As Tulsa celebrated Lunar New Year with global flair, the local Asian community reflected on the resounding success of the inaugural Tulsa Asia Fest. According to a City of Tulsa press release, the recent event welcomed a surprising 8,000 to 10,000 attendees, a significant leap from the 2,5000 who gathered for last year's New Year celebrations. The festival, held on January 31, showcased a mosaic of Asia's vast cultures featuring over 30 countries. It touched the hearts of Tulsans, forging a stronger communal bond.
Designed to flourish as an annual cultural staple, Tulsa Asia Fest enjoyed participation from nine Asian food vendors, 25 community education groups, and 20 marketplace vendors. Sofia Nagda Noshay, Asian Affairs Commissioner and Chair of the Tulsa Asia Fest, shared with the city, "We were able to accomplish the scale of the event thanks to our dedicated community members, volunteers and commissioners who brought this vision to life." Her comments highlight a sense of shared accomplishment and civic pride.
The Asian Affairs Commission, a collective of 14 Asian community representatives in Tulsa, was born in 2023 with a clear mandate – to nurture and celebrate the city's growing Asian community. Their efforts bridge diverse cultures around a unified identity as Tulsans, which was notably demonstrated through the Tulsa Asia Fest's assembly of customs, cuisines, and stories. The commission also orchestrates projects like the Luminary Awards and Scholarships and the Stories of Asian Tulsa Project, aiming to illuminate the varied narratives that stitch together the community's vibrancy, according to the same press release.
Supporting the array of Tulsa's diverse voices, the city has six Title V Commissions, addressing matters specific to groups including women, various ethnicities, and combating discrimination. The Asian Affairs Commission complements this network by uplifting the Asian populace with programs that cater to both immigrant and refugee communities. Information on commission meetings and initiatives can be sought by contacting the Department of Resilience and Equity at [email protected], inviting citizens to engage and enrich the local dialogue around diversity and unity.
