API Forward to be Featured as Community Partner of the Night 

PORTLAND, Ore. (Jan 5, 2026) – Join the Portland Trail Blazers as they celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage and face off against the Houston Rockets on January 9. The night will be action packed both on and off the court with culturally authentic and engaging activities for fans like Tahitian dance, henna, Japanese cuisine and more.  

Local nonprofit API Forward will be featured as the Community Partner of the night for their work supporting the leadership advancement of local Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders across Oregon and SW Washington. A portion of the proceeds from the 5050 Raffle, Silent Auction and Roots to Roses Retail item of the night will benefit API Forward. The concourse will feature other nonprofits supporting local AAPI communities’, including APANO, Ka ‘Aha Lāhui o ‘Olekona (KALO) and Micronesian Islander Community (MIC).   

To set the tone, DJ Gazin will be spinning house music representing scenes across Seoul, South Korea for The Warm-Up at Dr. Jacks. As fans vibe to the beat entering Moda Center, they’ll be greeted by legendary AAPI icons on posters lining the 100-Level pillars, each selected by Trail Blazers Business Resource Group T.A.P.A. (Trail Blazers Asian Pacific Association). The groove continues with music on every level of Moda Center; DJ Playtime will be mixing beats from his Filipino roots on the 100-Level, the Club Level will be treated to a blend of traditional and modern sounds of the Japanese koto by Oregon Koto-Kai, on the 300-Level DJ Prashant invites fans to dance to the beat as he blends cultures together.   

The concourses will be full of activations perfect for the whole family, especially the Pregame Parade Presented by Polar Beverages, featuring local Queer Desi diaspora dance troupe Gulabi Gang, performing a mix of South Asian styles of dance. To capture the moment, AAPI-owned business Memory Box Photo Booth will have their 360 Photo Booth set up with a special backdrop for the AAPI Heritage celebration. Fans looking for a bite can try the PDX Chef Collective featuring local Japanese owned restaurant Teppanyaki Hut serving up delicious sushi eats. Fans can also enjoy the signature drink of the night, the Lotus Bloom. On the 300-Level, Bollywood Henna with owner Palvi will be sharing the cultural meaning of henna while offering designs for guests.  

As tip off nears, fans will be treated by dance-pop artist and second-generation Filipina/Thai/Lao American, Alana Rich, singing the national anthem. At halftime the energy continues with local dance groups Anavai O Te Ora and Natia O Le Pasifika, where they’ll showcase the rich cultures of the Pacific Islands in Washington and Oregon through authentic song and dance.  

At Rip City Clothing Co. fans can gear up with the item of the night from the new Roots to Roses Collection, an exclusive collection dedicated to transforming the Rose Quarter’s new outdoor murals into wearable art. Tonight’s item will feature the mural painted by Portland-based Chinese American muralist and painter, Alex Chiu.  

To learn more about how the Trail Blazers are celebrating AAPI Heritage, fans can visit trailblazers.com/aapi.  

ABOUT THE PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS 

Members of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Portland Trail Blazers were founded in 1970 and purchased by the late Paul G. Allen in 1988. The team’s rich heritage includes 37 playoff appearances, three trips to the NBA Finals, an NBA championship in 1977 and a commitment to community service and sustainability. The Trail Blazers are dedicated to positively impacting underserved kids and their families throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington where they live, learn and play. Portland is the first and only professional sports franchise to receive the prestigious National Points of Light Award for excellence in corporate and community service. The Trail Blazers home arena, Moda Center, is the first existing arena to earn LEED Platinum Certification in 2019 after receiving LEED Gold Recertification in 2015 and becoming the first existing professional sports venue in the world to receive LEED Gold status in 2010. The team is also one of the founding members of the Green Sports Alliance. For more information, visit trailblazers.com.