Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May 1, 2024

Great cuisine, ancient civilizations, major contributions to our economic and cultural life, and a proud part of this nation’s rich diversity — this is what we celebrate in May with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Over 20 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) trace their origins to more than 20 countries in East and Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, or the Indian subcontinent, all with their own unique histories and cultural practices.

This article explores how workplaces can acknowledge the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and celebrate how AAPI cultures have changed this country for the better.

When Is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month?

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is held in May because this month commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States on May 7, 1843. May also marks the anniversary of the transcontinental railroad’s completion on May 10, 1869, where most of the construction workers were Chinese immigrants.

As with commemorative months for African American people, Hispanic people, and women, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month originated with the federal government. In 1977, the government introduced House Joint Resolution 540 to proclaim the first 10 days in May as Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week. Later that year, the government introduced Senate Joint Resolution 72 to bring about a similar result.

While neither resolution passed, they set a motion in process that led to Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week in 1979. Congress eventually passed Public Law 102-45 in 1992, when May was first officially celebrated as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.

The broad term of “Asian/Pacific” covers 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).

What Is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month About?

On April 30, 2015, former President Barack Obama declared: “During Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we honor the perseverance of those who courageously reached for their hopes and dreams in a new land, and we celebrate the important impact the AAPI community has made on our Nation's progress.”

He also pointed out: “Through times of hardship and in the face of enduring prejudice, these women and men have persisted and forged ahead to help strengthen our Union.”

Celebrations of AAPI have taken many forms. In recent years, there have been larger national and regional celebrations and educational events which highlight innovative, community-centered experiences throughout the United States.


Ways to Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at Work

AAPI cultures are very diverse, and so are the ways you can celebrate them in the workplace — from sampling new food to learning from a colleague how race and culture can affect an individual’s experience on the job.

Here are a few ideas to inspire you.

Consult With AAPI Members on Your Own Team

The best place to begin to look for ways to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month is to ask for guidance from AAPI individuals in your workplace. They might want to share favorite dishes from their countries of origin. For example, they might arrange a potluck lunch and assign dishes to volunteers, which could be made with easy-to-find cooking instructions online. This can be a delicious way to appreciate another nation’s food.

If an AAPI individual in your workplace is excited about sharing their history, they might want to give a lesson to their colleagues about different cultural traditions, sacred art techniques, or different styles of dress. Communication style and teamwork techniques often vary between cultures, so it could be interesting to hear how AAPI individuals experience things like educational settings or workplace scenarios in U.S. culture.

Invite Guest Speakers and Performers

Invite speakers, artists, or performers from the AAPI community to your workplace. These could be local historians, cultural educators, musicians, dancers, or storytellers who can provide insight into AAPI histories, arts, and experiences.

Live performances or talks can be an engaging and informative way to understand and appreciate the rich cultural heritage and contemporary contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. This also supports artists and intellectuals from the AAPI community.

Support Local AAPI Restaurants and Businesses

While AAPI Heritage Month may be a time to think globally, there may be ways to act locally. On a communication platform like Slack or Microsoft Teams, you might have everyone share their favorite Asian and South Pacific restaurants in the area. Later, team members can arrange to visit them in groups or individually, posting what dishes they liked and would recommend for others to try.

Perhaps people could recommend local AAPI grocery stores and supply ideas for dishes to make with available produce and goods.

You might also ask employees to recommend any AAPI-owned businesses they use in order to create a directory of services that others can try.

Attend an AAPI Heritage Month Event Together

There might be many different types of AAPI Heritage Month events in your area that you can go to with colleagues to learn about and appreciate the richness of other cultures. Check local listings and online for events and activities in your community.

Contribute to an AAPI Organization

If you want to take your office exploration of AAPI causes a little further, you might hold fundraisers for nonprofit organizations doing charitable work. These could include organizations like:

Make a Lasting Impact in Your Workplace

While it’s good to focus on the cultural riches and challenges of the AAPI community in America one month of the year, the hope is that this practice inspires you to connect with each of your colleagues year-round. Many companies are discovering that diversity is a source of strength, bringing people together and creating empowerment for all.

About the Author

Peter Giffen is a freelance writer and editor who covers technology, travel, health, business, lifestyle, and other subjects for consumer and B2B audiences.

All content provided herein is for educational purposes only. It is provided “as is,” and neither the author nor Office Depot warrants the accuracy of the information provided, nor do they assume any responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.