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Help us make the site more nuanced, thorough, and equitable.
Greater Baltimore Asian Community History
In 2014, an Internet search for “Asians in Baltimore” revealed extremely limited and
outdated information about the histories and contributions of the broad and ever-expanding
communities of APIMEDA (Asian Pacific Islander Middle Eastern Desi American) residents
whose customs, cultures, histories and creativity are integral to the fabric of the
greater Baltimore region. As greater Baltimore’s hub for uplifting and sharing Asian
stories, challenging anti-Asian hate, and promoting cross-cultural dialogue, the Asian
Arts & Culture Center (AA&CC) felt a need to become a resource for stories about the
region’s APIMEDA communities and embarked in 2015 on collecting them as best as we
possibly can, given our modest resources. (AA&CC is a self-support department of Towson
University which relies on charitable contributions of individuals, corporations,
foundations, and government agencies to keep our doors open and our programs running).
With a large and tenacious dose of passion to meet this challenge, we have created
this evolving archive developed from the ongoing work of staff, students, interns,
and community researchers and artists. A core of this content was produced as part
of our annual Asia North exhibition and festival, inaugurated in 2019 and co-produced
with the Central Baltimore Partnership and multiple community partners. As a celebration
of the arts and Asian culture that are defining characteristics of Baltimore’s Charles
North neighborhood (part of the Station North Arts & Entertainment District), Asia
North strengthened the AA&CC’s ability to document and share stories of greater Baltimore’s
APIMEDA communities. With Asia North’s focus on the Charles North neighborhood — the
site of Baltimore’s first unofficial Koreatown — we paid particular attention to greater
Baltimore’s Korean community.
We are fully aware of the glaring incompleteness and imbalances present on these pages.
Out of necessity and desire for openness and flexibility, this site is an evolving
one. We invite you to help us make it more nuanced, thorough, and equitable. Contact
AA&CC’s Director, Joanna Pecore at jpecore AT_TOWSON, with your ideas for contributing more stories. We’ll harness our ambition and do
our best to accommodate and include you!
Burmese American Community History
A Community of Burmese Refugees Fought to Keep their Catholic Church Open
Our Lady of Victory in Arbutus was one of 40 Catholic churches slated for closure but their parishioners rallied to keep it open.
Read the article from July 2024, courtesy of the Baltimore Banner (PDF)Caribbean Asian Diaspora Community History
Confusion, Comfort, and Clarity: Identity as Explored by a Caribbean-American Artist
TU alumna Adrianna Morgan delves into how the visual arts has empowered her to connect to her multi-cultural identity, as a first-generation Trinidadian-American with African and Indian roots, in her own way.
Watch the video on YouTubeJapanese American Community History
An Accomplished Doctor in Baltimore: Dr. Hiroshi Nakazawa
Dr. Hiroshi Nakazawa, an accomplished surgeon, acupuncturist, and community leader, has had a long and storied medical career in Baltimore.
Read his story
Q&A with Gene Oishi
Retired Baltimore Sun foreign correspondent Gene Oishi's experience, growing up in a concentration camp in Arizona, informs his novel, "Fox Drum Bepop."
Read the article from January 2015 on Baltimore Magazine's website
Artist Rieko Chacey
Artist Rieko Chacey considers her immigrant experience as atypical in the Japanese American community and thinks of family as home.
Read her storyLaotian American Community History
Is There Room for Laotian Food in Baltimore?
A small Laotian community resides in Baltimore, and the Charming Elephant restaurant is heralded as the area’s first distinctly Laotian eatery.
Read the article from February 2025, courtesy of the Baltimore Banner (PDF)Nepalese American Community History
Baltimore Association of Nepalese in America: Bridging Cultures and Communities
The Baltimore Association of Nepalese in America (BANA) fosters cultural preservation, provides social support, and builds community in the Baltimore area. Student researcher Riyana Shrestha describes how the organization keeps traditions alive and supports the Nepalese community in the region.
Learn more
Baltimore County’s First Cricket Field: A Sign of Immigrants’ Growing Influence and Fertile Ground for Friendship
The Saathi Baltimore Cricket Club campaigned to make cricket more accessible, including lobbying Baltimore County for its first designated cricket ground.
Read the article from August 2022, courtesy of the Baltimore Banner (PDF)Pakistani American Community History
American Muslim: An Immigrant's Journey
Author Saima Sitwat discusses her memoir that explores questions such as, "What does it mean to be a minority, a Muslim, an immigrant, and a woman in 21st century America?"
Watch the video on YouTubeAfghan American Community History
Learn about Afghan American Community History, including Sughra Hussainy, who explores themes of survival and resilience through traditional Afghan arts.
Chinese American Community History
Learn about Chinese American Community History, including Baltimore's historic Chinatown.
Filipino American Community History
Learn about Filipino American Community History, including the longest-running Filipino-American organization in the Baltimore area.
Indian American Community History
Learn about Indian American Community History, including a vibrant community of artists who celebrate their culture through classical Indian dance.
Korean American Community History
Learn about Korean American Community History, including Baltimore's first Koreatown.