Regional Partnerships


The Center for East Asian Studies partners with institutes, organizations, and businesses across the region to promote knowledge and appreciation of East Asian languages and cultures. Past collaborations have included events such as online forums, cultural festivals, story times, and more! 

CEAS is always looking for ways to collaborate and support East Asian studies in the Great Plains Region. Reach out to ceas@ku.edu to see how we can support you!

Learn more about our partners below:

China Town Hall

The National China Town Hall is hosted to connect leading China experts with Americans around the country for a national conversation on the implications of China’s rise on U.S.-China relations and its impact on our towns, states, and nation. The National Committee is proud to partner with a range of institutions to bring this important national conversation to local communities through local China Town Halls.

Every year an annual National China Town Hall is hosted to connect leading China experts with Americans around the country for a national conversation on the implications of China’s rise on U.S.-China relations and its impact on our towns, states, and nation. The National Committee is proud to partner with a range of institutions and community groups, colleges and universities, trade and business associations, and world affairs councils to bring this important national conversation to local communities through local China Town Halls.

CEAS partners with several organizations to host a local, online China Town Hall right before the National China Town Hall broadcast. Learn more about those partners in the links below. 

Heart of America Japan-America Society

The Heart of America Japan-America Society (HAJAS) is a non-profit, non-political 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Their mission is to further understanding between the peoples of Japan and the Greater Kansas City area.

The Center for East Asian Studies partners with the Heart of American Japan-America Society for several events throughout the year such as the Japan Festival, Ethnic Enrichment Festival, Heartland Japanese Language Contest.

Every fall semester, the HAJAS hosts an annual Greater KC Japan Festival which is a one-day event at Johnson County Community College. The festival showcases the traditional and pop culture, food and art of Japan along with the vision, technology and hope for the future of the people of Japan and the people of the Kansas City area. Each year, CEAS will host an educator workshop in the morning of this event with content that aligns with the festivals theme. This workshop is open to any and add K-12 educators!

3 women posing in yukata with japanese fans and sign

Attendees enjoy trying on Yukatas at the 2023 Naka-kon.

three japanese people smiling for a photo

CEAS Volunteers help out at the 2023 Ethnic Enrichment Festival.

Kansas City Chinese Association

The Kansas City Chinese Association (KCCA) is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious organization whose purpose is to promote socialization, improve benefits, develop common interests, and to satisfy the need of Kansas City area's Chinese-American community.

The Center for East Asian Studies sponsors and partners with the Kansas City Chinese Association on two of their major events: the KCCA Water & Moon Lantern Festival in the Fall and the KCCA Lunar New Year in the Spring.

At these events, CEAS will set up a table with info and/or an activity. At the 2023 KCCA Water & Moon Festival, CEAS prepared information sheets and a mooncake craft for children and families. 

crowd of people at the edge of a river

Attendees watch the lanterns float on the river at the 2023 KCCA Moon & Water Festival.

six people dressed in black surrounding a person in gold dancing on stage

House of Dragons performance at the 2024 KCCA Lunar New Year Stage Live Show.

Blue lion dancers performing in front of a large crowd

KU Lion Dance performing at the 2024 KCCA Lunar New Year Cultural Show.