May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and there are a number of area events marking the occasion. Check out these festivals, educational talks, performances, and more:

IlluminAsia Festival

To commemorate AAPI Heritage Month, the National Museum of Asian Art is hosting three days of family-friendly arts and culture. This weekend’s IlluminAsia Festival will include an evening of wellness and meditation (guests can journal and make origami), a vendor market, an electronic music performance by artist/activist Madame Gandhi, and Mother’s Day-themed activities for kids (free).

“Good Fortunes” Open House

Asian American artist Xena Ni brings an interactive art installation to Heurich House Museum. “Good Fortunes” is the second installment of the We Should Talk series, which invites community members to join visionary Asian American women in imagining the future. You can explore the exhibit (and the biergarten) at the Dupont museum’s Friday open house. In the coming days, there will also be a charm-making craft event, and a lion dance celebration (free).

Howard County’s AAPI Festival

Sample ice cream, shaved ice, poke, and barbecue from Asian food trucks at this AAPI Festival in Columbia, Maryland. The third annual community gathering spotlights dishes and cultural goods from up to 100 vendors and exhibitors (free).

AAPI Heritage Month Family Day

May Family Day at the Library of Congress commemorates AAPI month with a mask-making workshop for children, and an author talk with Star Trek actor/activist George Takei about his book, My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story ( free, but timed-entry pass required).

White House Forum on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders

This daylong event marks the 25th anniversary of the creation of the White House Initiative and the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. The “Lasting Legacies” schedule has yet to be released, but last year’s lineup included performances, panels, speeches, and informational sessions led by Vice President Kamala Harris, actor Daniel Dae Kim, poet Rupi Kaur, and more (free, but registration is required).

Fiesta Asia

The Passport DC festivities continue this month with Fiesta Asia. The celebration of pan-Asian heritage will include over 1,000 performers,  food vendors, and artisans, plus kid-friendly activities, a talent competition, street dancing, and a colorful parade. The fair has been a popular tribute to Asian culture since 2006 (free).

Asian Festival on Main

Take the entire family to this outdoor party in Old Town Fairfax City, which will feature dozens of food options, performances, and vendors, in addition to a cosplay costume contest, and an appearance by the Choy Wun Lion Dance Troupe (free).

Trivia Night: AANHPI Heritage Month

Feeling competitive? Test your knowledge by yourself, or join a team, to answer questions and solve puzzles about Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander athletes, activists, entertainers, and engineers from the Portrait Gallery collections (free).

Asia on the Creek

Visit downtown Frederick to experience traditional Asian art, dance, music, cuisine, and fashion, along with family-friendly activities, a vendor market, and live performances at Carroll Creek Park’s outdoor amphitheater (free).

I had a productive couple of weeks in both the district and Washington. During our District Work Period, I ventured across the district visiting farms and businesses, and out on the water inspecting the dredging project at Harkers Island. Meeting with constituents and community stakeholders who contribute so much to the vibrance of beautiful Eastern North Carolina is such a pleasure.  

In Washington, I introduced two bills critical to improving access to quality healthcare in rural communities. In addition, I had the opportunity to meet with business and public service leaders in our state to discuss how Congress can help them with the challenges they face. As always, it is an honor to be sent to our nation’s capital to be your voice and protect our way of life. 

I will continue fighting for the values of North Carolina’s Third Congressional District. If you wish to stay more engaged and aware of what is happening in Washington and our District please follow me on my socials linked above or here: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. 

Introduced Legislation to Permanently Expand Access to Telehealth Services for Rural America

After practicing medicine in rural eastern North Carolina for the last 25 years, I know that many patients have to travel hours to access healthcare. They face significant burdens in cost as well as time away from work. Telehealth services are critical for these rural communities who live far from clinics and hospitals.

We saw how beneficial this valuable service was for folks during the pandemic and it should continue to be available for all Americans. I’m proud to spearhead this effort and am committed to advocating for this commonsense policy alongside my colleagues.

Read more here. 

Introduced Legislation to Preserve New Graduate Medical Education Slots for Rural Communities

Decades of real-world data show rural trained physicians are more likely to practice in rural communities. To grow the physician workforce and increase access to care for patients throughout the nation, we must prioritize the areas of need that are experiencing the most acute physician workforce shortages. Rural hospitals are struggling to recruit physicians with increasing difficulty, in part because of an imbalance in the apportionment of graduate medical education slots.

Healthcare access continues to decline in rural America, and we must act swiftly to reverse this dangerous trend. Failure to do so will lead to more hospital and physician practice closures, greater instability in the supply of new physicians, and further burden patients already forced to travel long distances for care.

Read more here.

Meeting with NC Fire Service

It was great to meet with folks from the NC Fire Service. I am committed to ensuring our fire departments have the necessary resources to do their critical jobs while staying safe.

Thank you for your swift response to protect our communities.

Meeting with Leaders of PNC

I had the pleasure of meeting with leaders of North Carolina’s PNC banks to discuss their role as a regional bank and efforts to support the growth of our communities.

Thank you for promoting economic development that supports businesses and individuals across Eastern North Carolina.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) is receiving criticism after canceling a congressional hearing to explore Washington, D.C.’s response to George Washington University‘s pro-Palestinian student protests.

Comer announced the cancellation of the hearing on Wednesday following the clearing of the campus protesters by the Metropolitan Police Department earlier that morning. The demonstrations had been ongoing for 14 days and led to 33 arrests after the police gave six warnings for the students to disperse from the area.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser was set to testify alongside MPD Chief Pamela Smith on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

“It was unfortunate the situation at GW forced the Oversight Committee to act; however it was apparent that the DC police force was not going to do their job,” Comer said in a statement. “Therefore, after meeting with GW leadership and touring the encampment, we decided to hold a public hearing to get answers as to why the Mayor would not uphold the law.”

He added, “I am pleased that the potential Oversight hearing led to swift action by Mayor Bowser and MPD Chief Smith. We will continue to hold D.C. officials accountable to ensure our nation’s capital is safe for all.”

Comer’s response received blowback from several Washingtonians seeking accountability and answers for why the protests were allowed to continue for a lengthy period of time on the GWU campus.

“Huh? Why was the hearing canceled? Why wouldn’t you drill down on why it took so long for Bowser to let the police clear GW out in the first place?” Washington radio host Vince Coglianese said in response to the hearing’s cancellation.

“Good grief. Letting her off the hook. What a disappointment!” radio personality Julie Gunlock said.

“Republicans are so feckless. What a farce of a government we have,” another social media user said.

“The GOP cancelled the hearing with the DC Mayor. How is that being held accountable?” another person asked.

One social media user reacted, “It took way too long!! Still needs to be held accountable for taking too long!”

A Florida congressman defended the House Oversight Committee’s efforts to pressure the mayor and police to act on the growing encampment on the campus, though.

“For days Hamas apologists illegally overtook GW & harassed/intimidated Jewish Americans. Mayor Bowser refused to clear them out. ONLY AFTER @GOPoversight met w/ GW leadership, toured the encampment & scheduled a hearing for today, did DC act. It NEVER should have come to this,” Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) said on Wednesday. Donalds had toured the student protest encampment first-hand last week.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“It should not take an act of Congress for Mayor Bowser to do her job. Once again, @GOPOversight
and the @HouseGOP are GOVERNING where the Democrats have FAILED,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) said.

“It shouldn’t have taken the threat of a Congressional hearing for DC Mayor Bowser to finally allow DC Police to respond to George Washington University’s call for them to clear the anti-Semitic and unlawful encampments. It should’ve been done on Day 1,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) said in response to Comer’s hearing cancellation.