Camas High School (CHS) is home to a plethora of clubs that represent the diversity of the student body, one of the most popular being Asian Culture Food Club (ACFC). ACFC hosts monthly meetings that aim to spread awareness and inclusivity through food.
ACFC was founded at CHS in 2020, around the era of online learning. It is one of many clubs at CHS that prides itself on cultural diversity, inclusion, and expression.
“We blend culture with food and traditions, trying to promote a space where awareness and inclusivity of all Asian cultures and dishes are supported,” James Nguyen, CHS senior and ACFC president, said.
ACFC creates a welcoming space that is both educational and fun. Their meetings each feature some sort of food, drink, or dessert with accompanying trivia and occasional games. ACFC meets during Student Support Time (SST) in the North Commons once a month. Most recently, the January ACFC meeting focused on sharing Thai culture by serving Thai tea. They offered classic black tea and jasmine green tea as iced to-go beverages that students could bring to their following classes.
“Meetings, like the Thai tea event, usually involve expanding cultural acknowledgement about whatever food we’re serving,” Jenna Salti, CHS senior and ACFC secretary, said. “It’s not just about the food, but the culture that accompanies it.”
Some memorable ACFC events include their interactive Buldak Spring Rolls meeting in October, where members made spring rolls using materials provided by the club, and their Rakuzen Ramen meeting in September with restaurant catering.
During meetings, the featured food is provided and assembled by the ACFC officers, who work hard to honor the presented culture.
“These kids are so motivated and they work so hard to bring service to all their members,” Fangchi Koss, ACFC advisor, said. “We are the largest student club and it’s really inspiring to see them work so hard.”
More than anything, the core of ACFC is its members. ACFC is open to any and all students, with the promise to equally represent different Asian cultures with respect. The club has 146 members from all grades and ethnicities, making it the largest student club at CHS.
“With our events, we highly regard member input,” Nguyen said. “It’s something we always take pride in is what our members want, because ultimately this is their club.”
Outside of their monthly meetings, ACFC also hosts their own fundraisers and participates in school cultural events. Currently, they’re planning a fundraiser with Ding Tea, a popular iced tea and boba restaurant based in Vancouver. Although no official date has yet been released for this fundraiser, ACFC also has their February meeting to look forward to.
