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Join the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan in recognizing Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. May marks Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, a time when we celebrate the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to our society and culture. The Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) has selected “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity” as their theme for the series running from 2021-2024.

This month is particularly important as it provides an opportunity to raise awareness and understanding of the rich and diverse history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.  From the University of Califonia San Francisco, "The month of May was chosen for two reasons. First, to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States, a young fisherman named Manjiro, who arrived May 7, 1843. Second, May marks the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of workers on the transcontinental railroad were Chinese immigrants, who laid the tracks and were responsible for most of the dangerous and heavy manual labor tasks."

As we dive deeper into this history and honoring the future of these groups, we have compiled a list of resources for you to learn more about Asian American and Pacific Islander’s history and culture. 

1. Watch the Smithsonian’s five-part series, Come Through: Asian Pacific American Voices at the Smithsonian, where AAPI Heritage is explored through different museum artifacts.

2. Explore the many flavors of Asian cuisines by taking time to make a new recipe you may have not tried this month. Tasty has put together a list of Asian recipes from around the globe and you can view them here.

3. Support AANHPI businesses and creators. Whether purchasing food, jewelry, art, or a service, spending your money with a local AANHPI business means a lot to small business owners and creators!

4. Listen to Bravespace,  “a compilation of original songs, sounds, and meditations created by Asian American women and non-binary artists and musicians.