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Asian Heritage Celebration: Campus

The goal of this guide is to increase awareness of the vast diversity of experience within Asian Heritage.

Campus Clubs

Asian American Association

Asian American Association

Everyone is welcome regardless of race or ethnicity. This is a social club, so feel free to bring friends and ideas to contribute to the conversation! Activities include movies, games, food, and socializing.

Chinese Cultural Association

Chinese Cultural Association

This association aims to broaden Belmont's horizons by promoting awareness of Chinese culture. We'll have speakers on Chinese government, economics, and history, as well as celebrate Chinese culture through food, festivals, and fun! In doing so, we'll humanize the United States' global competitor and create more cultural awareness and tolerance.

Japan Culture Club (JCC)

Japanese Culture Club (JCC)

Here at JCC, we welcome any and all student who may be interested in Japanese Culture to join us on our exploration of the Land of the Rising Sun! We have weekly meetings that focus on learning about and discussing a specific topic of Japanese Culture, from traditional sports to pop culture. On top of weekly meetings, we also host a myriad of activities throughout the year, ranging from our annual halloween party in the fall to World Culture Fest in the Spring! If you are interested in joining us, we would love to have you at our meetings and events and we hope to see you soon!

Korean Music Business Society

Korean Music Business Society

KMBS welcomes K-pop fans, future entertainment leaders, and beyond for the purpose of educating, celebrating and facilitating involvement in the Korean music industry and Korean culture. All students interested may join us!

South Asian and Middle Eastern Association

South Asian and Middle Eastern Association

The South Asian and Middle Eastern (SAME) Association is open to all students of all backgrounds & identities. Our goal is to combat stereotypes and misconceptions, learning to appreciate and celebrate the differences that lie in all of us, while also revealing the humanness that connects all people, the same blood that runs through all of our veins -- promoting equality for all BECAUSE of our differences (not despite them). We hope to specifically celebrate the cultures and religions, as well as address the misconceptions that pertain to the South Asian and Middle Eastern regions and define our purpose and presence within the Belmont community. 

South West Asian North African Student Association

South West Asian North African Student Association

SWANA is an organization that will shed a spotlight on multiple cultures. This club will encourage unity within Belmont's growing diverse student population. SWANA hopes to educate and empower members by creating a welcoming community for all students.

AAPI Heritage Month

AAPI 2023

 

AAPI 2023 Pak

 

AAPI 2023 Lee

 

AAPI 2023 Campus Events

April 3-10 Undergraduate Research Posters on display on the 2nd floor atrium (JAAC)

“Reading the Bible from Multiracial Perspectives: Asia, Africa, Latin America, and North America.” 

  • Christianity in Asia by Hope Dennis and Amilya Bryant 
  • Asian American Biblical Interpretation by Kaitlyn Riley and Emma Grace Schenck 
  • Christianity in Africa by Caden Diffenderfer and AP Phillippi  
  • African American Biblical Interpretation by Rileigh Schumacher and Paige Jackson 
  • Christianity in Latin America by Ford Chittom and Casey Cox 
  • Latino/a Biblical Interpretation by Ethan Ronk and Jake Patterson 
  • Indigenous Biblical Interpretation by Grace Blair and Kenzie Blakey 
  • Islander Biblical Interpretation by Abby Pratt and Jared Carwile  
  • Jewish Biblical Interpretation by Julia Blahnik and Garrett Jacob 

 

April 3 at 10am in Gabhart Chapel (JAAC) 

"Regenerated to Wholeness" with Dr. Jenny Pak, School of Psychology, Fuller Seminary.  

 What does it look like to believe that we can be regenerated to wholeness? Globalization and rapid modernization often collide with traditional cultural and religious values. Many Asian American Christians and bicultural individuals struggle to fashion self out of conflicting values and dual existence. The conflicted, divided self is not unique to these groups, but a shared human condition. 

 

April 3 at 11am – 1pm Lunch Presentation in Massey Boardroom

“Thick Clients and Thin Therapists: Towards Understanding Psychotherapy as a Cultural Practice” with Dr. Jenny Pak, School of Psychology, Fuller Seminary. Co-sponsored by CLASS, CTCM, CURB, MCB, and Mental Health Counseling. 

It is important to place modern psychology in its historical and social context and recognize psychotherapy contains a distinct moral character that reflects a particular culture and time. As such, it is imperative for clinicians in training to recognize the values underlying psychotherapy as a cultural practice. With rapid globalization, all therapists must engage in cultural learning more deeply and understand the cultural and social embeddedness of clients in a more complex and dynamic fashion. Implications for clinical training and professional development will be discussed. Jenny H. Pak, Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and MA in Theological Seminary, will be joining us to speak on psychotherapy as a cultural practice. She is a current professor at Fuller’s School of Psychology and has been there since 2014. 

 

April 5 at 10am in Gabhart Chapel (JAAC).

“Asian Christianity” with Dr. Won Lee, Professor of Religion and Asian Studies, Calvin University. Co-sponsored by CLASS, CTCM, CURB, MCB. 

 Most Americans think of Christianity as a Western religion, but what does the history and the reality of world Christianity show us? We will engage this topic by hearing from Dr. Won Lee, Professor of Religion and Asian studies at Calvin University, and the editor of The Oxford Handbook of the Bible in Korea, which explores how faith communities in Korea and the Korean diaspora use the Bible in their religious, social, and political contexts.  He has a BA from Yonsei University in Korea, an MDiv from Princeton Seminary, and a PhD from Claremont Graduate School. 

 

April 5 at 11:30am in Private Dining Room at Harrington Place.

When a Korean American Reads the Bible ...?!” with Dr. Won Lee, Professor of Religion and Asian Studies, Calvin University. Co-sponsored by CLASS, CTCM, CURB, and MCB.  

 As a first-generation of Korean American, I belong neither to my motherland nor the newly adopted home and yet I belong simultaneously part of two worlds. This seemingly contradictory state provides a context for introducing new insights that are vital to Christianity, an essentially contextual and pluralistic religion. The question is then whether the works of all diaspora be regarded as mere additions to or integral part of the traditional interpretation of the Bible. 

 

April 11 at 6 pm in JAAC 1034. 

“Sakura: Cherry Blossoms and Japan” with Dr. Cynthia Bisson and Nozomi Takasu, Belmont alumna. Co-sponsored by Asian Studies and Japanese Culture Club.  

 Dr. Cynthia Bisson will speak about the cherry blossom as a symbol of the US-Japanese friendship and about the 2023 festival in Nashville on Saturday, April 15. Nozomi Takasu, a Belmont alumna and local performer, will sing Japanese songs and will reflect on what the sakura means for Japanese people.  

 

April 12 at 5:30pm at the Bell Tower. 

"AAPI Food Festival." 

 Please join AAPI-affiliated student organizations for a celebratory time of food and fellowship. In case of weather, an alternative location is MAS 103.  

 

April 19 at 6pm in JAAC 2144

“Belmont Undergraduate Research Symposium: Asian Studies Section.”   

As an exercise in the Honors Humanities Seminar: Cultural Intelligence, four students will read their cultural autobiographies as a reflection on their personal relationship to their cultural heritage and community.  Autobiographies will be read by Elena Amonette (Laotian), Sadaf Folad (Afghan), Ava Malaka Munyer (Lebanese) and Ana Flinton (Korean).  A period of Q&A will follow. Advisor: Dr. Ronnie Littlejohn.  

Student Stats

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AAPI 2023 Acknowledgments

The 2022-23 AAPI committee consists of faculty, staff, and student representatives who have freely given their time to serve the Belmont and broader Nashville community: Tola Akhom-Pokrywka, Irene Lawrence, Qingjun (Joan) Li, Tony Nguyen, Kristi Oshiro, Gideon Wongi Park, and Sean Yoo. 

 

We would like to express our gratitude to Deans Sarah Gardial, Sarita Stewart, Bryce Sullivan, and Nathan Webb for generously supporting our work, as well as our campus partners in Asian Studies, Faith-Based Engagement & Church Relations, Mental Health Counseling, and University Ministries.