Every May, Asian American Americans and Pacific Islanders celebrate a heritage that is thousands of years old and a history in the United States that has impacted past and present generations. As The Library of Congress states, “The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history and are instrumental in its future success.” There have been so many influential Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the past like Anna May Wong, Taishanese American Actress (1905), Dr. Chien Shiung Wu, Chinese American Nuclear Physicist (1939), Dalip Singh Saund, Indian American Congressman (1955), Cecilia Chung, Hong Kong American Civil Rights Activist (1965), Dr. David Ho, Taiwanese American Research Physician and Virologist (1957), and the list goes on.
Many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the Bay Area get together during this month to share similar family histories, and whole-heartedly celebrate and reminisce about the importance of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. With a theme of “Forging Community Bonds,” San Francisco’s APA Heritage Foundation explored Asian and Pacific Islander impactful films, foods, and culture through various events, programs and activities, partnering with the Asian Art Museum, Center for Asian American Media, and the San Francisco Library. If you find yourself a little late to the Asian American and Pacific Islander May celebration, no worries! If you are still interested in participating, there are a few activities left:
- May 31st – Origami Hearts for Love (11am-5pm)
- May 31st – Storytime: A Special AANHPI Heritage Month Sweet Stories for Families (11am-11:15am)
- May 31st – Presentation: Japanese Aesthetics: Exploring Japan’s Artistic Sensibilities (6:30pm-7:30pm)
Here at ZEDEDA, we honor Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who worked so hard in the past to build a promising future for those in the United States. As part of our company culture, values, and mission, we strive to foster diversity and inclusivity – currently we are proud to have 31% Asian American and Pacific Islander employees in the United States, in addition to 49% total, encompassing both United States and International. ZEDEDA’s VP of Global People Operations enthusiastically states, “As our company grows, we’ll continuously make an ongoing effort to foster diversity throughout our organization. With 49% Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the company presently, we’re proud to represent and celebrate AAPI month.”
As we wrap up Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, please take a moment to remember our history and all Asian American and Pacific Islander heroes of the past and present. If you’re interested in joining an innovative and diverse workplace like ZEDEDA, or just curious about our organization, feel free to check out our careers page for more information.
