Tourism DC and numerous other organizations. AHF featured partners include the Migrant Heritage Commission ( MHC ), UNESCO Center for Peace, Hung Tao Choy Mei and Eastmark International U.S.A.







About Asia Heritage Foundation

The Asia Heritage Foundation is a not-for-profit organization created to share, celebrate, and promote the diversity of Asian heritage and culture through the arts, traditions, education, and cuisine as represented in the Washington metropolitan area. Asia Heritage Foundation has no political or religious affiliation but is a multi-ethnic cultural organization. Asia Heritage Foundation is run and operated by an Executive Director, a volunteer board and professional advisors. Additional information can be found at www.asiaheritage.org.





About Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is celebrated in May to commemorate the contributions of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the United States . During the month, Asian Americans around the nation celebrate with community festivals, government-sponsored activities, and educational activities for students. Congress passed a joint Congressional Resolution in 1978 to commemorate Asian American Heritage Week during the first week of May. This date was chosen because two important anniversaries occurred during this time: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in America on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad (by many Chinese laborers) on May 10, 1869. Congress later voted to expand it from a week long to a month long celebration.According to the 2000 Census Bureau, the Asian-American community is the fastest growing group in the DC Metro Area. Over the last decade, the number of Asians who have relocated to the DC area has increased by approximately 30%.







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Official Website: http://www.asiaheritage.org