AAPI Montclair

10/14/2026

🗳️ Mail-in ballots are arriving, so let's get them ready together

Join AAPI New Jersey as we walk through how to complete and return your ballot, cover common mistakes, and enjoy some chai, snacks, and community too!

Already voted by mail? Still waiting for your ballot? Voting from another county? Come anyway!

Bring a friend, drink chai, and spend your lunch hour with fellow community members as we make a plan to get our ballots in. Essex County voters: Bring your completed ballot, and we'll walk together to a secure drop box to return it!

Wednesday, October 21 | 12–1 PM
📍 Montclair (address shared with registrants)
RSVP: tinyurl.com/AAPINJballotparty

10/06/2026

UPDATE: Rescheduled to Wednesday, October 21, 12-1PM

Ballots + Chai + Community! Join us Wednesday, October 7, for a little mail-in ballot party. We’ll go over how to fill out our mail-in ballots, including signing both the inner and outer envelopes, and other common mistakes. Essex County voters: bring your ballot and we’ll walk together to a secure drop box to drop them off!

Haven’t gotten your ballot yet? Not in Essex County? Come anyway!

Mail-in ballots have started arriving! If you’re voting by mail, but can't make it to the party, we still recommend returning them at least one week in advance or using a secure drop box.

Sign up at tinyurl.com/GOTV-1007
📍Montclair address will be shared with registrants

09/28/2026

Looking for a way to support families in NJ impacted by ICE? Local drop-off collection in Montclair!

09/26/2026

Want to help bring Light Up Diwali to life? 🪔

We’re looking for volunteers to help with everything from setup and decorating to welcoming guests, arts & crafts, voter outreach, first aid and safety, and of course, cleanup!

Volunteer shifts are available on Friday and Saturday, with multiple time slots to choose from.
✅ Youth volunteers can also receive certification of community service hours!

Check out the available shifts and sign up at tinyurl.com/LUD26volunteer

Come help us light up Diwali!

09/26/2026

We’re getting so excited for the return of Light Up Diwali, only one month away! 🪔 Our events committee has been busy planning an afternoon full of music, dance, art, and activities for all ages.

Catch Radhika Samson’s Odissi performance, Meher Vig’s powerful dhol and tabla rhythms, a modern fusion performance by Keshav & Priya Dance Duo, and live music from Indus Groove. Enjoy community performances by Kulture Kool Dance School and local youth and community groups, too!

Explore "Passage to India", our new community-sourced art exhibition featuring art and heirlooms shared by community members. Plus, local vendors, food trucks, crafts, and more!

Bring your family or friends and join us Saturday, October 17, from 2–6 PM at Montclair Art Museum

🎟️ Tickets at tinyurl.com/AAPINJdiwali26

Thank you to our sponsors for helping bring this celebration to life! Your support helps make Light Up Diwali possible.
The Liz+Vikram Team
Atlantic Health
Montclair Center
Sprouts Pediatric Dentistry
Eat Tacoria
Jellyman Media

09/06/2026

Early bird pricing ends September 12!

Reserve your seat for AAPI New Jersey’s 4th Annual Luminary Gala and join us for an evening celebrating the people, progress, and partnerships helping AAPI communities bloom here and belong here in New Jersey.

Come ready for cocktails, live music, dinner, inspiring honoree remarks, and some seriously spirited bidding during our live auction, all while supporting AAPI New Jersey’s ongoing work in advocacy, education, and community building.

🎟️ Get your tickets at tinyurl.com/AAPINJgala26

09/03/2026

🥁🍽️ Eat and learn with us as we kick off the next cycle of the Asian Aunty* Brigade!
*Don't identify as an Asian Aunty? No problem! All are welcome to join the ASIAN AUNTY BRIGADE.

Join us Tuesday, September 15 at The Montclair HUB for our first drumming team practice, followed by a shared meal and a short workshop on the 14th Amendment. Can't make it to both? No problem! Please sign up and join us for whichever part you can. We’d still love to see you there!

🥁 Drumming: 6:30–7:30pm
Want to try it out? Select the free trial option for 9/15 when you sign up.
➡️ tinyurl.com/AABdrumteam

🍽️ Dinner: 7:30–8:30pm
➡️ RSVP at tinyurl.com/AABkickoff

08/30/2026

Looking for a way to get involved?

Join us for a Day of Service at The Montclair HUB! Spend a couple of hours working alongside other community members, supporting our programs, and getting to know people along the way.

Whether you’re a longtime volunteer or this is your first time, we’d love to have you. Bring a friend, come solo, or bring the whole family!

📍 The Montclair HUB, 60 S. Fullerton Ave., Montclair, NJ
🗓️ Sunday, September 20, 10 AM–12 PM
Sign up at tinyurl.com/AAPINJ-serve0920

Volunteer service hours will be certified upon request. Youth 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

08/16/2026

We invite you to Bloom Here. Belong Here. with us at AAPI New Jersey’s 4th Annual Luminary Gala!

Friday, November 13, 2026
📍 The Grove, Cedar Grove, NJ

In the face of unprecedented challenges, we came together to stand up for our communities and use our voices to protect fundamental rights. Together, we are planting the seeds for a future where all of us can bloom and belong here.

We hope you’ll join us for a festive evening honoring inspiring leaders, connecting with friends over dinner and music, trying your luck in the live auction, and investing in our ongoing work to connect and empower Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across New Jersey.

Early bird tickets are available through September 12. Reserve yours today!
🔗

AAPI New Jersey’s 4th Annual Luminary Gala Friday, November 13, 2026 The Grove 691 Pompton AvenueCedar Grove, NJ 07009 Reserve Your Tickets ☙ Dress CodeBlack Tie or Cultural Attire Program6:30 […]

08/14/2026

Min Jin Lee is coming to Montclair, New Jersey!

After captivating readers with "Pachinko", National Book Award finalist and bestselling author Min Jin Lee returns with her highly anticipated novel, "American Hagwon". 📚

Join us on Wednesday, September 30 at 7 PM for an evening with Lee, hosted in partnership with the Montclair Literary Festival . She’ll discuss "American Hagwon", a story that reckons with ambition and moderation, lust and loyalty, personal dreams and familial duty.

🎟️ Register at bit.ly/MLF-Lee. $40/ticket includes a copy of "American Hagwon".

As one of our team members put it: “Her book is my literary event of 2026.” Hope to see you there!