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Mountlake Terrace staff, DEI commission plan AAPI month event for May 17 with performances and community tables
Summary
City staff told the DEI commission the city has secured Terrace Park Elementary for an Asian American and Pacific Islander Month observance on May 17 and invited commissioners to help select performers, organizations and logistics; a small subcommittee was formed to shepherd outreach and programming.
City staff told the Mountlake Terrace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commission that an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month observance is scheduled for May 17 from noon to 3 p.m. at Terrace Park Elementary School and asked the commission to help shape programming and outreach.
“We have already secured the venue, tables and layout,” staff member Andrew said. He told commissioners the plan includes a stage, gym space for tables and roughly three hours of programming, and that the staff folder lists about 17 potential partner organizations and community groups. The intent is a mix of historical and informational displays and short live performances.
Commissioners discussed logistics: seating and stage time for performances, whether to rely on school groups (no fee) or contract professional performers (fee required), and how to balance student performers with community acts. One commissioner offered to connect Hawaiian musicians and hula performers; Andrew said the gym, stage and a small seating configuration would accommodate both demonstrations and stage acts.
The commission created a small subcommittee to manage recruitment and content selection, with staff asking commissioners to supply contact names for groups they want invited. “If you want us to recruit performers for a fee, let us know early so we can budget and contract,” Andrew said. He also said the school district would issue school‑wide notices and support outreach through school channels, which reduces the city’s direct marketing costs.
Why it matters: the event is city‑cosponsored with the school district and the DEI commission; commissioners said it would be an opportunity to showcase multiple Asian and Pacific Islander cultures and to engage student performers and local nonprofit organizations.
Next steps: commissioners agreed to form a subcommittee (Andrew plus two commissioners) to finalize performer invitations, a schedule and table assignments and to return with confirmations at the next meeting.
