This year’s APA Heritage Month has been unlike any other — as our world has been changed by COVID-19, our APA communities have been hit hard in unique and painful ways.
To build a space to talk about difficult topics, share perspectives, and plan for the future, over 100 organizations and leaders have come together across the country every Friday this month for a series of virtual national town halls called “Rise: Asian Pacific America.”
It’s been a thought-provoking, inspiring, and fun weekly journey, and I thank so many of you for joining. As APA Heritage Month comes to a close, I hope you’ll join us for our final town hall, focused on looking forward and building a stronger future for the APA community.
Too many fellow Americans, including the President of the United States with his references to the “Chinese” virus, have endangered the lives and livelihoods of thousands of our APA community members during this time of COVID-19 — and we will live with the impact of their bigotry for a long time. That’s why it’s critical we come together to chart a path forward for ourselves.
This month’s town halls have reminded me of the resilience of our diverse communities, and made me hopeful that we can not only weather the storm of COVID-19, but stand stronger and more unified than ever.
I’m so grateful to Boston City Councillor Michelle Wu, Minnesota State Representative Fue Lee, New York State Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou, Washington State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos, and many others for embarking on this project with me — and to you, for participating.
As always, we’re stronger together. Rise up!
In solidarity,
David