CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Montgomery County’s Diversity and Inclusion Office held the first Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage event this week, with people from several backgrounds in attendance.

“I am overwhelmed with excitement, I am overwhelmed to see the participation, I am so happy I don’t know what to do, I just hope we have enough food for everybody,” Zoyie Jackson, a Diversity and Inclusion officer and the organizer of the event, said to the crowd prior to festivities.

The event included tasting of various traditional Asian dishes and dances performed by people who identify with South Korean, Hawaiian, Samoan and other cultures.

People taking pictures with women in South Korean wear at the Asian-American Pacific Islander event at theWilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022 (Angela Peterson)
People at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Ladies in Japanese wear at the the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
The MC preparing to address the crowd at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Ladies in traditional wear from Thailand at the the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Lady posing in front of flag of the Philippines at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Laura Valentine-Lock at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Woman singing at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Ladies dancing at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Ladies dancing at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Ladies dancing at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Prayer before festivities at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Woman singing at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Food sampling at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Woman singing at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Food sampling at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Woman singing at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Mayor Joe Pitts and First Lady Cindy Pitts at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Festivities at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Food sampling at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Food sampling at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
People at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Festivities at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Festivities at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Festivities at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Festivities at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Festivities at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Festivities at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Festivities at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Festivities at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Festivities at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Festivities at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Festivities at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Festivities at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)
Festivities at the Asian-American Pacific Islander Event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on May 27, 2022. (Angela Peterson)

There was also an exhibition for Asian and Pacific Islander cultures including traditional clothing, crafts and recipes.