On Saturday, May 11th, 2024, at 8:30 am, more than 150 members and supporters, spanning ages 5 to 82, gathered at Carnegie Center in Princeton, New Jersey, to commemorate AAPI Heritage Month with the annual 5K Run ‘n’ Walk. The event was jointly organized by the Princeton Active Circle, the Institute of Financial Intelligence (IFI), Where Music Carries Us (WMCU), the Museum of Chinese In America (MOCA), and numerous local business sponsors, who collaborated to bring this event to fruition.
WMCU, dedicated to supporting minority groups and individuals in need, made significant contributions during the celebration. Through their music and volunteer work, members showcased their dedication to celebrating Asian culture by entertaining the crowd and providing assistance with registration, directions, and various tasks to support event volunteers. One notable highlight was Aleena Zhang’s beautiful rendition on the bamboo flute, a traditional Chinese and Japanese instrument. Angela Du, another WMCU member, sang the United States national anthem before the race commenced, and as runners crossed the finish line, four members serenaded them with their melodious tunes. These members included Otto Trueman on piano, Sophia Grossman on bass, Owen Barry on drums, and Kevin Huang on saxophone. Additionally, other WMCU members provided assistance with registration, directions, and various tasks to support the event’s volunteers.
The event kicked off with heartfelt expressions of gratitude from the main organizers, acknowledging the sponsors and welcoming all attendees. The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of Princeton Mayor Mark Freda and West Windsor Mayor Hemant Marathe, both of whom delivered brief speeches to show their support. Subsequently, the race commenced, with all participants gathering in clustered formation at the starting line. At the sound of the airhorn, the runners took off, each finding their pace. Impressively, Evan Raphael emerged as the first-place runner, completing the course in just 17 minutes and 56 seconds. Approximately one hour and five minutes after the race began, the awards ceremony took place. Recognition was given to the top three males and females in each age group, ranging from 0-12 to 70+. Furthermore, awards were presented to the overall fastest males and females.
In summary, the event proved to be a resounding success, uniting individuals from diverse backgrounds within the AAPI community to honor their rich and distinctive history and culture encompassed by the AAPI umbrella term. While Asian and Pacific Islander people have played pivotal roles in the United States for centuries, their contributions have only recently begun receiving the recognition they deserve. This gathering served as a poignant reminder to all attendees that although Asian American Pacific Islander people may be a minority in the United States, they are united through diversity, collaboration, and hope.
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