County Celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage
Council Members & County Residents Gathered To Celebrate Asian Pacific Americans In Commemoration Of AAPI Heritage Month
Story and Photos By N’tuma Kamara
AAPI Heritage Month concludes with a celebration of solidarity and diversity.
Prince George’s County Council Member Wanika Fisher (District 2) and County Council Chair Jolene Ivey (District 5) hosted the festive event, "In Full Bloom Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage," on May 28 to honor Asian Pacific Americans within Prince George's County.
The celebration occurred at the Hyattsville Branch Library on Adelphi Road, newly opened in 2022. The evening was a time of learning, enjoyment, and cultural appreciation as community members celebrated the vibrant heritage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
A Chinese international student studying political science shared her thoughts on the event. "I have always been curious about Asian representation in American politics, and so to me, coming here is an example of how Asians can become more involved in politics, and seeing all those council members, especially women in politics, is very inspiring."
At the event's start, attendees lined up with vouchers in hand for a Guam-inspired meal from the veteran-owned food truck, Para Hita, while some socialized in the lobby and visited information tables where representatives from different organizations, including the council, provided flyers and giveaways.
Keynote speaker Rita Caras, co-author of "Images of America: Filipinos in Washington, DC" and a founding member of the DMV Chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), richly explained her journey of capturing the lives and preserving the memories of Filipino immigrants residing in DC from the early 1900s with ample pictures showing Filipino history.
After the presentation, Fisher and Ivey recognized prominent Prince George’s County Asian American leaders. Alan Hew, a College Park city council member, was one of the AAPI leaders honored.
When asked about the event, Mr. Hew responded, "I am originally from Hawaii, and I'm one half-Chinese descent. This is a special time for me. I served on the council once ten years ago; in fact. Then, there weren't these celebrations for the AAPI communities. I am so pleased to see this happening here in Prince George's County at the Hyattsville New Library."
Fisher, the first Asian American on Prince George's County Council, shared about the importance of events celebrating Asian Americans. "Being half South Asian and half Black, it's always been an interesting journey for me, my own identity and in politics, and I think you saw tonight, you have [over eight different cultures here] and AAPI [elected leaders] throughout the county. We have a breadth of culture, and I think it's important to continue to highlight that because diversity is our strength."
