As May came to an end so did this year’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (APAHM) festivities. This month was full of amazing celebrations and thoughtful discussions. In DC alone there were many events hosted at federal and local government offices.
The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (Initiative) kicked off APAHM activities at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on May 3rd. Hosted by the DOE Asian American Pacific Islander Network, the theme for this month’s focus was “Unite our Vision by Working Together”.
I delivered the keynote address, noting the President’s Proclamation of May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and the many contributions that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) have made in the arts, sciences, government, military, commerce, and education in the United States. The address highlighted Paul Chu, a scientific hero and pioneer in the field of superconductivity, Founding Director of the Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston, and the ways he helped pave the path for others in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields.