Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month

The Korean American Association of Rhode Island (KAARI) and six other Asian organizations were invited to the Asian/Pacific-American, Heritage Month Ceremony held at the State House on May 23. The RI State Senate organized the event to celebrate the election of two first Asian Senators, Linda Ujifusa (2nd generation Japanese) and Victoria Gu (2nd generation Chinese), who assumed office in January 2023.  

Representatives from each group came to the podium to introduce the activities of their organizations and received certificates from the Senators. The KAARI Public Relations Director Raymond Kim gave remarks and received the certificate on the Association's behalf (see video below).

The KAAI invited Junghee Oh and Kate Kim to perform Gayageum Byungchang and Hwagwanmu Dancing. The Lion Dance of Brown University team performed.   

 

VState House Event 2023.MOV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From left: Bongsup Cho, Raymond Kim, Sun King, Senator Linda Ujifusa, Junghee Oh, Kate Kim, Senator Victoria Gu, Angela Sharkey, Meeyeun Cho

 

 

Junghee Oh and Kate Kim

Junghee Oh (Gayageum)

Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong, Master of Ceremonies

Head Monk of Wat Lao Buddhovath of RI

Senator Victoria Gu

 

 

Senator Linda Ujifusa

Alliance of RI Southeast Asian for Education 

Center for Southeast Asian

Indian Association of RI

RI Association of Chinese Americans

Japan-America Society and Black Ships Festival of RI

Raymond Kim, Korean-American Association of Rhode Island (KAARI)

 

Filipino-American Association of Newport County

 

 

 

Brown University  Lion Dance

 

Bongsup Cho, Sun King,  Raymond Kim, Meeyeun Cho, Angela Sharkey