More than just a celebration: Henrico residents embrace local roots at Asian American Celebration

For many, cultural events act as an introductory showcase to foreign celebrations. For others – including a number of Henrico residents – they are markers of representation; an opportunity to showcase themselves miles away from home.

The Asian American Society of Central Virginia recently hosted its 26th annual Asian American Celebration May 17 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, featuring booths from various nations across Asia. Among the visitors to the event was Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Aside from the regular performances and merchandise booths, the event debuted programs including a mocktail hour and dance parties. Food from various Asian countries was featured, including Nepali and Burmese cuisine.

Tin Htut Myint, the community relations director at AASOCV, lived in Henrico County for most of his life. After immigrating from Myanmar in 1995, he was a Henrico resident for more than two decades before moving to Hanover County. But he still finds himself returning to Henrico often, both for work and for community.

“It has come a long way, it’s a good mix,” Myint said. “It’s a fast-growing demographic in Henrico County.”

While he highlighted the large growing Asian communities in the county, he recalled that there were fewer Tibetan and Burmese residents in both the city of Richmond and Henrico. As such, communities and events hosted by AASOCV act as an avenue to meet people from smaller Asian communities.

“[AASOCV] gave us a more of a platform to share our culture with a broader community, because with the amount of resources we can utilize, the leverage is tremendous,” he said.

During his three decades in the region, Myint has seen the rise in Asian residents in Henrico, along with a growth in Asian-owned businesses and restaurants. The county’s Asian population in 1995 (just about 6,700) amounted to less than 3% of Henrico’s overall population, but today there are more than 33,000 members of the county’s Asian community – about 10% of the county’s overall population.

“When I was here in the 90s, the only [Asian] grocery store was Tan A (which originally was) in a small little house near Full Kee restaurant,” he said.

Miynt decided to join the AASOCV as an effort to increase Myanmar representation and to continue supporting community efforts in the Richmond region.

“I have my connections to various communities… I enjoy sharing my culture with the greater area,” Myint said.

Events like the Asian American Celebration not only foster community among Henrico residents but also draw attendees from across the region. Hannah Lewin, a recent graduate of the University of Richmond, said that the Asian community in Henrico is much different than Chesterfield County, where she grew up.

“Growing up, I was in predominantly white communities, the only Asian community that I was familiar with was my Burmese community,” Lewin said.

Moving to Henrico for college, she was introduced to a larger Asian population across all ethnicities. However, what stood out to her was the size of the Burmese community, notably the presence of college students from Myanmar.

“I was very surprised that there were Burmese students, usually I'm on the older side in terms of the other kids in my community,” she said.

Outside of college, Lewin regularly participates in AASOCV’s celebration, designing and setting up Myanmar’s booth. Aside from an excuse to hang out with members of her community, she says it allows her to educate residents about her culture.

“Growing up, whenever I said Burma or Myanmar, like no one really knew what I was talking about, it was just like a country in Southeast Asia,” Lewin said.

Lewin plans to move to Delaware to pursue a Ph.D. in microbiology. Inspired by her experiences at the event, she plans to continue sharing her culture with new people, hoping to build community wherever she goes.