CELEBRATING ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH

The vibrancy of the AAPI community is so tied to San Francisco’s history and culture. As part of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, it’s fitting to kick off our May newsletter by honoring and celebrating the rich and vibrant AAPI community here in the Bay Area and around the world. So many wonderful things comes from this community: cuisine, literature and poetry, art, history and much more. SFWPC wants to share ways to support the AAPI community right now.

Anti-Asian hate crimes have escalated drawing critical attention throughout COVID-19, amplifying the scary reality rooted in our country’s xenophobia. Hundreds of AAPI organizations and ally organizations throughout the Bay Area have rallied together to demand action against violence and raise awareness and support for the AAPI small business community. 

The AAPI community is the second largest ethnic group in the City and County of San Francisco, making up 36.5% of the population. The nearly 300,000 Asian and Pacific Islanders represent many diverse ethnicities with the largest groups being Chinese and Taiwanese, Filipino, Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese. The AAPI population has grown massively since the 1960s, when just 8% of San Francisco residents identified as Asian. 

To combat racism and discrimination, many vital organizations have sprung up as support networks to help the AAPI community. One of the oldest of these organizations is the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) in San Francisco established in 1854 to help the immigrant Chinese community with business and financial affairs, immigration, education, management of the Chinese Hospital and other charitable organizations, and governance of all welfare matters. Today, there are over 200 family associations (based on Chinese surnames) in San Francisco, but the CCBA still has tremendous influence both socially and politically by influencing legislation that impacts the Chinese community. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

As part of AAPI Heritage Month, there are many ways for you to support the AAPI community throughout May and always:

• Learn more about the different AAPI cultures and issues affecting the AAPI community
• Support local Asian-owned businesses and restaurants
• Join, attend events, donate, or volunteer for AAPI organizations
  • The Asian America Foundation (TAAF)
  • Dear Community
  • Cut Fruit Collective
  • Good Good Eatz
  • Chinatown Community Development Center
  • Southeast Asian Development Center (SEAD)
  • Stop AAPI Hate
  • AAPI Women Lead
  • Red Canary Song
  • Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce

There are also many notable organization which seeks to empower Asian women.

• Asian America Foundation (AAF) seeks to empower Asian women to become philanthropic and civic leaders, build connections in education, business, STEM, and the arts, and promote the visibility and development of Asian identity and culture.
  • Every year, Asian America Foundation hosts two flagship events including the Miss Asian Global (MAG) Pageant and Imagine Talks while mentoring young women and supporting community events throughout the year (Miss Asian Global).
  • One of these events was the APA Heritage Awards & Reception on May 4th, where AAF founder Rose Chung and various MAG titleholders joined in the cultural procession displaying colorful traditional cultural attire.
• Dear Community, a female-founded non-profit organization based in San Francisco that helps bring crowds to struggling Asian merchants and restaurants through curated events.