The month of May is both Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, a time to reflect upon and celebrate the remarkable role of the AANHPI community in our nation’s history.

Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and Easter Island). AANHPI recognition in the United States first started in the 1970s with a week of celebrations which eventually extended to a month in 1992 when Congress passed a law that designated the entire month of May for this commemoration. This annual celebration recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. Our understanding of America and America’s standing in the world is richer, more compelling, and more powerful when it includes the Asian Pacific American story.

AANHPI communities represent a multitude of ethnicities, languages, and experiences that enrich America and strengthen our Union. During this month and throughout the year, our Employee Resource Group: Asian Pacific Americans at FERC celebrate the heritage and culture of the AANHPI community through events and continue to bring awareness to issues and challenges unique to their community.

To learn more about the AANHPI community, please visit the AANHPI resources below.  

 

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This page was last updated on May 01, 2023