AAPIHM 2026: Have you eaten yet?
aapihm26-mark.png
Each May, the Office of Pluralism and Leadership (OPAL) advises a group of undergraduate student leaders to host Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM), a month of events focusing on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history, diversity, and experiences. Throughout the month, programs aim to highlight stories from AAPI members who are less represented within the community, explore how one defines their own identities, and celebrate the unique beauty that comes from our experiences of culture and adversity. The theme for AAPIHM 2026 is, "Have you eaten yet?"
Across the Pan Asian umbrella, food is an important and daily part of life. It's what we miss when we're away from home, it's what we gather around with our family and friends, it's how we pass down knowledge and stories, and it's an expression of care.
The theme for AAPIHM 2026, "Have you eaten yet?" embraces the affective and communal dimensions of Asian/American foodways.
As a greeting, it is a declaration of warmth, reinforcing that our care for one another is embodied and material, grounded in the quotidian.
As a question, it calls us to confront the disparities that exist within and beyond our communities–how history has shaped what we eat, how we eat, and where it came from.
As an invitation, it is a reminder that food has never really been a solo act. As the foods we know and love today were grown, prepared, shared, and given meaning through the work and living of our ancestors, they in turn have come to shape us, giving meaning to our gatherings, cherished moments, and childhood experiences.
So, we ask, "Have you eaten yet?", and we invite you to join us in our celebration of AAPI Heritage Month 2026.
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AAPIHM 2026 mark designed by Emma Hwang '28
Artist statement:
This logo was designed for the 2026 AAPIHM celebration to reflect community and culinary diversity for the theme, "Have you eaten yet?". The design features various dishes from Pan-Asian communities, including rice, noodles, baos, lumpias, samosas, banana leaves, coconut, and common seasonings, as well as the people who make and share these foods. The interconnection between community and cuisine within the frame recognizes the centrality of food to the history and language of AAPI culture. By incorporating different cuisines and eating practices, the design honors the vibrant and diverse cultures of the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities.
