The Brooklyn Children’s Museum will mark Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month this May with a series of free, family-friendly programs designed to celebrate the diversity of AAPI cultures through storytelling, dance, food, and art.
The special events will take place every Thursday at 3:oopm during the museum’s Community Access Thursday hours, which offer free admission from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., according to a press release. The museum said the event is sponsored by Amazon and invites children, families, and caregivers of all backgrounds to take part in the series.
“For this year’s AAPI Heritage Month, we’re excited to bring together diverse cultural experiences —from bilingual storytelling to Indian dance and dumpling making,” said Dylan House, director of public programs at Brooklyn Children’s Museum in a statement. “These programs celebrate the dynamic AAPI communities that are such an important part of Brooklyn today. We hope you’ll join us in May!”
Each week in May will spotlight a different cultural activity:
May 1: Storytime with Michele Wong McSween — Author of Gordon & Li Li: All About Me leads a bilingual English-Mandarin storytime focused on body parts and movement.
May 8: Storytime with Ran Wei — Enjoy 123 NYC with Boba Bear in a bilingual session with songs and crafts celebrating New York City through a child’s eyes.
May 15: Dance with Ajna Dance Company — Children can learn classical Indian dance gestures and movements that express stories and values like kindness and unity.
May 22: Dumpling Making with Christine Wong — Author and chef Christine Wong guides kids in making and folding East Asian dumplings, followed by a tasting of her handmade veggie versions.
May 29: Mulan with New York Chinese Cultural Center — A live dance and kung fu performance of the legendary story of Mulan, followed by a participatory movement lesson.
