APASA’s Cultural Collective

By APASA Programming Director John Park

APASA’s annual “Welcome Back Social” is our generic name for the Programming Director’s first event of the year. In previous years, we had Water Festival and Make N’ Munch by the amazing previous PDs Josh P. and Kendal, more traditional events where attendees could engage in activities (water balloons and APIDA cultural crafts), and get yummy food and drinks. 

While the presence of amazing food and drinks stayed the same, I chose to take a different approach for Cultural Collective. My main methodology in the ideation process was simply: “how can we incorporate our member organizations into our programming beyond Night Market?” The answer? An involvement-fair type event that embraced each and every one of our member organizations, their recruitment efforts, and the community that APASA fosters both internally and externally on campus. 

Hosted by APASA in TCC 350/351 on August 29th, 2025, Cultural Collective featured 24 of our amazing member organizations all tabling for their semesterly or yearly recruitment opportunities, as well as our lovely recruitment directors Josh S. and Brielle tabling for our intern program. On check-in, all attendees were able to secure a free bottle of Tower 28 Sunscreen, and after walking around and visiting 10 booths, they were able to snag free food and drinks, including skewers from Dollar Hits, Banh Mi from Nong La, and sparkling VLT from Weee! Shout out to our amazing business relations chair Amit for securing freebies galore. 

On the day of the event, I wore many hats, going around to each table and making sure every member org representative got their food, attendees were getting stamps on their card, and doing practically everything in between to make sure all aspects of the event were running smoothly. Due to how early this event was into the academic year, I was working on it all summer, and was extremely fulfilled to see all the fruits of my labor come to life. 

Will this event become a tradition? Who knows. The one thing I’m sure of is how amazing everyone in APASA is that made it come to life this year.