From grassroots beginnings to a growing national movement, Mixed Asian Day (MAD) has become a vital space for mixed Asian and Pacific Islander (API) individuals to gather, celebrate, and build community. What started as a small celebration is now an annual event packed with panels, performances, community connection, and most importantly, representation.
To celebrate Mixed Asian Day 2025, Cold Tea Collective is proud to be a community partner and to have had the opportunity to interview with Alex Chester-Iwata, founder of Mixed Asian Media, about the evolution of Mixed Asian Day (MAD), its community impact, and her vision for the future of mixed API representation.
The origins of Mixed Asian Day
In 2021, at the height of COVID-19, Chester-Iwata launched the inaugural Mixed Asian Media Festival (MAMF), a five-day virtual celebration showcasing mixed Asian and Pacific Islanders in creative fields like film, theater, art, and dance. It was a bold step toward filling a representational void.
The following year, MAMF evolved into a three-day, in-person experience in New York City. But by 2023, it had become clear that the movement was bigger than just film. That year marked the birth of Mixed Asian Day (MAD), a reimagined annual celebration centering mixed API identity across storytelling, community-building, and joy.
“We kept hearing from our community that they didn’t always feel welcome at AAPINH Heritage Month events. We figured there’s Black Cat Appreciation Day, Short Girl Day, etc., why not have a Mixed Asian Day?” Chester-Iwata shares. “And as the saying goes, ‘If you don’t see it, create it.’”
See also: Celebrating Black History Month and Blasian identity: Stories of culture, creativity, and community
What is Mixed Asian Day
Mixed Asian Day (MAD) is an annual celebration created by Mixed Asian Media and Leviathan Lab to uplift and honor the mixed Asian Pacific Islander community including adoptees, multiracial Asians, and anyone navigating dual or blended cultural identities.
“It’s a day to celebrate the mixed Asian Pacific community and our Asian adoptee brothers and sisters,” says Chester-Iwata, founder of MAM. “There is so much intersection between our two communities when it comes to identity.”
For Chester-Iwata, MAD is deeply personal: “It means being able to celebrate all of my heritages. It means not having to pick one side over the other.”
Mixed Asian Day has become an affirming, joyful, and powerful day of belonging. “While we are not officially recognized by any government, that won’t stop us from celebrating every second Saturday of September!” Chester-Iwata shares.
Milestones and impact in the movement
The first Mixed Asian Day was held in September 2023 in New York City. The event drew over 180 attendees and featured a vibrant marketplace, storytelling panels, creative workshops, and a party to commemorate the day.
In 2024, MAD expanded to Los Angeles, hosting over 300 attendees in Los Angeles with a pop-up marketplace. The celebration included a comedy night featuring comedian Dylan Adler, showcasing the joy, humor, and brilliance of mixed API experiences.
At the heart of Mixed Asian Day is a mission to create visibility and validation for experiences that are often overlooked in both mainstream and AAPINH spaces.
“MAM was created for the mixed API community to see themselves reflected in the media. Chester-Iwata emphasizes the power of storytelling and space-making to affirm the complexities and multiplicity of mixed Asian identity. “I want people to feel that they can embrace all of themselves and be proud of who they are.”
For many attendees, MAD is the first time they’ve been surrounded by others who share their lived experience. “The best thing for me is seeing our community come together in person. I get to hear from attendees how they’ve never been surrounded by so many other mixed folks before, and how beautiful and empowering that is. They feel safe. They feel seen and heard.”
See also: Creating community through music as a mixed Asian Jew
Mixed Asian Day 2025: What to expect
This year, in 2025, the celebration continues in San Francisco, a nod to Chester-Iwata’s roots and the Bay Area’s rich legacy of Asian American culture and activism.
“I grew up going to SF and the Bay Area, plus my hubby and in-laws are from that area. So I’m super excited for this year’s event.” Chester-Iwata shares.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with KOHO Creative Hub, Golden Guide, Japan Center Malls, Join Yuzu, and Leviathan Lab to bring MAD to San Francisco.”
Mixed Asian Day 2025 – Panels & Programming Overview
Location: KOHO Creative Hub, San Francisco
Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Pop-up Marketplace by Golden Guide
12:30 – 1:30 PM
Mixed Asian Day Flow: Yoga with Lola, Powered by Equinox, with a 15 min meditation by Dr. Clayton Hoi-Yun McClintock. Start the day with grounding energy, intention, and movement. Thanks to Equinox, enjoy special giveaways + wellness vibes.
2:00 – 2:45 PM
Our Stories, Our Ink: Mixed Asian Authors in Conversation Panel Featuring Rena Heinrich, Quincy Carroll, Lauren Lola, Ingrid Hu Dahl. Moderated by Jaena Rae Cabrera.
3:15 – 4:00 PM
Adoptee Voices Panel: Navigating Identity & Family Honest stories of identity, belonging, and community across generations.
4:30 – 5:15 PM
Family Expectations & Mixed Asian Belonging Panel With Yellow Chair Collective therapists, exploring cultural pressures, intergenerational dynamics, and mental health.
5:45 – 6:30 PM
We Are Not a Monolith Panel: Broadening Mixed AAPINA Identity Beyond the Wasian Narrative With Militantly Mixed, celebrating the full spectrum of mixed AAPINA voices.
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Evening Mixer: Boba Tea & Sabobatage Mixer Featuring special guest Kristi YummyKoch.
How to support and get involve
Whether you’re mixed, adopted, multiethnic, or an ally, there are so many ways to support this growing movement.
“The biggest way the community and allies can support is by showing up.” Chester-Iwata encourages people to attend, donate, share resources, or even reach out to her directly to suggest panel topics or help bring MAD to their city.
“My goal is to bring this day to a city near you! But that takes resources. Do you know of a venue that will either donate the day to us or give us the space for cheap? Let me know! Do you have a lot of money you don’t know what to do with? Donate it to MAM so we can put on more of these free events!”
“Slide into my DMs, I’m pretty responsive” shares Chester-Iwata.
A vision for the future
Chester-Iwata’s dream is simple, but bold: “My dream is for Mixed Asian Day to become a national holiday.”
She hopes to one day see local and nationwide celebrations take root across the country, fueled by support, storytelling, and solidarity. “While this probably won’t happen with this current administration, it will happen one day!”
Discover the full program and learn more about MAD 2025
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