Celebrate the Asian American stories that shape Spokane’s history and community!
Join us as we kick off our month-long celebration of Asian American Heritage Month at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture! Experience Spokane’s rich history from the perspective of members of our Asian and Asian American community. We will have activities for all, plus free admission to the museum!
What to expect:
- Catch the music and performances outside on the museum’s lawn
- Have a picnic and check out the community resources and food vendors outdoors
- Get to know our local Asian American Storytellers and listen to their stories while discovering museum objects and archives throughout historic Campbell House
- Enjoy Boba Buddies activities including a fun scavenger hunt for the youth and whole family
- Browse through our online exhibit Searching for Trent Alley at the Carriage House
Special thanks to acclaimed opera singer, actress and activist, Melody Chang, who will be hosting our outdoor program.
Free and open to all, No RSVPs required! Donations encouraged! Any contribution will help us continue our programs and make them accessible to our community.
For Boba Buddies youth activities, ticket reservations are recommended to reserve spots and get free boba at bit.ly/BobaBuddies.
This event is presented to you by ACL Spokane, Asians for Collective Action, Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, and Eastern Washington University, Other contributing community sponsors include Spokane Public Library, Better Health Together, KH Consulting. Gonzaga University, GESA Credit Union, Providence, YWCA Spokane, SNAP Spokane, KSPS PBS, KYRS, Electric Photoland, Teas Company, and Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane.
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About Our Stories
Our Stories is an engaging and educational program designed to celebrate the rich tapestry of communities in our region. The MAC collaborates with members from the highlighted community to create a fun and memorable day of activities for all ages and interest levels.
About Boba Buddies
Boba Buddies is ACL Spokane’s monthly youth program for K-12 Asian and Asian American students in Spokane and surrounding areas where we create spaces of belonging that engage the community in understanding and nurturing cultural identities. The program includes educational activities, creative play, and a communal space for Asian/Asian American youth and their parents/guardians to hang out. We provide refreshments and some months will have special guests! This program mainly hosts Asian and Asian American families but some sessions are open to the public, just like this event!
About the Host
Melody Chang is a Spokane-based actress, singer, activist, and arts advocate who has earned nationwide praise and acclaim for innovation and leadership within organizations belonging to the Broadway League and Opera America, as well as for her work on the stage. She is currently the Communications & Marketing Director for the new Idaho Central Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center and serves as the Executive Director of the Asian Opera Alliance, an organization dedicated to striving for broader equity throughout the opera industry. On the stage, she has been seen in iconic roles such as Carmen (Carmen), Bloody Mary (South Pacific), and Edwin/Eddie (Earth to Kenzie). Melody is regularly invited to speak at top arts universities and Fortune 500 companies, as well as consult with many of the most renowned opera companies in the nation. Most recently, she consulted on Los Angeles Opera’s 2024 production of Turandot, designed by Sir David Hockney and debuted in 1992, as well as LAO’s 2024 US debut of Mario Gas’ Madame Butterfly. In 2021, she created the Chang Heaton Scholarship for Music Excellence to award five first-generation BIPOC college students studying music or theatre with unrestricted funds for items required for theatre/music degrees that aren’t usually covered by traditional scholarships. She has been recognized as a top ANHPI Mover & Shaker (2022), received a 2021 Women in Business Leadership Award for her work in the arts, and was named YWCA’s 2024 Woman of Achievement in Arts & Culture. She is regularly seen onstage at Spokane Valley Summer Theatre and will be appearing in their 2025 production of Rodgers’ & Hammerstein’s A Grand Night for Singing.