CCACC Joined the 5th Annual Montgomery County AAPI Heritage Month Celebration

Since December of last year, Mr. Yi Shen (Asian Liaison from the Montgomery County Office of Community Partnerships), together with the Montgomery County Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI), has extended invitations to Asian community organizations throughout the Greater Washington area to jointly organize the 5th Annual Montgomery County Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration in 2026. Community organizations responded enthusiastically and devoted tremendous effort to preparing performances and cultural exhibits. Following multiple planning meetings and detailed discussions, the overall event program was successfully finalized. Ms. Chiao-Chiao Liu (Director of CCACC Community Services) actively participated in every stage of the planning process, working closely with community partners to help bring this annual cultural celebration to life.

A Celebration of Culture and Community

The event was grandly held on May 3, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown. Beginning at 10:00 a.m., participating Asian community organizations arrived to set up their booths, filling the venue with a lively and festive atmosphere. Distinguished guests in attendance included Mr. Marc Elrich (Montgomery County Executive), Ms. Christina Poy (Administrative Director of the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives), Ms. Alanna Lee (Commissioner of the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives), Mr. Maxwell Uy (Montgomery County Sheriff), and one of the event's principal organizers, Mr. Yi Shen, all of whom expressed their strong support for the growth, cultural heritage, and contributions of the AAPI community.

CCACC also placed great importance on this event. Ms. Rita S. Lewi (Executive Director of CCACC), Dr. Yuchi Huang (Chairman of CCACC Board of Directors), and Ms. Li-Fang C. Liu (Deputy Executive Director of CCACC) attended in person, demonstrating the organization's long-standing commitment to community engagement and multicultural exchange.

Choir Performance Opens the Celebration

The event officially opened with a heartwarming choir performance. Five student volunteers organized by CCACC joined children selected from other Asian community organizations to form a cross-community choir composed of students ranging from elementary school through high school. Together, they performed the uplifting opening song, "You've Got a Friend in Me."

A Showcase of Asian Cultural Arts

The stage performances throughout the day were vibrant and captivating. Traditional arts from across Asia were showcased one after another, including ethnic dances, instrumental performances, martial arts demonstrations, and traditional costume fashion shows. Two performance groups from CCACC's Club and the Evergreen Club also delivered outstanding performances.

Cultural Activities and Community Health Services

In addition to the stage performances, the event featured a wide variety of cultural exhibits and interactive booths. The medical consultation booth hosted by CCACC Health Center provided free basic health screenings, including blood pressure checks, body mass index (BMI) measurements, grip strength testing, and bone density screenings, attracting many attendees throughout the day.

The CCACC booth also featured live Chinese calligraphy demonstrations by calligrapher Mr. Bingji Huang, who personally created Chinese name bookmarks for visitors. A variety of snacks and refreshments were thoughtfully prepared and shared with community members, creating a warm and welcoming environment filled with lively interaction.

A Successful and Memorable Event

The celebration ran from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and concluded successfully in a joyful and energetic atmosphere, attracting approximately 2,800 attendees throughout the day. The organizers also presented a proclamation of appreciation to CCACC Community Services in recognition of its outstanding contributions to cultural promotion and community engagement.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all volunteers for their selfless dedication and hard work. It was through everyone's collective support and participation that this celebration of culture, friendship, and community spirit became such a meaningful and successful event.

(Article by CCACC Community Services)

Representatives from various Asian community organizations posed for a group photo

From left to right: Ms. Chiao-Chiao Liu (Director of CCACC Community Services), Ms. Li-Fang C. Liu (Deputy Executive Director of CCACC), Mr. Marc Elrich (Montgomery County Executive), Ms. Rita S. Lewi (Executive Director of CCACC), and Dr. Yuchi Huang (Chairman of CCACC Board of Directors)

From left to right: Ms. Christina Poy (Administrative Director of the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives), Ms. Alanna Lee (Commissioner of the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives), and Ms. Rita S. Lewi (Executive Director of CCACC)