We’re just about ready for the Asian Heritage Festival this Saturday!  We have a great new banner (see below), lot’s of folks volunteering to work the tent (we could use a few more volunteers, if you have time email Art Smith), a drawing for an American Flag, voter registration, (temporary) tattoos for the kids, and a great event with entertainment, food, and lots of people!  We will be in the Diplomacy Village, Tent #5.  If you can make it, please come see us!

Volunteer Schedule:

Additional Information:

CelebrAsian 2009 Facts

WHAT: CelebrAsian: The Seventh Annual Asian Heritage Festival will celebrate 12 Asian American communities.

Time: 10 am – 8 pm, on Saturday, May 16, 2009 Place: Iowa State Capital—East Campus

Here’s how everyone can join the celebrAsian:

• Experience an entire continent as twelve Asian villages present their communities through crafts, history, art, gifts, and food. Villages include: Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong Indian, Japanese, Korean, Laos, Nepalese, Taidam, Vietnamese, and Thai.
• Find out how Iowa connects to Asia and the world in the diplomacy village comprised of organizations that connect Iowa to the world through their work
• Be a part of a Volleyball tournament as competitors or spectators
• Tempt the palate with Asian food that ranges from the traditional to the contemporary
• Enjoy the music, dancing, and singing
• Go green with interactive games and activities for children
• Learn from workshops, demonstrations, and other hands-on activities
• Receive a health screening at the Health and Wellness Village
• Enjoy traditional cultural performances that entertain and educate
• Cheer for eight talented finalists who will compete in the Next SensAsian Talent Contest
• Unleash the warrior spirit during the martial arts tournament
• Enjoy the Asian fashion show with a going green theme

New in 2009:

• Asian Fusion: Asian artists lead a collaborative “Happening” that will incorporate all aspects of the arts
• Local musical headliner Larry Berenguel shares the stage with national musical headliner Legaci
• Start and/or end the day at CelebrAsian H.Q. & Marketplace. This must-stop for all provides opportunities to meet entertainers, purchase CDs and official celebrAsian merchandise, and sign up for a chance to win hourly door prizes featuring the most important highlights of CelebrAsian

WHO
Everyone is invited to join the celebrAsian! Expected attendance—45,000-50,000. An Iowa Asian Alliance event co-hosted by Polk County Board of Supervisors and Coldwell Banker. Other festival sponsors include Des Moines Register, Integer Group, Lite 104.1, Mediacom, American Family Insurance, BRAVO Des Moines, Citi, Pioneer Hi –Bred, a DuPont business, Principal Financial Group, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield

WHY
Iowa Asian Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to growing Iowa through the united Asian American community in the areas of business, economic and community development.

Through the Asian Heritage Festival, the Iowa Asian Alliance hopes to:

• Celebrate Asian American contributions to Iowa’s culture and economy.
• Provide Iowans an opportunity to experience and better understand Asian cultures.

According to the 2000 census, there are 13,614 Asian Americans in the greater Des Moines area, comprising 3.5 percent of the area’s population. Statewide, about 43,000 Asian Americans reside in Iowa. The 1,700 Iowa businesses owned by Asian Americans contribute nearly $273 million to the economy and make up 32 percent of Iowa’s minority-owned businesses.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit: www.IowaAsianAlliance.com or www.celebrAsian.org
Phone: 515-273-5100, E-mail: info@iowaasianalliance.com