The Asian American Coalition of Chicago's (AACC) Annual Asian Festival is traditionally the single largest organized annual event in Chicago’s Asian American community during Asian American Heritage Month. Every year a different Asian community takes turn hosting the Festival. This year it is the Pakistani American Community, which has twice before (in 2000 and 2008) held the gavel in the community's most important event of the year.
The AACC, founded in 1983, is represented by over 16 Asian American communities. Over the years, the Coalition has included representatives of the Bangladeshi, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Malaysian, Nepalese, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Thai and Vietnamese communities. Each of these communities enrich the city of Chicago and beyond, with the vibrant colors of their cultures, traditions, languages and talents. Individually, each community is significant, and together, they are a force empowering all Asian Americans with equal opportunities in government, education, economic development and international affairs.
This year’s host, the Pakistani American Community, is inspired by AACC’s tradition of celebrating and dignifying individual ethnic identity, while fostering a greater culture of cooperation and unity. Like a kaleidoscope, we are most magnificent when our colors unite —illustrating the beauty in working together. In this spirit, this year’s 16th annual Festival themed "One world, Our world" offers entertainment, arts and craft booths and colorful harmony. Our strength is in being one world. When we work together for justice, inclusiveness and empowerment, we enhance our world.
