Events
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Join for a mesmerizing Calligraphy Workshop in the Maker Lab at Harold Washington Library! Immerse yourself in the beauty of traditional Chinese arts. Led by expert artists from the Chinese Fine Arts Society, this hands-on workshop will introduce you to the elegance of brush calligraphy. Whether you're a beginner or an art enthusiast, this is your chance to explore a timeless art form in a fun and welcoming setting.
Learn More at
see moreJoin for a mesmerizing Calligraphy Workshop in the Maker Lab at Harold Washington Library! Immerse yourself in the beauty of traditional Chinese arts. Led by expert artists from the Chinese Fine Arts Society, this hands-on workshop will introduce you to the elegance of brush calligraphy. Whether you're a beginner or an art enthusiast, this is your chance to explore a timeless art form in a fun and welcoming setting.
Learn More at https://chinesefinearts.org/
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On May 6, 2026, the Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment (PAVE) Coalition and Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago is holding its 13th Asian American Action Day at the State Capitol in Springfield, IL! Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial demographic in Illinois and the needs of our diverse communities must be heard!This year, PAVE is fighting for Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors (HBIS) and Health Benefit for Immigrant Adults (HBIA); the Community Care Program; funding for the...
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On May 6, 2026, the Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment (PAVE) Coalition and Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago is holding its 13th Asian American Action Day at the State Capitol in Springfield, IL! Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial demographic in Illinois and the needs of our diverse communities must be heard!This year, PAVE is fighting for Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors (HBIS) and Health Benefit for Immigrant Adults (HBIA); the Community Care Program; funding for the Immigrant Services Line Item, Access to Justice, Faith by Plate, and K-12 Inclusive History Implementation; protections for immigrant communities in the face of ICE/CBP; and progressive revenue solutions! We need all hands-on deck to push these priorities past the finish line to implement protections and improve the lives of Asian American communities in Illinois and beyond.
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Kalapriya is thrilled to collaborate with Saketh Vasamsetti, founder and head chef of Itlu, for the next Supper Club celebrating South Indian cuisine on April 17 at 6:30 pm.
It will be an evening about identity, memory, and the joy of blending tradition with innovation. Expect familiar Southern staples like tamarind, coconut, curry leaves, and rice — each reimagined with the soulful twists that define Saketh’s culinary voice.
The event will also have a live DJ spinning throughout the evening, creating a...
see moreKalapriya is thrilled to collaborate with Saketh Vasamsetti, founder and head chef of Itlu, for the next Supper Club celebrating South Indian cuisine on April 17 at 6:30 pm.
It will be an evening about identity, memory, and the joy of blending tradition with innovation. Expect familiar Southern staples like tamarind, coconut, curry leaves, and rice — each reimagined with the soulful twists that define Saketh’s culinary voice.
The event will also have a live DJ spinning throughout the evening, creating a vibrant atmosphere as we gather around food, music, and conversation.
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Unwind after a long week, grab a glass of your favorite beverage, and get your creative juices flowing at Kalapriya! Workshop fee includes art supplies, snacks, & non-alcoholic refreshments. Bring a bottle of your favorite wine or spirit to share!
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An Evening with Bestselling author Rachel Khong
Come join NAAAP for a virtual conversation with Rachel Khong, the author of the New York Times bestseller "Real Americans", as we discuss her new short story collection "My Dear You"
Playful, profane, and yet enveloped with profound compassion for life,...
see moreAn Evening with Bestselling author Rachel Khong
Come join NAAAP for a virtual conversation with Rachel Khong, the author of the New York Times bestseller "Real Americans", as we discuss her new short story collection "My Dear You"
Playful, profane, and yet enveloped with profound compassion for life, however you define it, My Dear You takes on dating, marriage, and the pressures of having or not having children; intimacy, memory, race, and capitalism; living, dying, and being dead. At their very core, they are tales of love in its many forms.
The discussion offers a unique opportunity to chat about the book with the author herself, learn more about her writing process, and explore themes related to the Asian-American experience.
All are welcome to attend, regardless of how much of the book you finished!
*Early registrants will receive a link in their registration e-mail to enter a free giveaway for the book*
WHEN: Wednesday, May 27th
TIME: 12:30 EST / 11:30 CST / 9:30 PST
LOCATION: Virtual, link to be sent closer to event date
Learn about all our programs:
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see moreTBD
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Each month NAAAP Chicago's Wellness program hosts a free session of self-care called Wellness Wednesday!
Wellness impacts so many facets of our professional and personal life. Small things can make a big difference, from music to taking a walk. So we've planned an interactive activity each month to help prepare for and deal with growing stressors! Lets share ways we can foster our own wellness and the wellness of our workplaces, community, etc!
Culturally sensitive sessions will be facilitated by our founding leader of NAAAP-Chicago Wellness - Dr. Elizabeth 방실 Smith (PsyD).Location: Online
Registration is FREE
Consider purchasing a membership for $50 (Discounted at $35 for Non-profit/Government & $25 for Students) to take advantage of a full year of this Wellness program, as well as many other programs and events offered by NAAAP-Chicago!
Learn about our programs:
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KAN-WIN is proud to be celebrating 36 years of empowering survivors and fostering safe, healthy communities free from violence. Over the last three decades, we have evolved into a leading agency providing comprehensive care for Asian American survivors of domestic and sexual abuse.
Your generosity goes directly towards equipping survivors with hotel stays, shelter, transportation, rental subsidies, medical & legal expenses, and other essential...
see moreKAN-WIN is proud to be celebrating 36 years of empowering survivors and fostering safe, healthy communities free from violence. Over the last three decades, we have evolved into a leading agency providing comprehensive care for Asian American survivors of domestic and sexual abuse.
Your generosity goes directly towards equipping survivors with hotel stays, shelter, transportation, rental subsidies, medical & legal expenses, and other essential needs. Contributions from our community make it possible to continue providing the best care possible for our clients. Every action is a testament to the strong network of support for survivors in our community.
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Discover the beauty of traditional Japanese sweets in this hands-on Nerikiri 練り切り workshop. Wagashi 和菓子 are delicate confections that reflect the changing seasons of Japan and are traditionally served during Japanese tea ceremonies.
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This workshop is centered on the traditional East Asian narrative structure of 起承转合 (Kishōtenketsu)—a four-part framework of introduction, development, twist, and resolution that emphasizes flow, contrast, and poetic logic over conflict-driven storytelling. Drawing inspiration from the structure of classical four-line poems, participants will learn how to translate this narrative rhythm into visual form by creating their own four-panel comics.
The...
see moreThis workshop is centered on the traditional East Asian narrative structure of 起承转合 (Kishōtenketsu)—a four-part framework of introduction, development, twist, and resolution that emphasizes flow, contrast, and poetic logic over conflict-driven storytelling. Drawing inspiration from the structure of classical four-line poems, participants will learn how to translate this narrative rhythm into visual form by creating their own four-panel comics.
The session highlights an aesthetic of subtlety and restraint, encouraging a “quiet” visual language shaped by the concept of 留白 (liú bái), or intentional emptiness. Participants will explore how space, pacing, and suggestion can carry meaning as powerfully as detailed imagery. Through guided exercises, they will develop short, contemplative narratives that prioritize mood, transition, and resonance.
Designed to be accessible and engaging, this workshop welcomes complete beginners as well as those with prior drawing experience. By the end, each participant will have created their own Eastern-style comic, gaining insight into alternative storytelling traditions that value nuance, atmosphere, and poetic expression.
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What does it mean to craft a gift for the afterlife—one that is meant to disappear?
In many Asian cultures, paper offerings—folded into gleaming ingots or crafted into intricate replicas of houses, cars, and even smartphones—are far from ephemeral. Burned during observances such as the Qingming Festival, they are acts of love and remembrance: tangible prayers that bridge the boundary between the living and the dead. Through fire,...
see moreWhat does it mean to craft a gift for the afterlife—one that is meant to disappear?
In many Asian cultures, paper offerings—folded into gleaming ingots or crafted into intricate replicas of houses, cars, and even smartphones—are far from ephemeral. Burned during observances such as the Qingming Festival, they are acts of love and remembrance: tangible prayers that bridge the boundary between the living and the dead. Through fire, these delicate creations are believed to transform into usable goods for ancestors, ensuring they lack for nothing and remain connected to the families who honor them.
This Qingming Festival, the Heritage Museum of Asian Art and Tiandi Universal Market invite you to explore this profound tradition across Asia and its diasporas, alongside its contemporary reinterpretations.
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The Saami Brothers return to South Asia Institute for a revitalizing evening of qawwali performance on Saturday, April 25. The Saami Brothers come from a lineage of musicians —the Qawwal Bacchon Ka Gharana, or Dilli Gharana— spanning over 800 years. They are the sons and disciples of the critically acclaimed maestro Ustad Naseeruddin Saami, and are considered contemporary custodians of the centuries-old musical lineage. Alongside highly-skilled qawwali performance, the Saami Brothers are renowned for their skill in the...
see moreThe Saami Brothers return to South Asia Institute for a revitalizing evening of qawwali performance on Saturday, April 25. The Saami Brothers come from a lineage of musicians —the Qawwal Bacchon Ka Gharana, or Dilli Gharana— spanning over 800 years. They are the sons and disciples of the critically acclaimed maestro Ustad Naseeruddin Saami, and are considered contemporary custodians of the centuries-old musical lineage. Alongside highly-skilled qawwali performance, the Saami Brothers are renowned for their skill in the khayal genre, alongside its preservation and performance of the rare and demanding Surti scale, a hallmark of their family tradition.
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Firozi Cafe serves up hot Bollywood classics and effervescent South Asian folk melodies spiced with jazz rhythms and spiked with splashes of pop. The quartet consists of Shruti Vaidya (vocals, ukulele, guitar), Dave Arlington (drums, guitar), Tyler Williams (bass, vocals), and Andrew Pashea (guitar, vocals). The four musicians came together in Chicago after playing in various jazz, rock, pop, and Hindustani groups based in New York, St. Louis, New Delhi, and elsewhere. For this special performance, they will be accompanied by Sebastian...
see moreFirozi Cafe serves up hot Bollywood classics and effervescent South Asian folk melodies spiced with jazz rhythms and spiked with splashes of pop. The quartet consists of Shruti Vaidya (vocals, ukulele, guitar), Dave Arlington (drums, guitar), Tyler Williams (bass, vocals), and Andrew Pashea (guitar, vocals). The four musicians came together in Chicago after playing in various jazz, rock, pop, and Hindustani groups based in New York, St. Louis, New Delhi, and elsewhere. For this special performance, they will be accompanied by Sebastian Kiguel (of Chicago cumbia group Sonora Macondélica) on accordion.
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HANA Center invites you to join us at our 2026 MODU Gala!
MODU (모두) means “all” in Korean, and we are proud to celebrate all that our community has accomplished together with all of our HANA friends and family.
HANA continues to build the power of Korean, Asian American, and multiethnic immigrant communities in Chicagoland through social services, education, culture, and community organizing to advance human rights. Your support is vital to these crucial efforts.
Each gala ticket...
see moreHANA Center invites you to join us at our 2026 MODU Gala!
MODU (모두) means “all” in Korean, and we are proud to celebrate all that our community has accomplished together with all of our HANA friends and family.
HANA continues to build the power of Korean, Asian American, and multiethnic immigrant communities in Chicagoland through social services, education, culture, and community organizing to advance human rights. Your support is vital to these crucial efforts.
Each gala ticket purchase includes admission to the event, cocktail hour, dinner, and a gala program honoring our incredible community!
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Early bird rate: $150 per ticket
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Dress code: Business/Cocktail or traditional festive wear (hanbok, etc.)
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see moreSTEP INTO A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION & COMMUNITY!
In celebration of 45 years of community, culture, and impact, we invite you to Voice & Vision Gala: Building Our Future, a milestone gala honoring the voices that shaped our journey and the vision guiding what’s next.
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Save the Date! Chicago’s first annual South Asian American Lit Fest (SAALF) 2026 is a free, one-day immersive diaspora event celebrating literary traditions and cultural expression. The festival showcases the depth and diversity of South Asian writing and highlights its intersection with Chicago’s vibrant literary landscape.
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Come out and support local South Asian creatives working across a range of artistic disciplines—such as poetry, dance, music, comedy, and more. The South Asians on the Mic series is a space for local South Asian artists to come together to celebrate creativity, community, and culture.
Interested in performing? We invite artists of all genres to sign up and take the stage.
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ABOUT ENCHANTMENT
A bioplay of the life and music of Ravi Shankar
Enchantment is an intimate theatrical journey into the inner life of music giant Ravi Shankar.
This is not a standard retelling of Shankar's legendary career. Instead, this bioplay steps into the inner world of the sitar maestro — his doubts, regrets, struggles, and the fierce resolve that carried him from a boy dancer in Paris to one of the most influential musicians of the 20th...
see moreABOUT ENCHANTMENT
A bioplay of the life and music of Ravi Shankar
Enchantment is an intimate theatrical journey into the inner life of music giant Ravi Shankar.
This is not a standard retelling of Shankar's legendary career. Instead, this bioplay steps into the inner world of the sitar maestro — his doubts, regrets, struggles, and the fierce resolve that carried him from a boy dancer in Paris to one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Through moments of vulnerability and brilliance, the play reveals how Ravi Shankar transformed adversity into artistic triumph.
Written by Gowri Ramnarayan and shaped by the maestro's own witty and poignant words, Enchantment weaves theatre, live dance, and music into a richly immersive experience. The production features Ravi Shankar's original sitar recordings and exclusive compositions rendered by Bombay Jayashri, with Aditya Prakash, Vignesh Ishwar, and Chaitra Sairam.
PERFORMERS
Yohan Chacko, Aarabi Veeraraghavan, Bhavya Kumaran & Harini Nilakantan
RECORDED MUSIC
Original Sitar Tracks: Pandit Ravi Shankar Vocals: Bombay Jayashri Ramnath with Aditya Prakash, Vignesh Ishwar, and Chaitra Sairam Tabla: Sai Shravanam Flute: Vishnu Vijay
PRODUCTION
Play, Direction, Design: Gowri Ramnarayan Lighting & Sound: Sneha Sheejith Music Recorded, Mixed & Mastered By: Sai Shravanam, Resound India Produced By: JustUs Repertory
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