This page is dedicated to providing information on local resources, organizations, and programs dedicated to connecting Asian identity, culture, history, and presence with Arkansas.
Updated: July 23, 2024
Arts & Culture
Chinese Association of Northwest Arkansas
- CANWA is a community based organization with a mission of promoting, celebrating, and preserving Chinese culture and heritage among not only those of Chinese heritage but also those interested in Chinese culture. They host cultural events, social programs, and educational initiatives to build bridges between communities for cross cultural exchange and diversity.
- Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation is a non-profit organization started in 2018 with the goal of sharing Indian performing arts and culture with the local area of Northwest Arkansas. Ra-Ve connects with the community through classes, performances, and community meetings.
- This project, by University of Arkansas students, contains interviews conducted at the Pho Minh Buddhist Temple in Fort Smith, Arkansas with members of the temple to document stories of immigration and faith as well as their hopes for the future of their community.
Business & Technology
Arkansas Association of Asian Businesses (AAAB)
- AAAB was established in 2017 to connect Asia and Arkansas in business by supporting Arkansans of Asian descent and local Asian-owned businesses while also assisting Arkansas and Asia-based companies and professionals with resources in exploring the markets of Asia and Arkansas.
Education
Arkansas National Consortium for Teaching about Asia
- The Arkansas National Consortium for Teaching about Asia is part of the larger National Consortium for Teaching about Asia which was founded in 1998. The purpose of the organization is to facilitate teaching and learning about topics such as literature, history, and geography related to East Asia. The ARNCTA is housed at the University of Central Arkansas but also has online resources and collections such as AAPI Histories of the South.
Encyclopedia of Arkansas – Asian American
- The Encyclopedia of Arkansas was launched in 2006 as a web-based resource from the Central Arkansas Library System. The EOA has a section in “Race and Ethnicity” related to Asian-American heritage in Arkansas with information on locations, people, and religions.
- This factsheet was produced in 2020 by Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote and AAPI Data and provides population information related to the AAPI ethnic groups in Arkansas in relation to voting eligibility.
Asia in Arkansas 