To showcase heritage, stand against hate, Howard County plans for an Asian American Pacific Islander Cultural Center

More than five years ago, Lanlan Xu began advocating for Howard County to dedicate a community space to serve and celebrate the culture of the fast-growing Asian communities in the area. The former vice chair of the board of directors for Howard County Chinese School saw a need for a center that could host cultural showcases, help new immigrants settle, and build connections with the wider community. Xu and other Asian residents held a series of meetings and pitched the idea as a community impact project to Howard County leadership. Their efforts are paying off. Local officials are now in the initial stages of planning what Howard County’s first Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Cultural Center could look like.