AANHPI is not a monolith!
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of the AAPI Community to our country and society. The AAPI community is not a monolithic group, but rather a diverse collection of cultures, languages, traditions, and experiences. From Filipino Americans who fought in World War II to Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during the war, the AAPI community has a long and complex history in this country.
Despite facing discrimination and marginalization, the AAPI community has made countless contributions to our society including in areas such as art, music, literature, science, and technology. From Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei to Indian American astronaut Kalpana Chawla, AAPI individuals have left an indelible mark on our history and culture.
As we celebrate and honor the rich and diverse heritage of the AAPI community, we also acknowledge that there is still work to be done to ensure that this community is fully included and valued in all aspects of our society. We must continue to listen to the voices of the AAPI community, to learn from their experiences, and to work towards building a more inclusive and equitable society.
Here are 8 ways you can celebrate and participate in AAPI Heritage Month:
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Support AAPI-owned businesses: Show your support for AAPI-owned businesses by purchasing products or services from them. You can also share information about these businesses on social media to help promote them.
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Review past newsletters: Our May 2021 and May 2022 Diversity Newsletters provided resources to understanding the history of anti-Asian hate in the US and also included local eateries and events, and amplified the experiences of communities marginalized within the AAPI moniker.
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Attend cultural events: Many communities organize events such as food festivals, cultural performances, and art exhibitions during this month. Attending these events can help you learn more about the traditions and history of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures.
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Learn AAPI history: Take some time to read about the history of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the United States. You can also watch documentaries, read books, and listen to podcasts to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences and contributions.
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Volunteer with community organizations: There are many community organizations that support Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, including the Asian Arts Initiative. You can volunteer with these organizations to help make a difference in the lives of these communities.
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Share your knowledge: Educate others about the significance of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Share information about the history, culture, and contributions of these communities with your friends, family, and colleagues.
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Advocate for AAPI issues: Use your voice to advocate for issues that affect Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. This can include issues such as immigration, discrimination, and healthcare.
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Take action. Find ways to support AAPI individuals who have been victims of discrimination or hate crimes, such as by reporting incidents or speaking out against hate speech.
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BOOST DIVERSITY AWARENESS
Challenge yourself this month to boost your diversity awareness calendar usage.
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Learn about May 2023 Events - including religious holidays like International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, National Military Appreciation Day, other cultural observances, and more!
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Schedule Respectfully - With our PAFA Diversity Awareness Calendar, never forget important dates or events. Respect religious observances, holidays, and events.
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New Feature! Email signature images! Now you can build D&I with every email you send - find out how to add Diversity Calendar banners to your Outlook email signature.
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Mental Health Awareness Month |
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and to break down the stigma that often surrounds mental illness. This month, we are reminded of the critical role that mental health plays in our overall well-being and the importance of prioritizing our mental health needs.
Mental illness affects millions of people worldwide, yet many still feel ashamed or embarrassed to seek help. This stigma can prevent individuals from seeking the care and support they need, leading to increased suffering and worsening symptoms. By promoting mental health awareness and education, we can help reduce this stigma and encourage individuals to seek the care they need.
This month, we encourage all of our community to take the time to learn about mental health, including the signs and symptoms of common mental health conditions. We also encourage you to prioritize your own mental health needs by taking care of your body, engaging in self-care practices, and seeking help if you are struggling.
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You can add the PAFA diversity calendar and/or the banner to your signature block to stay informed of all cultural observances throughout the year. And don't forget to list your pronouns.
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Read More. Listen More. Learn More.
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Jewish Americans have a unique story that is woven into the tapestry of America's history, from the first Jewish settlement in New Amsterdam in 1654 to the millions of Jewish immigrants who came to this country in search of new opportunities and a better life. Through their dedication to education, arts, politics, and other fields, they have helped to shape America's progress and prosperity.
Here are some books, podcasts, and documentaries to add to your libraries as you learn more about various aspects of Jewish American history, culture, and identity.
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The Jewish Americans (PBS)
THE JEWISH AMERICANS is a three-part documentary that explores 350 years of Jewish American history. Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker David Grubin, THE JEWISH AMERICANS is a journey through time, from the first settlement in 1654 to the present. It is about the struggle of a tiny minority who make their way into the American mainstream while, at the same time, maintaining a sense of their own identity as Jews. Focusing on the tension between identity and assimilation, THE JEWISH AMERICANS is quintessentially an American story, which other minority groups will find surprisingly familiar.
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American Jewish History
Presenting the American Jewish historical experience from its communal beginnings to the present through documents, photographs, and other illustrations, many of which have never before been published, this entirely new collection of source materials complements existing textbooks on American Jewish history with an organization and pedagogy that reflect the latest historiographical trends and the most creative teaching approaches. Ten chapters, organized chronologically, include source materials that highlight the major thematic questions of each era and tell many stories about what it was like to immigrate and acculturate to American life, practice different forms of Judaism, engage with the larger political, economic, and social cultures that surrounded American Jews, and offer assistance to Jews in need around the world. At the beginning of each chapter, the editors provide a brief historical overview highlighting some of the most important developments in both American and American Jewish history during that particular era. Source materials in the collection are preceded by short headnotes that orient readers to the documents’ historical context and significance.
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Judaism Unbounded
Judaism Unbound, a project of the Institute for the Next Jewish Future, is a project that catalyzes and supports grassroots efforts by “disaffected but hopeful” American Jews to re-imagine and re-design Jewish life in America for the 21st Century.
Judaism Unbound values the ways that you choose to connect to Judaism, whether through rituals steeped in millennia-old traditions or through entirely new paradigms that ancient Jewish texts never dreamed of; whether your Judaism includes participation in Jewish communal organizations or not; whether you live and breathe Jewishly 24/7 or you just want to connect once or twice a year; whether you think of yourself as Jewish, half-Jewish, Jewish-and-X, partly-Jewish, not-Jewish, or Jew-ish.
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The Jews Are Tired
A weekly digest of the big stories around the Jewish world, through a Jewish Journalist lens.
Latest Episode:
This week: The chaos of Elon Musk’s Twitter has chased users and news organizations away, while a new wave of Twitter clones try to recreate the sense of community it has. So what does this mean for the Jews, and why should anyone care? I talk about that with Serge, the founder of Babka Social, a new Jewish social media platform.
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Rising Sun: Artists in An Uncertain America
PAFA/AAMP
Two historic museums come together for a transformative exhibition of contemporary art. Join the African American Museum in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts for Rising Sun: Artists in an Uncertain America, an exhibition of new works examining the provocative and timely question: “Is the sun rising or setting on the experiment of American democracy?”
Installations by 20 celebrated artists explore themes of equality, free speech, and other tenets of democracy. In a time when perspectives in the U.S. are radically disparate, we invite you to explore how art inspires us to reflect on, challenge, and expand our own lived experiences.
Artists include:
Shiva Ahmadi, John Akomfrah CBE, La Vaughn Belle, Tiffany Chung, Lenka Clayton, Petah Coyne, Martha Jackson Jarvis, Demetrius Oliver, Eamon Ore-Giron, Alison Saar, Dread Scott, Rose B. Simpson, Sheida Soleimani, Renée Stout, Mark Thomas Gibson, Dyani White Hawk, Hank Willis Thomas, Deborah Willis, Wilmer Wilson IV, and Saya Woolfalk.
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Being an ally for a S.A.F.E. Community at PAFA
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