Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month – May 2022 ♥
Dear campus community,
May is traditionally the month in the United States when we recognize the contributions of our community members through Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage month. This celebration of the contributions of individuals identifying from these important cultural groups also affords us opportunities to learn and study about new intersections for advocacy and activism to end the worrisome rise of anti-Asian harassment and racism that threatens the safety and thriving for all community members, not just those from the specific racial and ethnic groups being honored this month.
The Federal Asian Pacific American Council, whose representatives set the annual themes for the yearly celebrations, continue last year's focus with the theme of: "Advancing Leaders through Collaboration." This theme recognizes the individuals, teams, and organizations supporting a culture of openness and trust, and promoting diversity and diverse opinions to retain talented leaders and environments of transparency for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
I encourage you to participate in several events below and the ongoing offerings throughout the year to develop a more robust understanding and effective strategies for allyship and recognition of our group members being honored this month.
- May 3 at 12 p.m. - Asian Americans Building Anti-Racism with Dr. Kim Tran - This UCSF-sponsored webinar provides a training opportunity with Kim Tran, an equity strategist with a background in transformational change with the ACLU, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Topics include having meaningful conversations around race and becoming empowered as an ally for Asian Americans. Register.
- May 4 at 4 p.m. - A Black Panther Party 55th Anniversary - Sponsored by the Orange County and Southeast Asian Archive. Visit the in-person exhibit at UCI Gateway Plaza (across from the UCI Langson Library), and the virtual exhibitions and bonus materials online opening May 4. Register for the in-person event.
- May 10 at 4 p.m. - Imagining Environmental Futures: Science Fiction as Practice - Humanities Gateway 1030 - Galaxy Award and Nebula Award recipient Chen Quifan, a.k.a Stanley Chan, presents about using his science fiction to understand humanity. Hosted by the Departments of East Asian Studies and Anthropology, and co-hosted with the Humanities Center, Center for Asian Studies, and UCI Illuminations. Register for online viewing and attend the live event.
- May 12 at 4 p.m. - Join the Building Community to Confront Extremism Talks - in-person at UCI Student Center Pacific Ballroom D. Includes reception and brief TED-style talks from UCI faculty and staff leaders on strategies to address extremist ideologies and promote social justice and care in our communities. RSVP and additional information.
- May 26 at 12 p.m. - Virtual dialogue about the film Who We Are with executive producer Jeffery Robinson, a former national ACLU legal educator. This virtual event is sponsored by the Office of Inclusive Excellence, the Orange County Human Relations Commission and the UCI BioSci Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. View the film Who We Are from May 21-May 27. RSVP for the dialogue and REGISTER NOW FOR FILM LINKS to the film screening. (Flim links will be emailed to those on the interest list closer to the screening date).
- Visit the digital VietStories: Vietnamese American History Project. Launched in 2011, this archival project actively assembles, preserves, and disseminates the life stories of Vietnamese Americans in Southern California. The project contributes to expanding archives on Vietnamese Americans with the primary goal of capturing first generation stories for students, researchers, and the community. Viet Stories is housed in the Department of Asian American Studies in the School of Humanities and collaborates with the UCI Libraries Southeast Asian Archive.
Thank you for your consideration and I encourage your engagement and contributions to make Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month particularly noteworthy.
Douglas M. Haynes, Ph.D. (Pronouns: he/him/his)
Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Chief Diversity Officer
Director, ADVANCE Program
Professor of History