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Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May 09, 2022

From more than 50 countries, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have had a rich impact on the United States, bringing a wealth of literature, art, music, games and cuisine that has forever altered American culture.

In May, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month as a time to recognize the many contributions of Asian and Pacific Islanders. This comes at a particularly challenging time, with Asian American communities targeted by violence related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is not only a month for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to celebrate and educate but also a time for all Americans to actively participate and take action to educate themselves,” said Kwisha Patel, Quality Program Manager, Hartford Healthcare Quality and Safety, and a member of the HHC Asian American and Pacific Islander Colleague Resource Group (CRG). “Allies are important in any cause and can help to amplify the voices of the Asian American community when they need it the most.”

At Hartford HealthCare, members of the AAPI CRG have worked with John Price of Food & Nutrition to create a delicious menu reflecting the various cultures. Every Thursday in May and the first Thursday in June, all seven hospital-based cafeterias will offer traditional fare. The schedule includes:

• May 5 – Vietnam. Bahn Mi, sponge cake and Vietnamese ice coffee.
• May 12 – Thailand. Thai red curry with jasmine rice, mango salad and Thai tea.
• May 19 – China. Chicken lettuce wraps, avocado cucumber salad, bubble tea.
• May 26 – Korea/India. Bibimbap, chicken tikka masala and garlic naan.
• June 2 – Philippines. Filipino chicken adobo, Sinangag (Filipino garlic fried rice).

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders represent more than 50 countries – including China, Japan, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, the Philippines and Tahiti – and speak more than 100 languages and dialects. Although islands like Hawaii, Guam and Samoa became United States and territories, their inhabitants are still considered Pacific Islanders by heritage.

Some of America’s greatest scientific, technological and economic achievements can be attributed to Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. To recognize one – the laying of nearly 2,000 miles of track for the transcontinental railroad, which opened on May 10, 1869 – President Jimmy Carter, in 1979, declared the first week of May Asian-Pacific American Heritage Week. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush extended the holiday to the entire month.