Asian
Alaskan Cultural Center (AACC) is a nonprofit,
tax exempt organization that has received a 501 (c)
3 status from the internal revenue service. It is
run by a 16 member board of directors. Eight Asian
countries are represented on the board. Board members
are not required to join a specific Asian community
organization but are encouraged to do so.
The objectives of the AACC are:
To promote mutual respect and understanding of
the Asian and American cultures;
To promote programs and understanding between
the Asian and Americans; and
To promote business/trade and cultural exchanges
between Alaska and the Asian Pacific Rim countries
The formation of what would become the Asian
Alaskan Cultural Center was initiated by Thelma Buchholdt
in 1980. Three years later, in 1983, she convened
an initial board of directors and registered the organization
with State of Alaska. There were seven members on
the initial board: Thelma Buchholdt, Aurora Hovland,
Tsuguo Arai, Won Pal Chung, Pyong Sun Yi, Boo Yul
Kim and Father Fred Burgarin, Jr.
The AACC is located at Northwood Elementary
School, 4807 Northwood Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99517.
When the Anchorage School District needed assistance
to renovate its school buildings, state funds for
the construction of an Asian center obtained mainly
through the legislative lobbying of Ms.Buchholdt,
were included to renovate Northwood Elementary School.
The AACC section of Northwood Elementary was completed
and held its grand opening on February 13, 1988.
The AACC's major cultural events are Asian Culture
Day presented to the Anchorage School District students
and the Asian Culture Night presented to the public.
For many years now, the AACC has been featuring the
music and dances of Asian groups in Anchorage. As
has been its practice, the AACC provides an opportunity
for our local Asian people to share their cultural
heritage with fellow Alaskans
Accomplishments
and Goals
Asian Alaskan
Cultural Center is also an integral part of Anchorage
School Districts Bilingual Education. For more than
the last decade, AACC has arranged one special performance
just for the local K-12 students. In its mission, AACC
has always emphasized the sharing of our cultural background
and passing it on to the next generation. The awarding
of annual high school scholarships, Dance Workshops
at schools & the museum the educational aspect of
our program and the beauty of our showcase annual event,
all integrate into a community-wide service. A wide
spectrum of Alaskans, along with many business supporters,
makes this a very worthwhile event, enjoyed by one and
all.
Asian
Alaskan Cultural Center (AACC) is a nonprofit,
tax exempt organization that has received a 501 (c)
3 status from the internal revenue service. It is
run by a 16 member board of directors. Eight Asian
countries are represented on the board. Board members
are not required to join a specific Asian community
organization but are encouraged to do so.