Inaugural Mile High Asian Food Week brings

new customers and supporters to local Asian restaurants and vendors

Mile High Asian Food Week (MHAFW), held Feb. 22 to 26, brought community members out in droves to support local Asian restaurants and businesses across the Denver area.

With 50 participating vendors this year, many shared that their food or offerings sold out or that they were busier than ever during the five-day event (despite the first day starting off with heavy snow).

As the presenting sponsor for the MHAFW, Asian Avenue Magazine is grateful to the local community for all of the support and love.

“Since establishing Asian Avenue magazine in 2006, our goal has always been to shine a light on the stories and experiences of Colorado’s Asian communities,” said Annie VanDan, President of Asian Avenue magazine. ”Being a part of MHAFW allowed us to do this, specifically by elevating small businesses and connecting them to new supporters!”

The all-volunteer, women-led team behind MHAFW is looking forward to organizing more events that can support local businesses. Stay in touch via social @milehighafw.

“Being a part of Mile High Asian Food Week was such a huge honor! This week really showed us the strength in the community and it brought a lot of people together! We are so proud to be Asian and proud to be a part of this great AAPI community!”

- Mukja Food Truck

“Everyone came out in masses to support all of these wonderful small business owners. We had the busiest day at the poke shop all year and met so many new faces with such kind words about what we are doing here at Denver Poke! We can’t say enough to express how we feel.”

- Denver Poke Company

Day of Remembrance recognizes injustices towards Japanese Americans

On Feb. 19, the Mile High chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) hosted their annual Day of Remembrance event. This day recognized the 81st anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066, which led to the incarceration of Japanese Americans living on the West Coast during WWII.

“We reflected on the harm done to our communities by the United States government and spread the message of ‘never again!’ in the face of injustice,” said Dylan Mori, President of Mile High JACL.

At History Colorado, David Monkawa spoke about the history of Japanese American healthcare and the Save Our Seniors movement, which is fighting to protect families at the Sakura Intermediate Care Facility in Los Angeles. See the recording of the event at: tinyurl. com/jacl-remembrance.