City Of West Palm Beach To Observe Asian American And Pacific Islander Heritage Month In May

From the City of West Palm Beach:

April 19, 2021

The City of West Palm Beach will observe Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. The month celebrates the contributions, sacrifices and accomplishments that Asian American and Pacific Islanders have made to our nation. At the May 3, 2021 City Commission meeting, Mayor Keith A. James will issue a special proclamation declaring the month of May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and the City will host a series of events in celebration in May.

“This month, the City of West Palm Beach pays tribute to the Asian American and Pacific Islanders who have positively influenced our great City and our nation,” said West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James. “It is a time to celebrate their culture, their contributions, and the many ways we are working together to promote prosperity and equality in our city—a community of opportunity for all.”

The City of West Pam Beach will observe the month with a series of FREE events hosted by the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach. The events celebrate the culture, heritage, histories, cultural diversity and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and offers educational opportunities surrounding the challenges they face. In addition, the Mandel Public Library has additional resources and recommended reads for kids and teens and adults for understanding the historical and recent experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and fighting racism in the United States.

The Mandel Public Library offers these programs for adults and children:

• Korean-English Bilingual Storytime

Saturday, May 15

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Library Courtyard

Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, 411 Clematis Street

FREE

Let’s celebrate Korean-English Bilingual Storytime! For families with children up to 5 years old. Join Children’s Librarian Ms. Jin for music and movement, songs, rhymes, art, and of course, great books in Korean and English in the library courtyard. Children will receive a take home arts and crafts kit. Registration is required and limited to 15 families. One registration per family is required (not per child). In case of cancelation due to inclement weather, registrants will be notified by email by 9:30 AM on the day of the program. For your comfort, please bring a blanket for seating during storytime. For more information or to register, visit wpbcitylibrary.org or call (561) 868-7703.

• KidSpace Book Club: “Front Desk” by Kelly Yang

Saturday, May 22

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

KidSpace, 3rd Floor

Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, 411 Clematis Street

FREE

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, kids in grades 3-5 are invited to read and discuss the book “Front Desk” by Kelly Yang, winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. Yang’s own childhood experiences of life as a Chinese immigrant to America are woven into the unforgettably resilient character of Mia Tang. Registration is required and is limited to 6 children. For more information or to register, visit wpbcitylibrary.org or call (561) 868-7703.

• Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Bingo

Thursday, May 27

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Auditorium, 3rd Floor

Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, 411 Clematis Street

FREE

Kids in grades K-5 are invited to play a game of Bingo while learning about the Asian and Pacific Islander history, culture, and achievements that have shaped the history of the United States. Registration is required and is limited to 15 children. For more information or to register, visit wpbcitylibrary.org or call (561) 868-7703.

Mayor James established the Mayor’s Racial and Ethnic Equality Task Force to identify and help address issues of racial/ethnic equity through education about racial and ethnic inequities, research of best practices, and issuance of policy/funding recommendations to address racial/ethnic inequity in the City of West Palm Beach. For information about the task force, please visit: https://wpbequalitytaskforce.org/. The task force is in line with Mayor James’ vision of working to create a ‘community of opportunity for all,’ whereby any West Palm Beach residents can achieve their dream.

To learn more about the City of West Palm Beach, please visit: https://www.wpb.org/. To contact the City of West Palm Beach, please dial: (561) 822-2222 (TTY: 800-955-8771).

This press release was produced by the City of West Palm Beach. The views expressed are the author's own.