APAPA Buffalo-Niagara Chapter

Members of the APAPA Buffalo-Niagara board were honored to participate in the 2026 New York State AAPI Summit in Albany, joining AAPI legislators, advocates, community leaders, and organizations from across New York for two days of meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and celebration.
This year’s theme, “AI For All,” highlighted both the opportunities and challenges that artificial intelligence brings to our communities and businesses, through a series of engaging workshops, panels, and conversations.

We also had the privilege of attending the New York State Governor’s AAPI Heritage Month Reception at the Governor’s Mansion, celebrating the contributions and achievements of AAPI communities across the state.

We are proud to represent the Buffalo-Niagara region in these statewide conversations that continue to strengthen advocacy, visibility, and opportunity for AAPI communities.

Looking ahead, we are excited to work alongside APAPA chapters across New York State to begin developing a shared vision for a future NYS APAPA Leadership Retreat-creating space to build leadership capacity, deepen collaboration, and invest in the next generation of community leaders.
Thank you to Governor Kathy Hochul, the New York State Asian Pacific American Task Force, and all organizers for hosting such a meaningful and impactful event.

APAPA Buffalo-Niagara is pleased to share a community exhibition at the Buffalo History Museum.

“Silent Screams of Women” presents personal stories that invite reflection, learning, and cross-cultural understanding.

We encourage those interested to learn more and attend.

The Buffalo Police Department needs the public's help locating 12-year-old Shamimah Lokman.
She was last seen in the area of South Ogden/Griswold. She is about 5'4 and weighs about 120 pounds. She has a piercing in her left nostril. She was last seen wearing navy blue sweatpants and a black hoodie.
Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately.

With hearts full of gratitude and joy, we extend our deepest thanks to everyone who made the Eid Festival 2026 in Buffalo such a beautiful and amazing celebration.
This special gathering was more than an event—it was a true reflection of unity, compassion, and shared humanity. Seeing our community come together—families, neighbors, leaders, youth, and friends from all backgrounds—reminded us of the power of connection and the unifying spirit of Eid. We are especially delighted to share that over 600 visitors were welcomed through the doors of the Buffalo History Museum, a testament to the strength and vibrancy of our community.
We are sincerely grateful to our distinguished guest speakers for honoring us with their presence and remarks, with special appreciation to NY State Senator Jeremy Zellner and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz for their support and leadership.
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to our generous sponsors—Fidelis Care Health Insurance, Journey’s End Refugee Services, and Thanon Rezvi, Esq., Personal Injury Attorney—whose support helped make this celebration possible.
To every performer who shared their talent and culture so generously, thank you. Each recitation, melody, and dance brought richness and warmth to the evening, creating an atmosphere of celebration that resonated with all who attended.
A heartfelt thank you goes to the young artists whose creativity and vision shone through the Ramadan Youth Art Award Ceremony. Your work not only captured the beauty and meaning of Ramadan, but also inspired everyone present with hope, pride, and imagination.
We are especially thankful to our partners, volunteers, and organizers whose dedication and tireless efforts made this festival possible. Especially prominent were the contributions of Buffalo UP and BASCO communities. Your commitment to building bridges across cultures and fostering inclusivity is what makes our community so strong.
To everyone who joined us—whether you came to celebrate, learn, support, or simply be together—thank you for being part of this unforgettable evening. You are what makes Buffalo a place where diversity is celebrated and unity thrives.
May the spirit of Eid continue to bring peace, joy, and togetherness to all.
With sincere appreciation,
Team APAPA, Buffalo/Niagara chapter

APAPA Buffalo-Niagara was honored to host our Lunar New Year 2026 celebration at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum during Erie County Free(ze) Week.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Amina Boyd and the entire AKG team for their partnership and commitment to making arts and culture accessible to all. A special thank you to the AKG staff who led the Kusama-inspired art-making studio, bringing creativity and joy to families throughout the day.

We were honored by the presence and support of public leaders including Sibu Nair, Director of AAPI Affairs at Governor Kathy Hochul’s office, Senator Jeremy Zellner - 61st District, Assemblymember Jon Rivera, and Senator April Baskin (represented by Chief of Staff Dr. Callie Johnson), who joined us in recognizing the importance of cultural celebration and community connection.

We also sincerely thank Congressman Tim Kennedy for Congress and Assemblywoman Karen McMahon for sending official citations in recognition of our event. We were additionally grateful to receive a formal congratulatory letter from Governor Kathy Hochul.

Thank you to our incredible tabling partners - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Roycroft Campus, Hamburg Coalition for Equity and Inclusion - HCEI, Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York Inc., New York State Office for New Americans, Nusantara Arts, Chinese Club of Western New York, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Buffalo Access in and around BNMC — for strengthening community connections.
We are deeply grateful to our food sponsors, P.F. Chang's and Amherst Buffet, to every volunteer who gave their time and heart, and to all of our performers whose talent left everyone with unforgettable memories.

Lunar New Year is about family, renewal, and belonging. Together, we continue building bridges across cultures and generations.

新年快乐，万事如意，岁岁平安，马年大吉。 🐎

Photo credit: Hector Pagan, Darleen Stry, and APAPA.

- APAPA Buffalo-Niagara