Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Background

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrated in the month of May, recognizes and honors the history, contributions and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in our state and nation. The 2023 theme is "Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity," chosen by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council. 

'Asian American and Pacific Islander' is an umbrella term for the entire Asian continent which embodies diverse and vast groups of people, languages, ethnicities and traditions with more than 50 different countries and regions included. In Issaquah, there are an estimated 10,213 Asian Pacific American residents, representing 25.5% of our population. We celebrate the growing diversity in our city that brings richness, growth and opportunities.

We acknowledge past and current hardships and continued inequities that exist for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, and we strive to foster inclusion and advance equity practices that provide all members of our community opportunities to thrive in a just society.  

Proclamation

At the May 1, 2023 City Council meeting, Mayor Mary Lou Pauly proclaimed May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the City of Issaquah.

Regional Events

• May 6 – API Heritage Month Celebration at the Seattle Center Armory with cultural performances, children’s activities, vendors, and cultural conversations.
• May 16 – Teen Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Trivia Night with King County Library System. 
• May 23 – Hindi Storytelling and South Asian Art for children and parents at the Issaquah King County Library. 
• May 24 - Issaquah Senior Center will be hosting Japanese Cultural Day Celebration with music, food and traditional performance. Register by May 19. 

Community Organizations

• Asian Counseling and Referral Services
• Chinese Information Service Center (CISC)
• Indian American Community Services

Resources

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we invite you to review the resources below for ways to celebrate the invaluable contributions that enrich our community with Asian Pacific heritage and to educate ourselves on ways in which we can all contribute to stopping the horrific hate crimes against our Asian American neighbors. 

Stopping AAPI Hate: Resources

• Founded in 2020 in response to increased attacks on the AAPI community, the Stop AAPI Hate coalition "tracks and responds to incidents of hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.

Stop AAPI Hate: Report a Hate Incident

• Stop AAPI Hate is seeking to identify where and when hate incidents are taking place. Report an incident to share your story.

Anti-Racism Resources for the AAPI Community

• Resources gathered and shared by the Asian American Studies Program at Cornell University. 

Asian American Documentary Films

• Watch films curated by the King County Library System that feature Asian American stories and/or are by Asian Americans. 

AsianPacificAmericanHeritage.gov

• Hosted the the Library of Congress, browse archives and collections related to AAPI heritage.

Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

• View art, poems and more curated by the the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.

Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC)

• View the announcement of the 2023 theme.