![]() Lin, too, cited the increase in pandemic hate crimes – by 339% last year, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism. By 2011, she had started to notice “very little representation from the Asian community in a lot of community events,” she said – so she asked around about why there was a lack of involvement, and formed a community Task Force to promote Chinese Americans and “basically increase our profile in community volunteering,” she said. “I feel like a lot of ….discrimination or implicit stereotypes come from just not knowing what our culture really means.” History now, and has thought about how little Asian American history seems to be included in that curriculum.įor Ou, “AAPI Heritage Month just means I’m showing what our culture looks like,” she said. Grace Ou, a Lexington High School student, began to get involved as a leader on the AAPI Youth Celebration team in collaboration with Chinese American Association of Lexington (CAAL) after witnessing many hate crimes during the pandemic. When youth are involved in organizing events, she finds “adults and generations not only reflect what happened in the past, but look more positively toward the future.” She believes “hearing the personal stories may be the most powerful way to convey the message” of AAPI inclusivity. “Our stories are still being uncovered and our history is still being written,” she added. “We are proud to be American, and we are not going to be…anyone’s model minority and sit with a quiet voice and not highlight our strengths and our concerns.”įor Reiko Miyagawa, who was among the founders of Japanese Support Group of Lexington (JPLex) in 2017, the “many contributions and events of AAPI that changed and formed…American history” are critical to celebrate. “Some people have older histories that have made lasting impacts on this country while others were driven out or…had their identities erased,” she wrote. Roy stressed that the AAPI community is anything but a monolith, and being both seen and remembered is essential for all identities within that complex umbrella. ![]() ![]() “As a member of IAL…I am proud to say that Lexington’s many Indian Americans along with other AAPI contribute to the fabric of Lexington on a daily basis just as regular Lexingtonians who volunteer and take on leadership positions to better life for all Lexingtonians.” “AAPI month is an opportunity to be thoughtful about the important role that AAPI folks and the larger AAPI community have played in building this infrastructure of this country and the role of AAPI today right here in Lexington,” Indian Americans of Lexington (IAL) member Mona Roy wrote in an email to LexObserver. In her 20 years living here, the meaning of AAPI Heritage has changed, she added - “especially after I became a U.S. “As the communities across the country celebrate the achievements and contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans with different activities, such as festivals, seminars, sharings, AAPI Heritage Month makes me feel belonged and a stronger connection with others,” Wang wrote in an email to LexObserver. We heard back from members of four groups Bangladeshi Americans of Lexington (BALex) and Korean American Organization of Lexington (KOLex) could not be reached for comment by press time.Īlongside celebration, a meaning heightened and changed by pandemic anti-Asian attacks for someĪlly Wang has been involved with Chinese Americans of Lexington (CALex) for several years today, her son is a youth volunteer as well. LexObserver reached out to members of six Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) cultural groups in town to hear about how they are celebrating, experiencing and thinking about AAPI heritage – and how Lexington embraces that heritage – within and beyond this month.
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