Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

The Cleveland Guardians are excited to celebrate and honor Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Throughout the month of May, the Guardians will celebrate and uplift the AAPI community in Cleveland by participating in local activities, culminating in our 2nd annual AAPI Night presented by Nestlé at Progressive Field on Friday, May 31.

As part of our ongoing efforts to become a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization, the Guardians will also be working in partnership with local community organizations to provide learning and education to our staff and teammates throughout the entire year. While we seek to uplift the voices and experiences of our AAPI community 365 days a year, we know that flagship events like AAPI Night allow us to intentionally spotlight the collective stories of hope, struggle, and opportunity that make our city and team better.

Friday, May 31 – AAPI Celebration presented by Nestlé

Join the Guardians for a night of educational and inclusive experiences celebrating all fans.

• Exclusive pre-game networking opportunity in partnership with MotivAsains in Heritage Plaza (Event ticket required; please contact 216.420.HITS for more information)
• Ceremonial first pitch by local Asian-American community advocate Matthew Ahn
• National Anthem performed by Filipina sensation Jeserey Sanchez
• Special cultural greeting performed by Pacific Paradise Entertainment Group
• Special pre-game performance by the Kwan Family Lion Dancers
• Appearances by the Cleveland Asian Festival mascots
• Lunar New Year-themed artwork on display from Cleveland School of the Arts students
• AAPI-themed photo opportunities throughout the concourse
• Special giveaways from the Cleveland Strikers featuring the “AAPI ” logo
• In-game content highlighting AAPI resources on the scoreboard
• K-pop-themed Phantom Fireworks presented by Bally Sports Great Lakes
• And more!

Fans can upgrade their experience and purchase a Special Ticket Package for the May 31 game to receive a limited-edition t-shirt featuring the “AAPI C” logo. A portion of the proceeds from each Special Ticket Package will benefit the Global Ambassadors Language Academy (GALA), the only Mandarin-immersion school in Ohio. Please enter the offer code AAPI24 to purchase your Special Ticket Package.

Cleveland Guardians social platform, CLE Inspires, will highlight different AAPI initiatives throughout the month of May. CLE Inspires will focus on the work done by our community partners.

Additionally, CLE Inspires will share highlights from the Cleveland Guardians AAPI Heritage Celebration on Friday, May 31.

Saturday, May 18 & Sunday, May 19 – Cleveland Asian Festival

The Cleveland Asian Festival is a grassroots festival that highlights Cleveland’s AsiaTown, Diversity and Asian Culture in Northeast Ohio. Organized by the community, for the community to celebrate Cleveland’s diversity and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May.

The Guardians are a proud sponsor of the Cleveland Asian Festival and will have a booth at the festival with games, giveaways, mascot appearances, and more.

The Guardians are proud to celebrate local organizations supporting the AAPI community:

• Global Ambassador Language Academy (GALA)
  GALA offers a bilingual education through its Mandarin and Spanish immersion program for grades K-8. GALA is the first language-immersion school in Northeast Ohio and the only Mandarin-immersion school in Ohio.

• MotivAsians
  MotivAsians for Cleveland is a non-profit organization established to cultivate a vibrant Asian community Greater Cleveland by promoting the attraction and retention of Asian-American professionals.

• OPAWL
  Originally founded in 2016, OPAWL is a grassroots member-led community that organizes for social justice and elevates the voices, visibility and progressive leadership of Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women and nonbinary people in Ohio.

• AsiaTown Cleveland
  AsiaTown is a unique Cleveland neighborhood, a vibrant cultural destination, business and dining district and residential home.

• OCA Greater Cleveland – Asian Pacific American Advocates
  OCA Greater Cleveland Chapter has been servicing the continuously growing Asian Pacific American community in Northeast Ohio since 1983. OCA works closely with partnering organizations and communities to promote ethnic awareness and cultural diversity.