In a movement that began in 1977 by congressional staffers and elected leaders, Asian American Heritage Week marked the first national observance of the rich contributions of Asians in America.
Decades later, Congress would pass in 1992, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month as an official month of observance each year during the month of May.
During this time, May was selected for two important milestones in Asian history: On May 7, 1843 the first Japanese immigrant arrived to the United States and on May 10, 1869 the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad driven by Chinese immigrant labor began.
Today, the Asian American Pacific Islander population rests at 17.3 million across the country. Census data and industry reports continue to support that the Asian American Pacific Islander community is the fastest-growing group in the United States. With rich histories and cultural traditions, please join us in celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month on Sunday, 5/16 during our monthly member meeting.
