A new group is making sure that Asian Americans’ contributions to western Illinois are remembered.

The Asian American Heritage Coalition will hold a community event from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 at the Western Illinois Museum, 201 S. Lafayette St. in Macomb.

Doors and the bar will open at 5 p.m. Appetizers and hot tea will be available.

The event is open to the public. There is a suggested $5 donation at the door.

Revealing the soul

Maureen Marx, who co-founded the coalition, has been recording the stories of the region’s Asian Americans for a podcast.

“When you hear somebody tell their stories, it moves you somehow because inevitably there will be a connection,” Marx said.

“I like the storytelling. It reveals the soul.”

Excerpts from the podcast will be played during Saturday’s event.

The event will also feature the premiere of a composition by Western Illinois University associate professor Hong-Da Chin. He will perform “Like the Wind” on a bamboo Chinese dizi flute with piano accompaniment from WIU’s Po-Chuan Chiang.

Diverse backgrounds

Marx said the coalition is an educational organization that will disseminate accurate information about Asians’ history, personal experiences, and background.

“Discrimination or bigotry comes from misinformation about the other,” Marx said.

The AAHC hopes to correct misconceptions.

“We might look alike, but we come from different and very diverse backgrounds,” she said.

Marx said the AAHC is a nonprofit, tax exempt organization with a seven-member board. She said it’s still a small group that’s hoping to grow. You don’t have to be Asian to join.

The coalition is in the process of building a website, where the podcasts will be archived.

A win-win

Museum Director Sue Scott said the interviews will also be archived through the museum.

“They will be part of the museum’s collection, so they become part of the community’s historical narrative, and that’s really important,” Scott said.

She said Asians have a long history in the region, including early on at Western Illinois University, but it gets overlooked.

“We hold a lot of history that often does not get recorded. This has been a win-win for us, and I think the community will benefit dramatically from being able to understand this history and past,” Scott said.

She called Saturday’s event a celebration that will give the community an opportunity to embrace the past and its varied stories.

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