Montgomery County’s Asian American Health Initiative and Office of Community Partnerships will host the fourth annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration on Sunday, May 4, at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown. The event will feature cultural performances, health services, food vendors, and family-friendly activities to honor AAPI contributions and address ongoing inequities.

Per the news release: “The Montgomery County Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI) and the County’s Office of Community Partnerships (OCP) will host the fourth annual Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month celebration from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, at Seneca Valley High School, located at 19401 Crystal Rock Dr. in Germantown. This free, family-friendly event is open to the public. Registration is not required.

This celebration coincides with National AAPI Heritage Month, which recognizes the history, culture and contributions of AAPI communities across the United States. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, 16% of Montgomery County residents identify as Asian, and an additional 0.1% identify as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.

“This celebration is important because it recognizes the many ways that our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities have shaped Montgomery County—through culture, activism, public service and everyday contributions that often go unrecognized,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “As we celebrate heritage, we also have to be honest about the inequities that persist, including disparities in health care access, language services and economic opportunity. That’s why we support the work of the Asian American Health Initiative and our community partners—because we want a County that doesn’t just celebrate diversity once a year but works every day to make equity real.”

The event will feature a variety of activities for all ages, including:

• Cultural performances
• Crafts and games for kids
• Health fair
• AAPI food vendors
• Remarks from elected officials
• Yo-Yo Tsuri (traditional Japanese game)
• Henna tattoos
• Face painting

In addition to AAHI and OCP, the event is being planned in collaboration with a wide range of community partners, including:

The event is co-sponsored by AALEAD, Patient First and Dr. Suresh Gupta.

More information about the event can be found on the AAHI website.

OCP strengthens relationships between the Montgomery County Government and the residents it serves, with a special focus on underserved and emerging communities and neighbors in need. For more information, visit the OCP website.

The AAHI, part of the County’s Department of Health and Human Services, works to improve the health and wellness of AAPI residents by applying equity, community engagement and data-driven approaches.