May 2026
Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Brookline

Click 2026 Heritage Day photos to view the slideshow of the day's events.
 ​Brookline's 4th Annual AANHPI Heritage Day
Saturday, May 9th, 2026
​11am - 2pm
Brookline High School
22 Tappan Street 
​Brookline, MA
Click on the flyer below to view the recording of the day's events by BIG (Brookline Interactive Group).
PictureGraphic by Caitlin Starr & Jasmine Francoeur
Picture
Photo courtesy of Gita Varadarajan
Gita teaches fourth graders in Princeton Public Schools, NJ.
She is the acclaimed author of 
Save Me A Seat, My Bindi and My Saree. She inspires children to create stories in their own voices.
Click here to learn more about Gita's life story and her books.
Brookline's 11th Annual Essay Contest Award Ceremony
Wednesday, May 13th, 2026
6 pm - 8 pm
​Coolidge Corner Theatre
​ 290 Harvard Street,
​ Brookline, MA​
Picture
Graphic by Michael Chan. Click on the image above to view entire recording of the BAAFN Essay Award Ceremony
An invitation from Alicia Hsu, BAAFN Steering Committee member and a 2026 Brookline Women of the Year honoree. 
"I am inviting you to start or add to, your own story seed collection by joining me at BAAFN’s 11th annual high school student, Asian American Essay Contest Awards Ceremony, where young writers read their poignant, powerful stories answering the prompt: 
As an Asian American, What is your Superpower? 
I promise you a joyful celebration of bold vulnerability
- the chance to meet some amazing storytellers, and
to enjoy delicious cake, cut and served by me.
(Because cake cutting is my superpower.)”
 - Click to view an excerpt from Alicia Hsu’s Brookline Women of the Year acceptance speech, March 11, 2026
Award Ceremony Keynote Speaker: Eson Kim