Asian, Pacific-Islander, Desi-American (APIDA) Heritage Month
APIDA Heritage Month, also referred to as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, began as "Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week" after its introduction into Congress in 1977 and eventually passed into legislation by President Jimmy Carter on October 5, 1978. In 1992, Congress officially designated May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month to honor the community's rich heritage and contributions that have been integral in shaping the United States' history.
The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants. Learn more about events and observances, including registration information, below!
Join Georgia State's Cultures, Communities and Inclusion team and the greater community in observing Asian Pacific Islander & Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month with events during the last week of March and throughout the month of April. Although the United States officially observes this commemoration in May, the university holds events and observances earlier so that all may participate before classes end for the spring semester.
We use the term APIDA, which stands for Asian Pacific Islander Desi American, as a pan-ethnic classification that intentionally includes people of South Asian descent (Desi) as part of our community. There is a great diversity of identities and ethnicities encompassed under the APIDA umbrella, including but not limited to East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander. Learn more in the section below:
There is tremendous diversity in Asia, with more than 40 countries and more ethnicities than countries themselves:
- Central Asians: Afghan, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgians, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen, Uzbek
- East Asians: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Okinawan, Taiwanese, Tibetan, Mongolian
- Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders: Individuals whose heritage is that of the original peoples of Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. Polynesia includes Hawaii (Native Hawaiian), Samoa (Samoan), American Samoa (Samoan), Tokelau (Tokelauan), Tahiti (Tahitian), and Tonga (Tongan). Micronesia includes Guam (Guamanian or Chamorro, Mariana Islands (Mariana Islander), Saipan (Saipanese), Palau (Palauan), Yap (Yapanese), Chuuk (Chuukese), Pohnpei (Pohnpeian), Kosrae (Kosraean), Marshall Islands (Marshallese), and Kiribati (I-Kiribat). Melanesia includes Fiji (Fijian), Papau New Guinea (Papua New Guinean), Solomon Islands (Solomon Islander), and Vanuatu (Ni-Vanuatu)
- Southeast Asians: Burma, Brunei, Cambodia (Khmer, Cham, KhmerLoeu), Indonesia, Laos (Hmong, Lao, Lao Loum, Iu Mien, Khmu, Tai Dam, Tai Leu, and many other ethnic groups), Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Philippines, and Vietnam (Vietnamese, Khmer Kampuchea Krom, Montagnards)
- South Asians: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Ethnic groups include Sindhi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil, and many others.
- West Asians: This can be a contested term, as many people from the region do not self-identify as such. West Asia is typically referred to as the Middle East, and geographically includes the countries of Bahrain, Iran1, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey (straddles Europe and Asia) United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Source: Previous APIDA page updates; Library of Virginia at https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/apidaresources/.
1Persia is the historic name of the region where the modern day nation-state of Iran is located; many whose heritage is from the region identify as Persian rather than with the modern day nation-state.
Events
Please note that event listings are subject to change, and new events may be added below.
If you'd like to add an event, please use the "SHARE YOUR EVENT" button.
Check back in March 2025 for upcoming event information!
Additional Resources
Cultures, Communities and Inclusion (CCI)
Cultures, Communities and Inclusion (CCI) serves all students through programs and services that focus on GSU's strategic goals around Identity, Placemaking, and Belonging; Student Success; College to Career; and Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities. CCI programs and services reflect the cultures, backgrounds, identities, and experiences of our students, their families, and the people with whom our students will engage in their careers and communities. Supporting students across all campuses and preparing them to succeed in a diverse workforce is of paramount importance.
Registered Student Organizations
With more than 400 organizations across our campuses, you're sure to find something that sparks your passion! Search the Panther Involvement Network website for all student organizations; several of whom represent different cultures, identities and communities.
Interested in learning how to start a new student organization? Check out studentorganizations.gsu.edu to learn more.
Asian/Asian American Faculty Identity Group (AAAFIG)
The mission of the Asian and Asian American Faculty Identity Group (AAAFIG) at Georgia State University is to promote the interests of Asians and Asian Americans within the institution and to foster an inclusive community among our faculty for personal and professional growth.