Each May, Glow Cultural Center hosts our yearly ‘Love and Unity’ event as part of AAPI Heritage Month festivities, which celebrates the contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islanders to the United States. Through a diverse program of audio-visual performances on our stage and a community resource fair in our lobby and atrium, we celebrate the diverse AAPI cultures found in Flushing and Queens. We continue to expand the scope of this event each year as we bring to light the various diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges impacting our community.
Glow Cultural Center’s first “Love & Unity” concert was held during the COVID pandemic and at the height of anti-Asian violence in our community, and it was inspired by the idea that music can heal and bring people together from different cultures. For more details on how our ‘Love and Unity’ Concert series has evolved over the years, please check out our “Love & Unity Series and Concerts” on YouTube! You can watch videos from previous “Love & Unity” concerts by pressing on the icon below!
2024 ‘Love and Unity’ Concert ~ Embracing Our Voices!
Featuring Grammy award-winning artists & talented youth, this year’s concert is an eclectic mix of folk songs, cultural dances, and original compositions, named “Embrace Our Voices” in honor of the many diverse peoples, cultures, and voices that make up the fabric of NYC. Glow hopes to bring together the communities in a friendly and open cultural exchange through the “Love & Unity in May” concert, where the universal language of music and dance can overcome language, cultural, and socio-economic barriers.
“2025 Love & Unity in May Concert & Resource Fair”
Glow Cultural Center’s 5th Love & Unity in May event, held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, presented an inspiring lineup of artists and captivating performances at our center in the heart of Flushing. This year’s program highlighted the richness and elegance of Chinese traditional music, featuring masterful performances on instruments such as the Guzheng, Erhu, Yangqin, Xiao, Bandi, and Qudi. From accomplished soloists to dynamic ensemble performances, the afternoon showcased the timeless beauty of Chinese musical heritage alongside vibrant cultural presentations. Audiences experienced a powerful celebration of artistry, tradition, and community as performers brought centuries-old sounds and stories to life on stage.
“2024 Love and Unity in May” Concert
Glow Cultural Center’s 4th Love & Unity in May event held on May 18, 2024 showcased an amazing lineup of local artists and stunning performances at our center located in the heart of Flushing. From four-time Global Music Awards winner Vivian Fang Liu to the first music therapist to win a GRAMMY award Jon Samson, from China’s Dance Smash 2 contestant Andy Cong to Glow Cultural Center’s very own New York Chinese Chorus, this year’s audience enjoyed an afternoon of wonderful music and dances covering a diverse range of cultures and disciplines – completely free of charge.
The concert’s opening ceremony included moving remarks from City Council Member Sandra Ung, Congresswoman Grace Meng, State Senator John Liu, and Deputy Commissioner of Community Affairs Unit Peter Koo, with an emphasis on listening to and being aware of the different voices in our community. Lead Advisor to Asian Communities Flora Ferng from the New York City Commission on Human Rights, Senior Manager of Community Outreach Lydia Li from the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, and Chief of Staff Nora Daniels from the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice spoke about the many resources offered by city agencies and encouraged attendees to reach out if they ever needed help. The “Building a Stronger Community” Resource Fair on 41st Ave right outside our center also included representatives from the NYC Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit, NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, Queens DA office, Safe Horizon, Chinese Planning Council’s CRSS Program, Office of the Queens Borough President, Korean American Family Service Center, Asian Americans For Equality, and Charles B Wang Community Health Center. Flushing visitors and residents from nearby neighborhoods and beyond had ample chance to discover channels of support, community resources and pick up goodies from city agencies and local organizations, as well as enjoy an eclectic blend of classic, modern, and contemporary performances on the GCC stage.
“Love & Unity” 2023 / Healing Through Music
The 3rd annual “Love & Unity in May” concert expanded to include a community resource fair on 41st Ave, offering support for mental health, domestic abuse, and hate crime awareness. The event also featured the “Free Fruit For All” project, showcasing exotic Asian fruits like loquat, mangosteen, and rambutan. Focused on AAPI Heritage and Mental Health Awareness, the concert celebrated the diversity and resilience of underrepresented cultural groups in NYC. Performances included Sol Sharp Music School, Sarah-Anjali, Dr. Neela Zareen, Vivian Fan Liu, iamChelseaiam, Master Long Fei Yang, Jenise La Vonne, Hyewon Park, Brad Kang, Linda Quach, Lily Han, and Glow Foundation’s New York Chinese Chorus.
Click on the button below to view Resource Fair Photos! If you want to view the concert photos, press on the image on the top!
Special Thanks to our Guest Speakers
Eva Wong
Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health
Hassan Naveed
Executive Director of the NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes
“Love & Unity” 2022 / May AAPI Concert
For the 2nd “Love & Unity in May” concert, Glow collaborated with indie label “So Am I-Worthy” to celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a focus on women of color. The event featured a variety of performers from across Asia and the Pacific Islands, highlighting cultures through music and dance. Genres included Afro-Brazilian, R&B, hip-hop, soul, jazz, and Latin music. The concert also showcased performances like Diabolo/Chinese yo-yo, Chinese martial arts, and traditional Mindanao dances. Highlights included artists Opal Rose, Isadora Benitez, Ayaka (Mossan), Batalá New York, Linda Quach, and a Chinese tea ceremony presented by ASA College & CAFC.
Check out more photos by clicking on the image on the left! You can also watch the performances by pressing on the button below!
Special Thanks to our Guest Speakers
Ebony Young
Deputy Queens Borough President
Shirley Huang
Director of Public Relations at CAIPA (Coalition of Asian-American IPA)
Lily Liang
New York City Organizer at NAPAWF (National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum)
“Love & Unity” 2021/ “Stop Asian Hate” Benefit Concert
In 2021, GCC launched the “Stop Asian Hate” campaign to stand against racially motivated hate crimes, particularly in Flushing. The campaign’s first event, the “Love & Unity” benefit concert, raised awareness and funds for frontline healthcare workers in NYC, Long Island, and beyond. With the resilience and determination of musicians and dancers to cross unspoken boundaries and bring people’s hearts together, find the healing power that music holds in this emotional first concert of the Love & Unity series with performances from Lulu Chen, Judy Yeh, Grant Zhuang, Ashley Liang, Andy Lin, Wen-Ting Wu, Reliant Tom, CJ, Vivi Hu, and Man Wai Che.
Special Thanks to our Guest Speakers
Dr. Michael Baek
Internal Medicine Resident at New York – Presbyterian/Queens
Grace Meng
US Congresswoman for the 6th District of New York
Peter Koo
New York City Council Member, District 20
You Yung Cho
Founder and head Muay Thai Coach at Cornerstone Thai Boxing
