COVER STORY: A special recap of events and happenings during Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Month

A Recap of an Impactful Asian American and Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month in Colorado

Colorado proudly celebrated Asian American and Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month with programs, fundraisers, and proclamations! May 2021 was an impactful month, in which the local AANHPI community was active and visible!

Under the leadership of Dr. DJ Ida and Dr. Rachele Espiritu, Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock proclaimed May 10, 2021 to be Asian American and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day.

Both proclamations recognized the need to raise awareness about mental health, particularly in Asian communities, to destigmatize seeking help, and to advocate for policies that increase accessibility of mental health services.

The Colorado Health Foundation organized a discussion with Denver AAPI leaders titled: At the Heart of the Matter: The Hate Stops Here: Addressing Anti-Asian Acts on May 20. The discussion centered around complexities within AAPI communities and what can be done to curb the rise of discrimination and support the health and well-being of AAPIs. The webinar opened with a special performance by the Japanese Arts Network’s Founder Courtney Ozaki. Foundation President and CEO, Karen McNeil-Miller then facilitated a discussion with:

• Joie Ha - CORE: Community Organizing for Radical Empathy • DJ Ida, PhD - National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association • Clarence Low - Asian Chamber of Commerce Colorado • Chad Shomura, PhD - CU Denver, Department of Political Science

View the recording at:

coloradohealth.org/heart-matter

Emerging AAPI leaders organized an AAPI Heritage Month celebration/rally on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol on May 22. High school students Aiden Reidy, 18, and Kai Vong, 17, felt a need to focus on anti-Asian hate with their greatest concern being the safety of elders in the community. AAPI community leaders and members shared their own stories or their family’s stories. Some shared their experiences with racism, and their hopes and goals to uplift more voices in the community. Vong is the youngest member of the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission and helped form Colorado Asian Pacific Islander United.

A Proclamation on Asian American and Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander Heritage Month

President Biden recognizes the contributions of AANHPIs while acknowledging the pain and fear in the AANHPI community.

This May, during Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we recognize the history and achievements of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) across our Nation. In the midst of a difficult year

of pain and fear, we reflect on the tradition of leadership, resilience, and courage shown by AANHPI communities, and recommit to the struggle for AANHPI equity.

Asian Americans, and Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders make our Nation more vibrant through diversity of cultures, languages, and religions. There is no single story of the AANHPI experience, but rather a diversity of contributions that enrich America’s culture and society and strengthen the United States’ role as a global leader. The American story as we know it would be impossible without the strength, contributions, and legacies of AANHPIs who have helped build and unite this country in each successive generation. From laying railroad tracks, tilling fields, and starting businesses, to caring for our loved ones and honorably serving our Nation in uniform, AANHPI communities are deeply rooted in the history of the United States.

We also celebrate and honor the invaluable contributions the AANHPI communities have made to our Nation’s culture and the arts, law, science and technology, sports and public service — including the courageous AANHPIs who have served on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic as health care providers, first responders, teachers, and other essential workers.

During this year’s Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month, our Nation celebrates the achieve-

ments of Vice President Harris, the first person of South

Asian descent to hold the Office of the Vice President. Vice President Harris has blazed a trail and set an example for young people across the country to aspire to follow, including members of AANHPI communities and AANHPI women in particular.

In spite of the strength shown and successes achieved, the American dream remains out of reach for far too many AANHPI families. AANHPI communities face systemic barriers to economic justice, health equity, educational attainment, and personal safety. These challenges are compounded by stark gaps in Federal data, which too often fails to reflect the diversity of AANHPI communities and the particular barriers that Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Southeast Asian, and South Asian communities in the United States continue to face.

My Administration also recognizes the heightened fear felt by many Asian American communities in the wake of increasing rates of anti-Asian harassment and violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increasingly observable layers of hate now directed toward women and elders of Asian descent in particular. Our Nation continues to grieve the senseless killings of six women of Asian descent in Atlanta, and the unconscionable acts of violence victimizing our beloved Asian American seniors in cities across the country.

Acts of anti-Asian bias are wrong, they are un-American, and they must stop. My Administration will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with AANHPI communities in condemning, denouncing, and preventing these acts of violence. We will continue to look for opportunities to heal together and fight against the racism and xenophobia that still exists in this country.

Present-day inequities faced by AANHPI communities are rooted in our Nation’s history of exclusion, discrimination, racism, and xenophobia against Asian Americans. Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have endured a long history of injustice — including the Page Act of 1875, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the incarceration of Japanese American citizens during World War II, the murder of Vincent Chin, the mass shooting of Southeast Asian refugee children in 1989, and the targeting of South Asian Americans, especially those who are Muslim, Hindu, or Sikh, after the national tragedy of 9/11. It is long past time for Federal leadership to advance inclusion, belonging, and acceptance for all AANHPI communities. My Administration is committed to a whole-of-government effort to advance equity, root out racial injustices in our Federal institutions, and finally deliver the promise of America for all Americans.

Vice President Harris and I affirm that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders make our Nation stronger. I urge my fellow Americans to join us this month in celebrating AANHPI history, people, and cultures.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2021 as Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I call upon the people of

the United States to learn more about the history of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pa-

cific Islanders, and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.

PRESIDENT JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

What is the COVID–19 Hate Crimes Act?

President Joe Biden signed into law the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act on May 20. The legislation would expand efforts to curtail the dramatic rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, by improving hate crime data collection and better reporting resources.

Illustration by Julia Kestner Designs @juliakestnerdesigns

The COVID–19 Hate Crimes Act, introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (New York) and Sen. Mazie Hirono (Hawaii) instructs the Department of Justice to designate a point person to expedite the review of hate crimes related to COVID-19.

The bill also expands efforts to make the reporting of hate crimes more accessible at the local and state levels, including providing online reporting resources that are available in multiple languages.

Federal grants will be available to help local and state law enforcement agencies set up hotlines for reporting hate crimes and improve their investigation, identification and reporting of bias-driven incidents, which often go underreported.

The bill also pushes judges involved in sentencing for hate crimes to include community service and education about the group that was affected as part of the penalties they assign.

Some activists have opposed the legislation’s reliance on law enforcement and the additional funds that would go to law enforcement agencies. Speaking on the House floor, Meng recalled how over the past year, the Asian American community has faced an “additional pandemic: the virus of hate and bigotry.”

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is Black and Indian, discussed reports of stabbings, shootings and other attacks against Asian American and Pacific Islander individuals and their businesses since the start of the pandemic. Harris said such incidents had increased six-fold during that time. She added that “the work to address injustice, wherever it exists, remains the work ahead.”

Several dozen lawmakers attended the bill signing ceremony, one of the largest groups to visit the Biden White House during the pandemic.

Check out Asian Avenue Magazine’s Special May Edition with a feature of 100 Asians To Know in Denver!

View at: issuu.com/asianavemag/docs/may2021

Colorado Elected Officials Visit Asian Businesses to Show Support During Heritage Month

On May 6, US Senator Michael Bennett and US Senator John Hickenlooper visited the Far East Center in Denver and met with small business owners to talk about the impact of COVID and provide support in regards to the hate and violence that has been directed at Asians this past year. In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, the Senators joined the businesses, the Asian Chamber of Commerce, and Asian Avenue Magazine for a meal provided by Viet’s Restaurant.

They both purchased gifts at Truong An Gifts for Mother’s Day for their wives and ate durian for the first time at Little Saigon Market! Senator Hickenlooper said, “How often do you get a new experience and eat something you never knew existed?”

Photos by: Michael Ye

Both senators shared their proud support of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act which passed the US Senate on a 94-1 vote. The bill designates a specific employee within the U.S. Department of Justice fully dedicated to facilitating expedited reviews of COVID-19 hate crimes and requires federal guidance for state and local law enforcement agencies on expanding culturally competent, linguistically appropriate public education campaigns, data collection and public reporting of hate crimes.

Senator Bennett said, “It tells us a lot that this was a bipartisan bill. We all agree that the violence against Asian Americans is unacceptable and we must do something about it. It’s very important that we act in a timely way.”

Lt. Governor Diane Primavera visited the Far East Center to recognize Asian Heritage Month and talk to the business owners and staff about the impacts of COVID and recovery efforts on May 20. Lt. Governor Primavera said, “I was overwhelmed by the hospitality of the store owners and community here!”

She continued, “I’m also very impressed that these businesses are surviving COVID because of their strong family ties – the family that provides staff and funding support.” Follow her for updates at: fb.com/LtGovofCO.

US Representative Jason Crow met with Asian American leaders and Denver Health staff, while volunteering at a vaccine clinic on May 25. He met with Gary Yamashita, CEO of Sakura Square; Peggy Moore, Special Projects Coordinator for the Asian Chamber of Commerce; and Father Joseph Dang, Vietnamese community navigator for Denver Health. He also toured the Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple and Sakura Square. While visiting with Jolie Noguchi at Pacific Mercantile, he learned that the supermarket is a 75-year-old, family-owned business. Follow him for updates at: fb.com/RepJasonCrow.

Carolyn Nugent Penelope Wong Caroline Glover

Denver Chefs Raise $25,000 to Support the AAPI Community

Launched by Penelope Wong of Yuan Wonton, Caroline Glover of Annette and Carolyn Nugent of Ulster Street Pastry, the Better Together - Colorado for AAPI fundraiser was established to support the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in light of recent attacks targeting AAPIs.

Wong said, “This fundraiser has truly been one of the biggest and best team efforts I’ve seen from our community of chefs, restaurateurs, small businesses and local talents.”

More than 50 local businesses participated in the cause by donating items for prize raffles to help drive the fundraiser.

The fundraiser ran throughout the month of May and hit multiple goals. In less than four days, the initial fundraising goal of $10,000 was reached.

Seven days later, the fundraiser reached their new goal of $20,000. All in all, the fundraiser raised more than $25,000 by the end of May.

Funds raised will be donated to the AAPI Community Fund to help empower, uplift, and protect AAPI communities and those who have been directly impacted by hate crimes, as well as to the new organization, TAAF (The Asian American Foundation) which is focusing on a more direct initiative to advance equity, opportunity, and justice to the AAPI community.

According to Stop AAPI Hate, a national coalition that has been tracking anti-Asian hate during the pandemic, there have been more than 6,000 incident reports to the coalition from March 19, 2020 to March 31, 2021. In March 2021 alone, 2,808 hate incidents were reported which make up 42% of all reports over that period.

For Wong, working on this fundraiser has been a much needed catharsis.

“With the increase in hate crimes, I found myself going out in public with trepidation and anxiety. I was thoroughly concerned for my elderly aunties who are all very active and go out all the time,” she said.

“Being able to help raise awareness is the ultimate goal. And having the ability to use our platforms to help raise awareness has been amazing.”

She continued, “I know there are some businesses out there who have chosen not to express or share viewpoints on societal and humanitarian issues on their business social media pages for fear of backlash from their customer base. But our belief is that it is time the parallels between business and personal intersect once again.”

Connect with the businesses involved with Better Together - Colorado for AAPI fundraiser via Instagram: @yuanwonton, @ulsterstreet_pastry and @annette_scratchtotable.