May is AAPI Heritage Month! This month celebrates the histories of Americans hailing from across the continent of Asia and from the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. It is also a time to reflect on the historical context, experiences, and contributions that Asian and Pacific Island Americans continue to make in our community.
Every year, the Federal Asian Pacific American Council announces a theme for this month. This year, the theme is “Advancing Leaders Through Innovation”. Read more about the theme here. In celebration of this very important month, the Office of Academic Affairs and Career Development will share weekly spotlights on Cincinnati Children’s AAPI faculty leaders. Be on the lookout for those posts on our blog throughout May!
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) is an extremely broad category that covers many different countries, cultures, and peoples. The group includes people living in the United States with cultural heritage from:
- The continent of Asia
- Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, the Solomon Islands)
- Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Federated States of Micronesia)
- Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island)
Congress selected the month of May for Asian Pacific Heritage Month to honor two major events: the immigration of the first Japanese people to the USA on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The transcontinental railroad was largely built by Chinese immigrants. Read more about why AAPI Heritage Month is celebrated in May here.
Please consider attending events for this month! You will be able to find information on local celebrations on CenterLink and AAPI Heritage Month Cincinnati. Before you do, if you are not from an AAPI culture: please read through AAPI Heritage Month Cincinnati’s How to Celebrate Respectfully guide. It is a short read and a great opportunity to talk with your family about how to respect different cultures.
OAACD Blog 