National Council of Asian Pacific Americans Celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Today marks the beginning of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, celebrated each May to remember our history and recognize the contributions our diverse communities have made to our nation.

This month, NCAPA, our members, and the broader Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in Washington, D.C., will host celebratory events as well as important discussions on issues facing AAPIs. 

“While we celebrate our long history in the United States, we also take this opportunity to reflect on the challenges our communities have faced and are facing, from the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to the incarceration of Japanese Americans in World War II to present-day hate incidents against South Asian Americans and other communities of color,” said NCAPA National Director Christopher Kang. “Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is an opportunity to continue to unify and mobilize our communities as we strive to make our voices louder in the social and racial justice movements.”

Today, on May 1, NCAPA members Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) and National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) will lead an AAPI contingent for the May Day/International Worker’s Day march.

The week of May 15 will feature a variety of programming celebrating APAHM, including the annual Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Gala on May 16.

On Wednesday, May 17, join NCAPA for “Emerging Threats to the AAPI Community: A Civil Rights and Immigration Discussion,” which will feature notable panelists and speakers and cover pressing issues facing our communities. RSVP here.

Just before this discussion, join the Congressional Ceremony hosted by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) at 1:00 p.m.  And at 5:30 p.m.,  join NCAPA, Mnet America, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC and APAICS, in collaboration with CAPAC, for a reception at Capitol Visitor Center Room HVC-201 A/B. RSVP to [email protected].

Download our full community calendar for events in Washington, D.C., on the NCAPA website here. Follow or share how you’re celebrating on social media all month using #APAHM or #APAHM17.

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Based in Washington, D.C., the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans is a coalition of 34 national Asian Pacific American organizations that serves to represent the interests of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and to provide a national voice for our communities’ concerns. Our communities are the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States, currently making up approximately six percent of the population.