Normandale Community College, the Normandale Asian Cultural Student Club, City of Bloomington, and Friends of the Japanese Garden are collaborating to host an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Island (AANHPI) Heritage Celebration on Normandale’s campus, Wednesday, April 30 from 2-6 p.m.
The AANHPI event, which will be taking place in the Japanese Garden, Gymnasium and Kopp Student Center Garden Room, is free and open to the public. It is designed to celebrate diversity, unity, and respect while fostering connections and learning about Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander cultures.
There will be food trucks, a variety of live performances, activity booths, Japanese Garden tours, and fashion shows at the event. Guests are recommended to park in Lot 3, 4, or the parking ramp and enter through the KOPP Building Entrance. For the most updated information about the event, please visit normandale.edu/aanhpi-event.
The following is a tentative schedule of the event:
2:15pm- Opening Ceremony: A warm welcome from Normandale College President Joyce Ester, Asian Culture Club President Jeffrey Vang, and Bloomington City Councilmember Chao Moua.
Cultural Booths & Interactive Exhibits – Explore booths representing various Asian cultures, featuring authentic artifacts, traditional crafts, and hands-on activities. Some of the featured booths include Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, and Chinese cultural displays and more!
Food & Refreshments – Enjoy a variety of flavors from two food trucks offering authentic AANHPI cuisine, along with light appetizers and drinks provided by Tiffin Man Catering (while supplies last).
Amazing Momo: Tibetan Dumplings
Kham Fu Dee: Asian Fusion
Tiffin Man Catering
2:45pm- Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony & Tasting – Experience the art of a Japanese tea ceremony, a ritual that embodies harmony, respect, purity and tranquility. Attendees will have the chance to observe a demonstration and enjoy a sample of freshly made matcha tea and sweets.
3:30pm- Keynote Speaker & Martial Arts Demonstration: Pete K. Wong: “Courage to Fail: How Embracing Our Pain Builds Confidence”
The fear of failure can be paralyzing but embracing it as a valuable opportunity for growth can lead to increased confidence and a deeper understanding of one's abilities. In martial arts, the pursuit of mastery is paved with both triumph and failure.
While success is often celebrated, it is the trials and tribulations faced along the way that truly shape us. Walk away with solutions for how you can build a healthier mindset when failure shows up, build resilience, and have a little fun along the way while doing it!
Japanese Garden Tours & Koi Feeding – Enjoy a self-guided or volunteer-led tour to explore the Garden’s history and feed the koi.
4:15pm- Taiko Drumming & 5:30pm Lion Dance Performances – Enjoy the energy and rhythm of traditional Taiko drumming performance by TaikoArts Midwest, followed by a captivating Lion Dance by DTT Lions—a vibrant performance believed to bring good luck and drive away negative energy.
5:00pm- Cultural Fashion Show – The celebration will conclude with a showcase of traditional AANHPI attire, highlighting the beauty and diversity of cultural clothing across different Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
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