May was AAPI Heritage Month. To continue the celebration of the Year of the Dragon and to support the AAPI community, Chinese III organized a special fundraiser event at Emma. On May 22 and 23, students from Chinese III sold products they designed themselves, including tote bags, t-shirts, puzzles, and handmade bookmarks and pins. Before creating their own designs Chinese Instructor Guangyu Hao invited a special guest to visit the class. Janet Carmosky shared her collection of traditional paper-cut art from a Chinese artist Li Zhuying. Students learned the stories behind these beautiful artworks and also analyzed the differences between Chinese and Western art styles. In their own works, students incorporated a dragon, a Chinese idiom for wishes, and traditional Chinese patterns.

Students also collaborated closely as a mini-company. They were divided into different “departments” such as advertising, finance, and product management. With the support of the entire Emma community, including students, faculty, and staff, Chinese III sold out all of their products and were able to make a donation to AAPI Women Lead, a non-profit organization focusing on equal education for girls and equal pay for women.