We at Team AgLearn take this time each May to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and reconfirm the importance of ensuring equity and opportunity for the Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AA and NHPIs) throughout the United States.

Here at USDA, we have nearly 3,700 employees who identify as AA and NHPIs. Susan Nishi Stevens, Administrative Specialist at the Farm Service Agency, shared her family’s story External Link with us last year. Susan is just one of many USDA employees whose family’s resilience and perseverance as Japanese immigrants overcame inherent bias and whose work makes USDA a stronger organization.

This year’s AANHPI Heritage Month national theme, “Building Legacy Together: Our Communities’ Journey of Strength and Resilience” pays tribute to generations of AA and NHPIs who paved the way for greater opportunity for their communities and strengthened the fabric of our nation.

Presidential Statements and Actions Honoring Asian Americans and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders Heritage Month

• Executive Order on Advancing Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders External Link
  
  
• FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Advances Equity and Opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities Across the Country External Link
  
  
• President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders External Link
  
  
• Presidential Proclamation in Honor of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month External Link

Upcoming Events

On May 19, 2022, at 1:00-2:00 p.m. EDT, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights is collaborating with Asian Pacific American Network in Agriculture (APANA) External Link to host a virtual event— Connecting and Healing: Asian Pacific American Cuisine – More Than Just Comfort Food Webinar External Link. Please register ahead of time.

AgLearn Resources

LinkedIn Learning: 

• Course, "Understanding and Supporting Asian Employees" External Link
• Course, Becoming An Ally to All External Link
• Course, Building Inclusive Work Communities External Link

Percipio:

• Book, How Asian Women Lead: Lessons for Global Corporations External Link
  
• Channel, Resilience & Perseverance External Link
• Aspire Journeys, Building Resilience in Your Personal and Professional Life External Link
  

For additional observances and resources, see OASCR External Link along with the following:

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month website External Link - This Web portal is a collaborative project. It presents only a sample of the digital and physical holdings related to Asian/Pacific heritage available from the Library of Congress and other participating agencies.
• History of Asian Americans and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander month from the NRCS External Link - Resources and information provided by NRCS.
• Bystander Intervention Training External Link – Resource explaining the 5 Ds of bystander intervention, empowering action instead of apathy.
• Bystander Intervention Webinar External Link – May 9. Focus: to stop anti-Asian/American and xenophobic harassment.
• Cherry Blossoms Trees Linked to USDA History External Link – A feature article about how the cherry blossom trees around the Tidal Basin are actually from the second shipment of trees – the first batch was burned on the National Mall because USDA inspectors found invasive pests.
• The Washington Post: Comfort and Connection External Link – An article detailing the role of Asian Pacific American food in chefs’ lives.
• Chinese chefs in the Mississippi Delta External Link – Get a taste of Southern Chinese food and learn about the unique history of the Delta Chinese
• Off the Menu External Link: A PBS feature about Asian Pacific American food with various chefs that shows how the communities adapted to the U.S.
  

Finally, engage with this month’s theme, “Building Legacy Together: Our Communities’ Journey of Strength and Resilience,” through the sites below with the hashtags #AANHPILegacy and #AANHPIHM.

• Find additional resources and information on the White House Initiative on AANHPI Website External Link
• Engage with the White House Initiative on AANHPI on Twitter External Link
• Engage with the White House Initiative on AANHPI on Facebook External Link
• Subscribe to the White House Initiative on AANHPI Newsletter External Link