To celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, on Saturday, May 31, Shine4Love Teens Club presented a host of talented performers at Fremont Main Library, entertaining a full house with dance, song, instrumental music, martial arts and even a performance by World Tai Chi Champion Ethan Zhu.
The show featured children, teens and adults representing cultures from the Philippines to the far reaches of the silk road, including Japan, China, India and Iran. After the performances, the library’s Fukaya Room quickly transformed into a crafting space, where young attendees could learn about Chinese calligraphy, origami and Malaysian mask-making.
AANHPI Heritage Month, observed annually in May, began as a week-long celebration in 1978, commemorating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. It was later expanded to a full month by Congress in 1990, officially designated as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.
The month of May was chosen because it marks the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, where many Chinese laborers worked to connect America’s East and West Coasts by rail.
World Tai Chi Champion Ethan Zhu gave a performance. Victor Carvellas oung performers showed their skills. Victor Carvellas Attendees made—and tried on—Malaysian masks. Victor Carvellas
Shine4Love, an offshoot of the Able2Shine Foundation, is a community service and enrichment program for ages 12 and up that provides both volunteer opportunities and training in a variety of skills. This was the group’s third year working with the Fremont Main Library.
Cissy Zhang, a volunteer for Able2Shine, founded Shine4Love in 2018. Although Zhang is the director, she’s happy to point out that the organization is student-led. “Our students participate in programs across seven different departments,” says Zhang, “including art and design, social media, video editing, stage performance, community outreach, website development.”
The different departments, which have their own directors and vice-presidents, formulate their own projects and work across disciplines as required. Recognizing the value in volunteering, Shine4Love seeks out opportunities for its members across the Bay Area. Many of the Shine members take what they’ve learned into the clubs and organizations they join as they reach college age.
Ariana Yi, vice president of social media, will be a junior in the fall at Mission San Jose High. “To me,” says Yi, “the Shine4Love Teens Club means being in a space surrounded by people who support each other. It isn’t just about preparing us for our future…it’s letting us live that future now.”
Find out more about Shine4Love at shine4loveteens.wixsite.com/2025.
