By Mia McCauley, Student Intern
The Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month Planning Committee invites the UW–Madison community to celebrate together at their many events this month.
This year’s theme explores opportunities “to recognize and embrace beauty in imperfection, resilience, and reflection” and “draws upon the Japanese art of kitsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold.” The theme explains that, “APIDA communities have long found ways to reconstruct fractures into sources of strength, solidarity, and meaning. Brokenness is not an endpoint; rather, it can be the beginning of healing.”
Planning Committee member Shelly Chang designed the 2026 logo (center of the month’s flyer) to reflect the theme visually. “I was inspired to take on the role of designer for this year’s APIDA Heritage Month because I believe that design is a powerful way to tell stories and celebrate culture through creative expression,” Chang said, “When approaching my designs for this year’s APIDA Heritage Month, I was inspired by the concept of ‘kintsugi,’ the Japanese art of repairing pottery with gold. By incorporating a flower with kintsugi-inspired lines, I can convey the symbolism of cultural diversity through the petals and the growth, resilience, and strength of the APIDA community through the gold lines.”
The month is organized by the APIDA Heritage Month Planning Committee, with the first celebration taking place on April 8, featuring a Paint & Sip event, where attendees can create faux stained glass pieces that highlight the beauty within their community.
Building on the spirit of creativity and connection, students are invited to join the official kick-off event: The APIDA Heritage Festival on April 10. The event features activities, food, student organizations, and the APIDA Heritage Month Art Gallery.
“Through APIDAHM programming, I hope that the community gains a deeper understanding of the many cultures within the APIDA diaspora, as well as how we can serve as friends, members, and allies of the community,” said APIDA Student Center Programming Intern and APIDA Heritage Month Planning Committee Chair Ojaswi Pasachhe. “I think there is something beautiful about people coming together to appreciate and learn from each other, and I hope these events bring a little more joy into their lives.”
This year, the UW–Madison will be welcoming back Sarah Thankam Mathews ‘17 as the 2026 Keynote! The author of the critically acclaimed novel All This Could Be Different, Sarah is a UW–Madison alum who served as president of the Wisconsin Union Directorate when she was a student. In addition to being a novelist and writer, she is also a community organizer who founded the mutual aid network Bed-Stuy Strong. Hear more about Sarah’s journey and grab an autograph at the Keynote on April 16.
On April 18, the APIDA Heritage Month Planning Committee, in collaboration with the Asian American Student Union, will host the Seventh Annual APIDAxAASU Gala, featuring performances, an open dance floor, and prizes. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to dress up in fancy, business casual, or cultural attire to participate in the fashion showcase.
“I’m excited to see everyone come out to our events this year,” said Kevin Wong, Program Coordinator for Belonging and APIDA Heritage Month Planning Committee Advisor, “It’s great to see the culmination of our students’ months of hard work, and I’m always very inspired to see them collaborate with folks all across campus to make this happen.”
These events and initiatives reflect the APIDA Heritage Month Committee’s commitment to fostering resilience, visibility, and community connection throughout April. As the month kicks off, students are encouraged to engage with the many ways the APIDA community articulates strength, showing beauty in the brokenness.
For more information on the APIDA Student Center, the APIDA Heritage Month planning committee, or APIDA Heritage Month, visit the APIDA Heritage Month webpage.