Happy "APPI" Heritage Month from the White House

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.


An Actual White House Event
If there's anybody you want kicking off a Heritage Month party, it's definitely these two guys.

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Mr. President, You Don't Speak for Asian Americans
"I'm angry at you for taking a month that has been set aside to celebrate the achievements of our Asian American and Pacific Islander forebears, people who gave their toil, their tears, their hopes, dreams and lives to this country, and turning it into a time of outrage, anxiety and despair."

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'I want you to know he died in the hospital alone, isolated and scared'
"Hi. Both my aunt and uncle work for you in Crete, Ne. They both tested positive for COVID and passed it on to my grandmother and grandfather who never left the house. My grandfather lost his battle last night after fighting for his life for a week. I want you to know he died in the hospital alone, isolated and scared..."

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Alison Roman's Comments About Chrissy Teigen and Marie Kondo Lit a Fire
Last week, drama erupted on social media when Alison Roman -- the cookbook author and New York Times food columnist of Instagram fame — criticized Chrissy Teigen, a bestselling cookbook author, and Marie Kondo, who popularized her organizing strategy in books and a television show, for monetizing their lifestyle brands. For some women in the food world, the controversy shed light on problems that had been simmering long before.

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Wong Kar-Wai’s New Film ‘Blossoms’ Set To Shoot in July
Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-Wai's new film Blossoms is set to start shooting in mainland China in July. Wong's first film since 2013's The Grandmaster, and only his eleventh in more than three decades, Blossoms has been described as a a spiritual sequel to his landmark 2000 romance drama In the Mood for Love. Based on Jin Yucheng’s 2013 novel, the film will follow the lives of three Shanghai residents from the end of China's Cultural Revolution in the 1960s through their life in America in the 1990s.

Progress by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders During President Obama's Administration

Guest Post by Doua Thor, White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders



As President Obama's term comes to an end, we celebrate the progress Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) throughout the nation have made during this Administration.

AAPIs are the fastest growing racial group in the nation, and with that tremendous growth is the urgent need to address the pressing, unique needs and uplift the tremendous assets of our community.

Recognizing the challenges and barriers AAPI across the country face, on October 14, 2009, President Obama reauthorized the White House Initiative on AAPIs, which would be housed in the Department of Education and work to help address issues facing AAPIs from all corners of the country, from civil rights to immigration, healthcare to education, and economic development to data disaggregation.

Since then, we've come a long way. And to share this story, we're unveiling a new time capsule documentary to share highlights of our journey.

Announcing Elevate: AAPI Data Challenge

Guest Post by Doua Thor and Karthick Ramakrishnan



Quick... fill in the blank.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are ________.

   a) the fastest-growing racial groups in the United States
   b) incredibly diverse with respect to income and educational attainment
   c) poised to reach $1 trillion in buying power by 2018
   d) the ones most likely to enroll in remedial education
   e) all of the above

The answer is e) all of the above.

There are so many ways we can talk about the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. AAPIs represent the fastest-growing racial group in the country, increasing over four times as rapidly as the total U.S. population and are expected to double to more than 50 million by 2060.

AAPIs are diverse on matters related to life experiences, socioeconomic status, and health outcomes. This includes factors such as holding advanced degrees and living in poverty, as well as factors like immigration and refugee experiences, languages spoken at home, English proficiency, unemployment rates, and a higher incidence to particular diseases such as Hepatitis B. In the past decade, there have been significant improvements in the availability of data on AAPIs, on issues ranging from socioeconomic status to education, health, and civic participation.

Here's the soundtrack for your AAPI Heritage Month

Spotify playlist presented by the White House Initiative on AAPIs and the Smithsonian APA Center.



Looking for some tunes to set off your day? In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month -- it's May, didn't ya know? -- the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center have put together this very cool AAPI Heritage Month 2016 Spotify Playlist.

It's a pretty dope list, running almost two hours with 31 songs from a wide array of artists, including Run River North, TOKiMONSTA, Jai Wolf, Yuna, Red Baraat, Kero One, Sam Tsui and many more.

Meet the White House Champions of Change for Asian American and Pacific Islander Art and Storytelling

The White House will recognize ten AAPI artists and advocates in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month.



On Wednesday, the White House will recognize ten individuals from across the country as "White House Champions of Change for Asian American and Pacific Islander Art and Storytelling."

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. To celebrate, the White House and White House Initiative on AAPIs are honoring artists and advocates who have used unique channels and diverse platforms to tell powerful stories, increase awareness around key AAPI issues, and encourage diversity and inclusion in all sectors of society. These ten individuals were selected for their leadership and tireless work to raise the visibility of diverse AAPI experiences and create dialogue around issues the community faces.

The Champions of Change event will feature remarks by Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady Tina Tchen, National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu, and White House Initiative on AAPIs Executive Director Doua Thor. There will also be panel discussions with the awardees, moderated by myself and Jeanny Kim, Acting Director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.

The event will be live streamed on the White House website at www.whitehouse.gov/live on Wednesday, May 4, at 2:00 PM ET. Follow the conversation at #WHChamps.

The White House Champions of Change for Asian American and Pacific Islander Art and Storytelling are:

#MyAAPIStory: Sharing the Stories of the AAPI Community

The White House is working with StoryCorps to document and share AAPI stories.



As part of its upcoming Heritage Month celebration, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is teaming up with StoryCorps to document and share the stories of the AAPI community.

#MyAAPIStory: Sharing the Diverse Stories of the AAPI Community

You are encouraged to share your story and those of others within the AAPI community. Highlight issues you care about, share about what your identity means to you, or interview others -- friends, family members, community leaders -- that are making a difference for the AAPI community.

You can share a story about any topic you wish, and the recording can be as short or as long as you'd like. Themes could include:

• Being the first in your family to go to college
• Your immigration story
• Defying the model minority myth
• Preserving culture and identity
• Overcoming odds

You can use the StoryCorps app to record your story or interview, and then post it on Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #MyAAPIStory. Select stories may be highlighted throughout the month of May in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

For further information on #MyAAPIStory, visit the White House Blog.

Intern with the White House Initiative on AAPIs

Apply by March 8 for Summer 2016


Hey students! Are you interested in making a difference in the AAPI community? Want to sharpen your research, communications, and event planning skills? The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is accepting applications for the Summer 2016 internship class.

Interns at the Initiative are responsible for assisting staff on a wide range of AAPI issues and priorities, including capacity-building, civil rights, data disaggregation, economic development, education, health, immigration, language access, and workforce diversity.

Nominate a White House Champion of Change for AAPI Art and Storytelling

The White House is honoring artists and advocates as part of AAPI Heritage Month.



Do you know an artist or advocate whose work has highlighted the unique experiences of AAPIs and brought attention to the pressing issues facing our community? Nominate them as a Champion of Change!

This year, as part of AAPI Heritage Month, the White House will honor Champions of Change for AAPI art and storytelling who have raised the visibility of diverse AAPI experiences and created dialogue and awareness around key issues of our community, and encouraging diversity and inclusion in all sectors of society.

Here are Jason Tengco and Doua Thor of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders putting the call out for Champions of Change for AAPI art and storytelling:

Happy Lunar New Year from the White House

Wishing you happiness, prosperity, fortune and good health in the Year of the Monkey.



Happy Lunar New Year! May you and your loved ones eat delicious food and share in happy times.

In case you missed it, President Obama and the First Lady wished everyone happiness, prosperity, fortune and good health as we celebrate the Lunar New Year and welcome the Year of the Monkey.

Here's the President's message:

#AAPIHealth Week of Action, January 18-22

Join the White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders to help our community #GetCovered.



Starting next Tuesday, January 19, join the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and community groups for a week of action to help Asian American and Pacific Islanders across the country get covered through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Get involved in person and online to remind the AAPI community to take control of their #AAPIhealth and #GetCovered! The deadline to get covered is January 31, 2016. Visit HealthCare.gov, call 1-800-318-2596 for help in 150+ languages, and find help in your community through LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov.

Here are some more information on the week's events:

Stand up against bullying at the #ActToChange Live Event

Saturday, November 21 at the Japanese American National Museum



This Saturday, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, in partnership with the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) and the Sikh Coalition, will host a live event as part of the "Act To Change" campaign on bullying prevention. The event will feature distinguished AAPI personalities, performers, and community leaders in an effort to raise awareness about how to take action against bullying.

It's happening Saturday, November 21 at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo. Here are some more details about the event:

6 Years, 6 Lessons (and 1 to Grow On): Opening Federal Government's Doors to the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community

Guest Post by Kiran Ahuja, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (2009-2015)


Photo credit: Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
I'm on vacation! This week, I'm taking a much-needed break to recharge the batteries and get a change of scenery. To keep things going around here, I've enlisted the help of several friends of the blog to submit guest posts on various topics of their choosing. Here's one from Kiran Ahuja, exiting Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), housed within the Department of Education, for the past six years. The Initiative is working to improve the quality of life and opportunities for AAPIs through increased access to, and participation in, federal programs in which they may be underserved. During my time, I learned a lot, so I wanted to take the opportunity to share with you some of my big takeaways – so here are the Top 6 Lessons (and 1 to grow on) learned as Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Join the #ActToChange movement against bullying

White House Initiative on AAPIs launches public awareness campaign to address bullying.



Did you know that October is National Bullying Prevention Month? Today, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, in partnership with the Sikh Coalition and the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment, is launching "Act To Change," a public awareness campaign to address bullying.

Backed by a diverse coalition of supporters, including media platforms (like this website) and national nonprofit organizations, the "Act To Change" campaign aims to empower AAPI youth, educators, and communities with information and tools to address and prevent bullying. It's time to talk about it and take stand. Act to Change.

Here's a video featuring actor Maulik Pancholy, who is a member of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, sharing his own experiences being bullied as a kid, and encouraging folks to join him in the #ActToChange movement against bullying:

Tune In: The White House Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Livestream the Summit on May 12, from 9:00-11:30 am and 3:00-6:00 pm ET



On Tuesday May 12, nearly 2,000 community leaders, federal officials, and members of the public will gather in Washington, DC for the first-ever White House Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

The Summit will be an unprecedented and historic all-day convening of senior federal officials and leaders from across the country. The day will include conversations with federal officials and AAPI leaders, artistic presentations by distinguished AAPI artists, and interactive sessions on diverse issues including economic growth, education, health care, civil rights, and immigration.

If you can't make it to Washington DC, but would still like to sit in on the conversation, you can watch a livestream of the Summit here, May 12, from 9:00-11:30am and 3:00-6:00pm Eastern Standard Time. You can also join the conversation online using #AAPISummit.

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2015

Watch a video message from the White House and read President Obama's proclamation.



It's May. Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Of course, around here, that's pretty much every month. But I appreciate the dedicated thirty-one day gesture, America. Let's celebrate.

In June 1977, Reps. Frank Horton of New York and Norman Y. Mineta of California introduced a House resolution that called upon the president to proclaim the first ten days of May as Asian-Pacific Heritage Week. Twelve years later, the week was extended into a month-long celebration. In 1992, the official designation of May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month was signed into law. And here we are.

Here's a video message from Kiran Ahuja, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Konrad Ng, Director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific Center:

Register for the White House Summit on AAPIs

Tuesday, May 12 at The George Washington University in Washington DC



Got plans for AAPI Heritage Month? The White Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders invites you to Connect, Share and Mobilize at the first-ever White House Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, happening May 12 at The George Washington University in Washington DC.

The Summit will be an all-day convening of senior federal officials and community leaders. The day will include panel discussions, conversations, interactive sessions on a variety of issues, plus performances by distinguished AAPI artists. The event is free and open to public. Registration just went live.

Here are some more details about the Summit:

National AAPI Community Google+ Hangout, February 25

Hosted by the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders



Folks, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders invites you to join them for their second National AAPI Community Google+ Hangout, with speakers Konrad Ng, Kiran Ahuja and Aditi Hardikar. They'll discuss national priorities for the AAPI community and give an overview of the May 2015 White House Summit on AAPIs. It's happening Wednesday, February 25 at 3:00pm ET.

Here are some more details:

AAPI Affordable Care Act Enrollment Week of Action

Get covered through the Health Insurance Marketplace.



This week, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and U.S. Department of Health and Human Service launched the second Asian American and Pacific Islander Affordable Care Act Enrollment Week of Action, which aims to encourage AAPI individuals who have not enrolled for health insurance to learn more, get engaged and enroll in health coverage by February 15.

Throughout the week, Action for Health partners are holding enrollment events for AAPI families to learn about the Affordable Care Act and receive free, in-person assistance to enroll in health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace. This includes a Twitterstorm this Thursday, on National Youth Enrollment Day of Action, with special guest George Takei.

Save the Date: White House Summit on AAPIs

Tuesday, May 12, 2015 in Washington DC



What are you doing on May 12? Save the date. The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders invites you the White House Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Washington DC. The Summit will feature panels, workshops, and armchair dialogues with senior Administration officials, AAPI celebrities, and well-known community leaders, plus performances by distinguished AAPI artists.

The Summit is part of a series of events happening May 11-15 during AAPI Heritage Month in Washington, and provides a unique forum to actively engage with hundreds of AAPI leaders from across the nation. Previous AAPI Heritage Month speakers have included President Obama at the 2013 White House Celebration and Vice President Biden at the 2014 Opening Ceremony.

Programming details are still coming together, but more information on the Summit will be available in the coming months. In the meantime, visit the Summit website or subscribe to the weekly White House AAPI email newsletter. For further questions, email whitehouseaapi@ed.gov.

Attention AAPI Youth: Apply to the E3! Ambassadors Program

White House Initiative on AAPIs invites young leaders to "Educate, Engage, and Empower"


Calling on the next generation of AAPI leaders! The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is looking for youth leaders to take part in the newly launched E3! Ambassadors Program.

E3! stands for "Educate, Engage, and Empower. They're seeking bright and creative AAPI leaders to brainstorm innovative solutions to serve the community in the priority areas: education, mental health, pathways to public service and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Up to 150 applicants will serve for one academic year. Here are some more details: