Fit Happens!
This year's theme is health, fitness and wellness

If you've participated in the dragon boat races at CDBF, you know what a wonderful workout it is, in addition to an exhilarating,  team-building fun sport.

Many of the teams take the races seriously, and prepare for each heat with exercises and stretches, as shown here.

We're focusing on the fitness aspect of the dragon boat races this year with the addition of a fleet of six boats we've purchased to accommodate more races, and more boats racing together. The competition will be the fiercest yet!

We're also spotlighting the Bellco Zodiac Dash fun run, and encouraging runners (and walkers) to don costumes representing any of the animals on the Chinese zodiac. Watch the CDBF website for more information on the Bellco Zodiac Dash!

As in past years, we'll also feature our Wellness Village and Find Zen Stage, where you'll find vendors and organizations providing health screenings and sharing information about health and wellness, as well as experts giving demonstrations on the stage of Asian health traditions such as tai chi and meditation.

Even our Taste of Asia food vendors will get on the wellness wagon, and many will feature healthy dining options during the festival!

So come to the 13th annual Colorado Dragon Boat Festival and say "hello" to health!

 

This year we're revamping our dragon boat races, and giving teams the opportunity to have some fun.

We'll have some fun races scheduled that will leave both teams and spectators laughing, while still offering some intense competition. We'll have more details in the weeks to come, so check the website.

Each year in Gateway to Asia we've shined the spotlight on specific Asian countries and communities, by showcasing those communities'  performances and intimate cultural demonstrations.

This year, we're featuring the traditions of Thailand, with help from the Royal Thai Consulate in Los Angeles, Wat Buddhawararam (Denver Thai Buddhist Temple) and the Denver Thai Lions Club. Denver's Thai Harmony (shown here) will take you on a tour of Thailand's different cultures on the Gateway stage, and there will be an exhibit dedicated to everything Thai!

Each year, the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is planned by a dedicated group of volunteers who make up the Operations Committee. Meet this year's new members to the family:

June Homdayjanakul, Performing Arts
June is Thai-Chinese American and grew up performing at CDBF. June is a senior at the Metropolitan State University of Denver working on an Individualized Studies Degree in Global Health with a concentration in International Relations. Besides volunteering, she loves to travel, play tennis, and ski. June is a Group Leader for the Sierra Club ICO and also a member of Thai Harmony, Denver's Thai classical music and dance troupe. June is passionate about intercultural exchange and is excited to get more involved with the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival and join Jen Nguyen and Serevi Naqica on the Performing Arts Committee.
Ngoc Dinh, Volunteers
Ngoc moved to Denver from San Francisco in 2007 where she earned her BA in Music. She works for Ricoh as a Marketing Coordinator at Denver Public Schools. She is involved with the Denver Public Schools Asian Education Advisory Council, the Mile High Japanese American Citizens League and joined the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival's Operations Committee this year. One of her interests and strengths is helping people, which led to her position as the Volunteer Chair. Some of her other interests include food, graphic design, music, anime, video games and her border collie, Ichi.

Fion Wan, Non-Profit Partners Program

Fion will graduate from CU Boulder in May with a major in Political Science. She was born and raised in Colorado and has attended CDBF since its first year. She finally became a volunteer in 2009, running the snow cone booths. She's worked with non-profit organizations since high school, joining the executive board of Next Generation Voices in 2008, and establishing her own political student-run non-profit organization in college. She's passionate about expanding the Asian American community through awareness and equality. She's also passionate about politics and the news, indulging in piano and the musical arts during her spare time.

CDBF has the most complete and updated listings of local Asian and Asian American events on our Community Calendar.
 
If you don't see an event here in the newsletter, be sure to check our Calendar online -- it's updated as we receive announcements. Submit your Asian community event information with a brief description to calendar@cdbf.org.  

MAY

WongFu, KevJumba, and many other Asian Americans have found their rise to fame through social media. Learn about the rise of Asian Americans in social media and how it is transforming the APA community. Click here for full schedule: http://on.fb.me/ZlEaY9. Please contact udenver.asa@gmail.com for any questions.

View the Japanese-produced documentary about Colorado Governor Ralph Carr, who gave up his political future to speak out against the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

Meet Charles Ozaki, Manager of Broomfield City and County. Seating is limited, so RSVP early to Clancy Wells at clancywells@acccolorado.org 

Temu Wicara Bali: A Celebration of Balinese Performing Arts will feature guest musicians and dancers from Bali, guest speakers, five gamelan orchestras, and the Colorado College Bowed Piano Ensemble. Slide lectures on the culture of Balinese performing arts (beginning at 1:30 p.m.) and two concerts with music and dance (3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.) The Indonesian performing arts program at Colorado College was founded in 1993 by Professors Victoria Lindsay Levine and I Made Lasmawan. Over the years, the program has grown to include five different kinds of Balinese gamelan orchestras (gamelan angklung, gamelan gender wayang, gamelan balaganjur, gamelan suling gambuh, and gamelan joged), as well as a Central Javanese gamelan ageng and Balinese dance. This symposium celebrates the 20th year of the CC program by bringing to campus distinguished scholars, musicians, and dancers who have worked with Lasmawan and Levine over the years. Five scholars will present short slide lectures on various aspects of Balinese performing arts and the role of music and dance in Balinese culture. Five different gamelan orchestras from Colorado and Wyoming will perform during two concerts; one of the concerts will feature the world premiere of a collaborative composition for gender wayang and bowed piano by I Made Lasmawan and Stephen Scott. In addition to the five regional gamelan orchestras, a gamelan comprised of Balinese musicians from throughout the United States will perform the grand finale. In all, 16 Balinese musicians and dancers will join forces with some 70 American devotees of Balinese music and dance in the largest event of this kind outside of Indonesia.

There will also be lots of delicious food, and tickets are free of charge. Come on out and support our students and the hard work they have put in all year long. If you have any questions they can be directed to Wat Buddahawararam (303)433-1826 or the Thai music and dance teachers, Ms. Chanadda Phongsak and Ms. Gatenapat Rungruangpreecha at (720)628-4949

Join CU-Boulder's Asian student organizations for this SECOND CollaborAsian scholarship fundraising party! The manager of City Hall has graciously offered the groups the chance to host a second event after the freak blizzard during the recent Spring Break party. There's no better way to celebrate the end of the school year and start of summer! Featuring our local favorite DJ Request! https://www.facebook.com/events/147112522126560/ 

Kathy Ajisaka of the Japanese American Resource Center of Colorado invites you to a hands-on workshop to learn the proper way to wear a yukata, or light Japanese summer kimono. Bring your own yukata, obi and ties to the session. RSVP to kathyajisaka@gmail.com

Experience the rich culture of the Asia-Pacific region! Entertainment and a complimentary lunch of traditional Asian Pacific food will be provided. Entertainment includes Filipino Dance, Chinese Yo-Yo, Catur Eka Santi (music of the Balinese shadow play). For more information: Lily Shen, 720-256-8888, lilyshen@comcast.net; Peggy Yujiri, 303-931-2034, pyujiri@msn.com.

Close the University of Denver's Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with our biggest event of the year! eXpressions strives to showcase the talents of students, community locals, and out-of-state performers, primarily Asian-Americans but also welcoming those of many other diverse backgrounds. In the past, eXpressions has featured Wong Fu Productions, Beau Sia, Tim Be Told, JR Aquino, and Kelly Tsai. This year we are featuring: GOWE, Jubilee Project and several local and student performers! Learn about the rise of Asian Americans in social media and how it is transforming the APA community. Please contact udenver.asa@gmail.com for any questions.

Join the annual bus pilgrimage to Amache, the Japanese American concentration camp in southeastern Colorado. The bus picks up at Simpson Methodist Church and the Denver Buddhist Temple. A lunch and presentations by the students of the Amache Preservation Society of Granada High School is included in the pilgrimage. For further information or to make a reservation contact amachefriends@gmail.com.

JUNE

How Much: $20/Person and $15/Student
Now in its 5th year, we honor deserving members of the Asian American community, the unsung heroes, the shining stars, the selfless leaders at the 2013 Asian American Heroes of Colorado Awards Ceremony. Come and hear their inspiring stories! This program is presented by the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network in collaboration with several APA organizations in Colorado. Tickets & more information at www.cacenetwork.org. Questions? info@cacenetwork.org or (303) 937-6888.

APDC new facility Open House
When: Friday, June 14, 4:30 pm
Where: 1537 Alton Street Aurora, 80010
How Much: Free
It's finally happening! We're opening our doors and inviting our friends to see our "new" home and our Integrated Care Services. Please join us to bless and tour our facility and see the many services we provide including our new primary care clinic. Join us for appetizers, Taiko Drums, Lion Dance and more!  

Founded in 2001 to celebrate Colorado's diverse Asian Pacific American (APA) communities, the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival (CDBF), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, has become the region's fastest growing, family-friendly summer festival. CDBF offers festival-goers the opportunity to explore APA culture through performances, educational programs, arts and crafts, shopping, dining and the exciting athletic competition of dragon boat racing.

Contact Information:

3000 Youngfield Street, Suite 350

Wheat Ridge, CO 80215

T: 303-953-7277

F: 303-953-7278

info@cdbf.org 

Toll-free: 877.716.BOAT (2628)

www.cdbf.org 

Associate Sponsors