• Asian Initiatives offers low-cost Chinese language and culture classes that are open to WMU faculty, staff, students and the community.

    Community Classes
  • Participants practice calligraphy at China Festival

    Enjoy the Chinese cultural experience at the annual China Festival.

    Cultural Events
  • Kalamazoo Central High School students display their Chinese painting with the teacher

    Asian Initiatives partners with the local schools in Kalamazoo to offer language & culture classes.

    K-12 Services
  • Woman in Kimono hands a young child a piece of paper with Japanese writing.

    Asian Initiatives offers language and culture services to K-12 communities in Southwest Michigan. 

    K-12 Outreach
  • International Symposium 2019

    Asian Initiatives hosts guest lecture series and academic conferences.

    Academic Events

The Haenicke Institute's Asian Initiatives unit includes the Soga Japan Center, the Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies and Chinese Language and Cultural Programing. Together, this expertise and centers enhance scholarship and disseminate knowledge about East Asia as well as provide language and culture opportunities on the WMU campus and in the greater Southwest Michigan community.