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The free family-friendly event at Guy Lee Elementary School is open to all community members and will feature cultural performances, hands-on activities and food trucks.
In 2023, the Guy Lee Elementary School parent-teacher organization hosted its first Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration.
“Being able to put the celebration on at my kids’ school, personally, was significant and meaningful,” said event organizer Melissa Kruse, who grew up in Hawaii and is a first-generation Filipino American.
What started as a celebration for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander families at the school turned into a communitywide event, providing representation for the community in Springfield.
“When people found out we were doing this event for the very first time in Springfield, I had a couple people in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community come up to me and say, ‘We’ve been here all these years, and this has never been done before in Springfield. So it means a lot that you’re doing this in Springfield.’” said Kruse, a 38-year-old resident of the city.
“In that moment, I realized this wasn’t just for Guy Lee families and students,” she said, “It was really for the whole city to be able to celebrate with us.”
Community members are invited to the fourth annual event this Friday, May 8, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Guy Lee Elementary School, 755 Harlow Road in Springfield. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the United States.
The free family-friendly event will feature cultural performances, hands-on activities and food trucks and will honor the diverse cultures, histories and contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.
At his State of the City address in January, Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon recognized Kruse as the city’s 2025 community leader of the year, saying the celebration “uplifts students’ voices, celebrates culture and strengthens our schools.”
“She’s helping Springfield raise the bar for what it means to be engaged, connected and proud of where you live,” VanGordon said.
This year’s celebration
The evening will include cultural performances by Phi Long Lion Dancers, Eugene Taiko, Waka Daiko, Talavou Pacific Arts Dance Academy and Hula Halau ‘O Ke Alaula.
Kruse said this is the first year many of the elementary school students are part of the performances themselves, including her own kids, ages 8 and 10, who will dance a traditional Filipino dance called tinikling.
“There’s a bunch of students from Guy Lee that get to represent and get to share their culture with everyone at their school and community,” Kruse said.
There will also be free henna and face painting and multiple hands-on activities like Hawaiian lei-making. Eugene’s Yujin Gakuen Japanese Immersion Elementary School will lead origami-making and University of Oregon international students will do calligraphy in languages such as Korean and Japanese.
Food will be available for purchase from Bobablastic, Jing-Jing’s Filipino Cuisine, OG Poke, Kona Ice, T-Swirl Crepe, The Taste of India, Kento’s Hibachi on Wheels and Royal’s Samoan BBQ.
The event is funded by a Springfield Arts Commission Heritage Arts Grant, a grant from the Asian American Council of Oregon and community sponsors. Kruse said organizers want the celebration to be accessible to everyone. Guy Lee, which has a dual immersion Spanish program, is a Title I school with a mostly minority population.
If you go
What: Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration
Where: Guy Lee Elementary School, 755 Harlow Road, Springfield
When: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 8
Cost: Free