NorCal Sister Cities partners with APA Heritage Foundation to promote Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
The Northern California Chapter of Sister Cities International has joined 175+ other organizations in partnering with the San Francisco APA Heritage Foundation and its 2024 APA Heritage Celebration Committee to promote this year’s 20th Anniversary Celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
The month kicks off with APA Heritage Awards and Reception at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. The APA Heritage Awards is a signature program of San Francisco’s celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Every year the AAPI Heritage Celebration Committee honors civic organizations that have achieved significant milestones in serving the community. Immediately following the Awards ceremony, guests are invited to the 20th Anniversary Gala Reception in City Hall.
Origin of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
In the United States, the month of May each year is celebrated as Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The first celebration began as “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week” on May 4, 1979, when President Jimmy Carter signed Proclamation 4650 to commemorate the contributions and accomplishments of Asian/Pacific Americans. In 1990, Congress expanded the observance from a week to a month. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush passed Public Law 102-540 designating the month of May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.
In 2005, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom embraced the proposal by former OCA National President Claudine Cheng to launch an annual official city of San Francisco celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The Mayor’s APA Heritage Celebration Committee, composed of a diverse group of APA community representatives, was established to coordinate this community celebration. In 2010, the APA Heritage Foundation was incorporated as a nonprofit organization to help secure sponsorships and resources needed to carry on the annual festivities.
On April 29, 2022, President Joe Biden proclaimed May 2022 as ‘Asian American, Native Hawaiian, And Pacific Islander Heritage Month.’
In 2022, San Francisco renamed the celebration to ‘Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month.’
Over the years, this annual community celebration has been made possible through the generous support of businesses and community sponsors as well as professional services.