Kansas City Asian-American community celebrates AAPI heritage month

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV5) — Surrounded by individuals from all walks of life, Kansas Citians gathered in Columbus Park Saturday afternoon to have a good time AAPI heritage month.

“I need to have a spot the place I really feel like I belong, and I do know that different individuals may really feel that approach as effectively,” mentioned Café Ca Phe proprietor and occasion organizer Jackie Nguyen. “I truthfully do these occasions typically selfishly as a result of I would like my associates to collect, and I would like my associates to really feel seen and heard. So, it’s not a weight, it’s an honor.”

For the reason that pandemic Asian People have reported hate crimes at alarming charges.

A current research discovered final yr anti-Asian violence and harassment elevated by 342 p.c in main U-S cities.

“I would like her to realize it when she grows older, know her backgrounds,” mentioned occasion attendee My Phuong Wong. “Type of let her understand how her family members was and what we got here by.”

Wong’s household are refugees from Vietnam. She mentioned occasions like right this moment’s make her tradition accessible.

“We’re all loving individuals and really pleasant, caring,” Wong mentioned. “Very approachable type of individuals.”

It’s a distinction to continued violence in opposition to Asian-People.

Most not too long ago, 3 shootings at Asian-run companies in Dallas. The FBI is investigating at the least one as a attainable hate crime.

“Even when we’re not speaking about hate crimes or different offenses,” mentioned Kansas Metropolis Mayor Quinton Lucas. “We now have an necessary function in ensuring that we have now a group that is aware of it’s supported, it could develop right here and that may be fostered right here.”

Nguyen mentioned this celebration is a step in that course.

“If we deliver consciousness to individuals who stay right here that we exist amongst the group,” she mentioned. “We pay taxes, we’re medical doctors, nurses, we’re a part of the Kansas Metropolis group I feel that we are going to really feel much less invisible.”

Café Ca Phe plans to open a brick and mortar retailer this summer season and proceed to advertise group occasions just like Saturday’s AAPI celebration.

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