The Oak Park Public Library had its annual celebration earlier this month for Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month, spotlighting intergenerational stories of Oak Park community members.
The event featured live music from Sona Umbra, children’s arts and crafts activities organized by the Oak Park River Forest High School’s Pan Asian Leadership Society, appetizers sourced from Oak Park APIDA restaurants, and a program including interactive discussions on intergenerational issues led by prominent speakers and writers such as Ed Eusebio, Victor Yipp, and Chelsea Qi Zhao.
An exhibit showcasing objects of APIDA heritage was on view in the Library’s IDEA Box in May, too. Additionally, Banyan: Asian American Writers Collective is one of the groups that attended the event.
Dominican University English Professor Jane Hseu and Founder and Principal of Blue Lotus Advisors Deepa Gupta were the lead organizers for this year’s celebration.
Gupta has lived in Oak Park for 15 years and last year was her first year she became involved with this event.
“I think it is important to note that we had a nice turnout, and many of the folks who were there are a group of people who are writers, artists, and creatives. It is important to share, and we had a mix of folks, some of whom aren’t a part of that creative community, to show the diversity of pathways people have taken, both in terms of identity and work,” Gupta said.
Hseu was born and raised in Southern California, where there’s a significant APIDA population. Hseu said that moving to the Chicago area, which is diverse for the Midwest but has roughly a 5% Asian population, she and others saw a need to address stereotypes and oversimplifications about APIDA backgrounds.
“There are many stereotypes and a lack of awareness regarding the complexity of APIDA backgrounds, individuals, and their stories,” Hseu said. “Therefore, having a month dedicated to focusing on APIDA communities and issues is truly important. It allows us to feel supported not only by fellow APIDA individuals but also by allies from other communities of color, such as Latinos and African Americans, with whom I’ve collaborated.”
Oak Park’s annual tradition of hosting an official event with the Oak Park Library for APIDA Heritage Month has become a community staple, starting in 2018 with a small team of organizers. Social worker Nicole Sumida and operations manager for Seven Generations Ahead Pemalyn Hessing were the lead organizers in the past.
APIDA Heritage Month is significant to Gupta because her family embodies a mix of races, cultures and nationalities. Gupta has two children attending school in Oak Park and wants them to understand that there are various ways to express their identities and to be proud of the things that make up your identity.
“It’s not necessarily about conforming to their grandmother’s or my expectations, but rather about embracing their own choices and paths. I want my kids to understand that our history follows us and it’s okay to learn and not know everything and also to be curious about each other and about everyone who’s around them,” Gupta said.
When asked how APIDA Heritage Month can address issues or challenges faced by APIDA communities, Hseu said that she is unsure if it directly addresses the issues, but believes it creates a space for people to discuss their lived experiences.
“There are very few times in the busy world where we can get together with our families and talk about things like identity and culture and our experiences from the past, present and future and what we aspire to, but also what we’re experiencing now,” Hseu said.
She added that experiencing similar situations fosters connections, empathy and understanding.
“What may seem like a solitary experience is often shared by many others. Through this shared understanding, relationships can be formed, leading to collaborative solutions and actions taken together,” Hseu said.
Gupta noted that Asian Pacific American Heritage Month provides a platform for celebrating Asian communities and fostering support from allies, including other people of color. While some may question the idea of dedicating just one month, it serves as an opportunity to build connections within the Asian Pacific American community and with other underrepresented groups.
When questioned about ways non-APIDA individuals can engage and demonstrate support during APIDA Heritage Month, Gupta said that they can by engaging with events like the one they hosted, as well as exploring diverse books by local authors and celebrating community festivals and bridging family and friends to these events.
“It’s as simple as staying curious and involved, bringing your kids to festivals that are happening in the many communities that we have in Chinatown, or up on Devon Avenue or in some of the north and south suburban areas where there’s a lot of Asian communities,” Gupta said.