Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum

As the 2024 Summer Olympics get underway in Paris, it should be no surprise that many of our nation’s greatest Olympians served in the military. After all, the training regimen and discipline often required of elite athletes is similar to that needed by those in our Armed Forces. Here are the Olympic athletes currently serving our nation and Team USA during these summer games in France:

Army SPC Kamal Bey – Greco Roman Wrestling
Army SSG Will Hinton – Men’s Olympic Trap
Army SFC John Wayne Joss III – 50M Rifle R6
Army SSG Leonard Korir – Marathon
Army SGT Sagen Maddalena – Women’s 10M Air Rifle and 50M Three-position Rifle
Army SFC Elizabeth Marks – Multiple Events in Paralympic Swimming
Army SGT Ivan Roe – Men’s 10M Air Rifle and 50M Three-position Rifle
Army SSG Kevin Nguyen – R6 Prone Rifle
Army CPT Samantha Sullivan – Women’s Rugby Sevens
Army SSG Rachel Tozier – Women’s Olympic Trap

Good luck to you all!

MINNESOTA WIN: The women's gymnastics team got the gold. St. Paul's Suni Lee scored 14.600 on beam and 14.566 on the bars.

📸 AP.

This week, Friends celebrated the second anniversary of the signing of H.R. 3525, the bill introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (NY) and signed into law, to begin the exploration for a national museum of Asian Pacific American history on the national mall. It is also the anniversary of the first convening of our Task Force of 30+ APA museums and organizations.

Watch this video with messages from Grace Meng, Sec. Elaine Chao, and Jay Xu. Follow us to stay up to date on our progress.

Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum Celebrates June 13th Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum Celebrates June 13th as an important anniversary of progress toward building a national Asian Pacific A...

We’ve teamed up with great partners such as Make Us Visible and Committee of 100 to gather support for the creation of the National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

Over the past two months, we've collected letters from 213 elected officials across 17 states expressing their support for a Smithsonian museum to share and honor the vibrant cultures and histories of our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. These letters will be delivered to Congress.

In 2022, Congress passed a law establishing a commission to create a report on how to make this museum a reality. Once established, this bi-partisan commission will have 18 months to develop and present their report. Congress will then need to authorize the creation and funding of the museum before site selection and construction can begin.

The Museum faces a long road ahead. Fortunately, Friends of NAPAM are a group of citizens who’ve passionately taken on the task of keeping the momentum going on this effort.

You can learn more about the Museum’s progress and how you can get involved at https://friendsofnapam.org.

Friends of the Friends of NAPAM, please forward!

Great event in Houston spreading the words of our efforts toward the National Asian Pacific American Museum! Large turn out and lively engagement. Go Houstonians!

Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum wish you and your family a Happy Lunar New Year! On Saturday, February 10, 2024, many of us will usher in the !

Lunar New Year is the pinnacle of annual celebrations among many Asian Pacific American communities. Each community has its unique traditions in welcoming the new year, including Spring Festival (Chinese), Seollal (Korean), Tết (Vietnamese), Tsagaan Sar (Mongolian) and Losar (Tibetan). But they share the same spirit of bringing families together in joyous acknowledgment of the past year's endeavors while welcoming prosperity and good luck for the year ahead.

This holiday is characterized by grand , dynamic , the mesmerizing , spectacular fireworks. In the spirit of unity and festivity, Asian American communities are hosting a plethora of events, including the Lunar New Year Parade in downtown DC, New Orleans' Tet Fest, and annual celebrations in cities including Seattle, New York City, Las Vegas, and San Francisco. Don't miss out on the chance to be part of these fun celebrations!

The Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum wishes you and your loved ones a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, Tết Trung Thu or Children's Festival, Chuseok, and Tsukimi or "moon viewing" festival. We also take this moment to lift up and wish communities who celebrate in the same spirit but at different times of the year a happy Bon Om Touk, That Luang Festival, Thadingyut Festival, Onam, and Poya.
Though the festival goes by many names and is expressed in richly diverse ways, we are united in celebrating the spirit of this holiday, cherishing it as a time for family and friends to gather, give thanks for the harvest, and celebrate traditions under the full moon.

On the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, Asian communities in the U.S. and around the world, including China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. As one of the most important festivals of the year in these communities – marked by , , , displaying , moon gazing, and specific traditions, the holiday brings families together to celebrate the new autumn harvest and pray for longevity and prosperity.
Communities in the U.S. have for years celebrated this moment with their own unique take on this celebration, and have organized festive events such as the Chuseok Family Festival at the National Museum of Asian Art in DC, Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival at Eastern Market in DC, Mid-Autumn Festival Community Day at the Chinese American Museum in DC, and the annual Mid-Autumn celebrations in Seattle, New York City, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and more.

Join us in recognizing and honoring both the diverse and universal ways this holiday is celebrated!

Meet Ms. Chiling Tong, who was appointed to the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a of Asian Pacific History and Culture by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in May 2023. Ms. Tong is the President and CEO of the National ACE, where she advocates for Asian Pacific American businesses and interests. In 2017, Tong was named of the Year by the U.S. Department of Commerce in recognition of her significant to the development of minority-owned businesses.

Among her many roles, Tong has served as the Chief of Staff and Associate Director at the Minority Business Development Agency as well as a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department of Commerce. Dedicated to promoting civic and the APA communities, Tong founded the International Leadership Foundation to build strong networks of entrepreneurs and community leaders. In 2015, Senate Majority Leader McConnell appointed her to be a Director of the Congressional Awards Board for young leaders. She is a testament to the APA community’s strength, and we her on her appointment!

Congratulations to Assemblyman Vince Fong, Representative Rodney Davis, Ms. Tina Wei Smith, and Ms. Chiling Tong on their recent to the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific History and Culture!

They will join four previously appointed Commissioners – Dr. Jay Xu, Mr. Dennis Cheng, Mr. Kevin Kim, and Ms. Joanne Kwong – in preparing a report to Congress on the creation and maintenance of the first Asian Pacific American (“APA”) museum in the nation’s capital. FRIENDS looks forward to working closely with the Commissioners in and the contributions, histories, and cultures of the more than 23 million Asian Pacific Americans.

The APA stories are American stories, and the APA communities deserve a seat at the American table.

We were to have Former Secretary of Labor and Transportation Elaine Chao speak at the reception marking the one-year of HR3525 and the of the Task Force on Asian Pacific American History and Culture.

She spoke to the reception’s attendees about the experience of being a trailblazer throughout her career, as well as the importance of fostering an of Asian Pacific American history as an part of America’s story. Read more about Secretary Chao’s experience and her support of a national Asian Pacific American museum in her recent Washington Post op-ed, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/30/asian-americans-mall-museum/

We were to have Congresswoman Amata Radewagen join us at the reception commemorating the one-year anniversary of HR3525 and the of the Task Force on Asian Pacific American History and Culture.

Congresswoman Amata cosponsored the landmark bill HR3525, which forms a commission to conduct a study for the creation of an Asian Pacific American museum in the nation’s capital. At the reception, she shared her towards the possibility of seeing Asian Pacific American and shared and celebrated in a future museum.

Thank you to Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Liaison AANHPI, Erika Moritsugu, for joining us at the reception on Capitol Hill the one-year anniversary of HR3525 and the of the Task Force on Asian Pacific American and .

Moritsugu’s speech emphasized the importance of the hardships that Asian Pacific Americans have endured while also celebrating the they have made to the fabric of our nation. We are grateful to have the support of The White House in creating a more representation of our nation’s history.

Thanks to everyone who joined the Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum (“FRIENDS”) in two important milestones! Tuesday, we honored the one-year anniversary of the signing into law of the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Cultural Act (HR3525), which directs Congress to appoint a commission to undertake a study for the of such a museum. This pivotal legislation demonstrates a consensus to commemorate the , , and of the over 23 million Asian Pacific Americans (“APAs”).

We also launched the Task Force on Asian Pacific American History and Culture, an initiative led by the FRIENDS to foster among organizations and experts from various APA subgroups to accurately represent the cultures, histories, contributions, and challenges of the diverse APA community.

We have many to thank for the that has been achieved towards the establishment of the Museum, including Representative Grace Meng, The White House, support from lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). All the support has highlighted a collective commitment to elevate and celebrate the cultures, histories, and contributions of APAs as essential to America’s history.

Welcome to Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Heritage Month was the brainchild of a Congressional staffer Jeanie Jew, who recognized the lack of APA in the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations in the 1970s. Jew’s great-grandfather, M.Y. Lee, came to the United States from China in the 1800s and helped build the transcontinental railroad. Lee was murdered during a period of unrest and anti-Asian sentiment.

Turning a personal tragedy in her family history into a , Jew tirelessly sought greater recognition for the contributions of APAs to the country. In 1992, Congress passed a bill that would permanently designate May of each year as the Heritage Month. The month of May was selected for two reasons: first, to honor the completion of the railroad on May 10, 1869 – the building of which up to 20,000 Chinese workers participated in; secondly, to commentate the first wave of Japanese immigration to the United States on May 7, 1943.

This is the APA story, and the American story!

The story behind Asian Pacific American Heritage, and why it's celebrated in May May marks the beginning of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This year's theme is Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.

Salman Bhojani a Pakistani American lawyer, made by becoming the first and ever elected to the Texas State Legislature!

After immigrating to Texas at age 19, Salman worked 3 minimum-wage jobs to help his family. He eventually earned a degree in Business Administration from The University of Texas at Dallas and a law degree from Southern Methodist University ultimately founding his own firm.

Since then, Salman made inroads as a , serving on the Euless City Council. He will now represent House District 92 as the first Muslim and South Asian ever elected to the Texas State Legislature. He is a testament to the community's resilience and devotion to public service, and we look forward to seeing what he will accomplish in his new position.

Texas Rep. Salman Bhojani announces legislation aimed at protecting religious freedom Bhojani – one of the first Muslim lawmakers sworn into the Texas Legislature – has filed three bills in a package he is calling the "Religious Freedom Agenda."

Kal Penn, an , , academic lecturer, and former Obama staffer, started his career starring in comedy movies and award-winning television shows, such as Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle and the medical drama House, at a time when there was little South Asian American representation in Hollywood.

In 2009, Penn made a life-changing decision to join the Obama Administration as a junior staffer and liaison to communities and young Americans in the Office of Public Engagement. After working in the Obama Administration for two years, he transitioned back into Hollywood. He continues to demonstrate the need for greater representation in both television and politics, and his story completes America’s story.

Kal Penn on Working for Change in Hollywood and Politics The actor, author, public servant and UCLA alumnus shares his multilayered life story with a Luskin Lecture audience.

The history of Japanese trees in DC is ancient. In fact, the cherry blossoms are reported to have originated in China and were bred in Chinese royal gardens for nobility and royalty! Over the years, cherry blossoms made their way to Japan and as a natural integration.

Now, the infamous cherry tree blossoms can be seen along the National Mall’s Tidal Basin scenery, the Congressional cemetery, and throughout the National Capital Region.

The cherry blossoms were first touted as a necessary integration in DC by Ms. Eliza Scidmore – a world traveler and diplomat in 1885. Eventually, various individual efforts to incorporate cherry trees on the National Mall were a success through correspondence between Tokyo’s mayor, Yukio Ozaki, and the First Lady of the United States, Helen Taft, who oversaw the diplomatic gift of 3,020 cherry trees sent to Washington. In return, the US sent a gift of flowering dogwood trees to the people of Japan.

The themselves represent , but the special history they have as a gift from Japan to Washington signifies friendship.

History of the Cherry Trees - Cherry Blossom Festival (U.S. National Park Service) The tradition of celebrating the blooming of cherry trees in Japan is centuries old. The planting of cherry trees in Washington DC originated in 1912 as a gift of friendship to the People of the United States from the People of Japan. In Japan, the flowering cherry tree, or "Sakura," is an important...

is in Washington, DC and the are blooming! Accompanied by Magnolias and Dogwood trees, pink and white petals can be seen sprawled across the National Mall, along the sidewalks, and atop the heads of strangers strolling through parks!

In Japan, Cherry blossoms are referred to as “Sakura” which is derived from the Japanese character “saku” and means “to .” They represent a time of renewal and the optimism of spring. Along with “Sakura” blooms come “Hanami” parties. Picnics at Tidal Basin or gazing at blossoms is common in DC, but in Japan, they are referred to as “Hanami” parties with family and friends coming together with food and drinks to Spring. Additionally, terms to describe the effects of the blossoms, such as “Hanagasumi” or “flower haze” and “Sakura-fubuki” to describe a cherry blossom snowstorm, are commonly used in Japanese culture.

What visitors really think of D.C.’s cherry blossoms Every year thousands of people flock to Washington, D.C.'s cherry blossoms. These visitors told us why they came and how they found the experience.

Mindy Kaling is an Indian-American , comedian, and who has starred in and produced numerous hit television shows such as The Office, The Mindy Project, and more recently: Never Have I Ever – a Netflix series dedicated to comically conveying the struggles of growing up as an teen girl.

In 2013, TIME Magazine even named Mindy as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World! She has humorously brought her characters like Kelly Kapoor from The Office to life and is continuously referenced in American pop culture as a relatable icon. Mindy Kaling is truly a for Indian-American women in the television industry and continues forging paths for more Indian-Americans to thrive in the entertainment industry.

She received a National Medal of Arts in 2021 from Joe Biden for giving voice to a new generation of storytellers. Happy National Women’s history month to Mindy, whose work captures the experiences of women and girls across the country!

Mindy Kaling Takes Kids to White House to Receive National Medal of Arts — See the Sweet Photos! Mindy Kaling is mom to 2-year-old son Spencer Avu and daughter Katherine "Kit" Swati, 5

Sunisa "Suni" Lee is a 20-year-old woman, Team USA Olympic gymnast born in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She participated in the 2018 Tokyo Summer Games and won the gold medal in the women’s all-around gymnastics competition. Lee was the Hmong-American to represent Team USA in the Olympics Games and also the first to win all-around Gold.

Lee’s parents were born in Laos and sought refuge in the U.S. after the Vietnam war. Lee’s as a young, female Hmong-American gymnast are an inspiration to all women.

A very Happy to Suni, Hmong-American women, and women everywhere!

Gymnast Suni Lee Just Won Gold in the Olympic All-Around Here's what to know about the Minnesota teenager standing atop the podium.

Nancy Yao, appointed Director of the American Women’s History Smithsonian Museum, has a background of going the extra mile for her museums – literally.

Yao has participated in the New York City Marathon three different times in an effort to fundraise for the Museum of Chinese in America. Under her incredible , the museum has fundraised over $60 million to secure a permanent venue in New York City, unveiled plans in 2022 for a new facility designed by artist and architect Maya Lin, and has been named one of “America’s Cultural Treasures” by the Ford Foundation.

Yao’s background also entails lecturing at Yale’s School of Drama, serving on the McGraw Hill equity advisory board, and previously working as the executive director of the Yale-China Association. Yao is an to young Asian-American women everywhere.

Happy National Women’s history month to Yao, AAPI women, and women everywhere.

Nancy Yao chosen as founding director of Smithsonian women’s museum The Smithsonian on Monday announced Nancy Yao’s appointment to the American Women’s History Museum’s top job, which she will begin June 5.

As the woman and person of color to be elected Mayor of Boston, Michelle Wu knows what it’s like to break barriers. As the daughter of immigrants, Wu understood from her earliest days what it was like to feel and .

Mayor Wu has been determined to solve the deepest issues facing our country through her . In November 2022, building on her commitment to creating affordable housing in Boston, Mayor Wu announced a $60 million into the development of income-restricted housing for eligible Boston residents and financial assistance programs to help residents in buying homes.

City of Boston Makes Historic Investments in Programs for Low- and Middle-Income Homebuyers Building on her commitment to creating affordable housing in Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu today announced a significant investment in creating homeownership opportunities. The Mayor has directed $60 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to be allocated to the development of income-restrict...

Happy everyone! We hope you are enjoying this festival of and . Let us all welcome Spring with all its beauty and bright colors~

Arriving in America as a from Vietnam, Minh-Thu Pham has worked for nearly two decades to improve international cooperation and alleviate .

She served as the Executive Director for Global Policy at the United Nations (UN) Foundation, where she spearheaded an initiative that encouraged world leaders to create and finance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Connect™ to support a just energy transition.

She is currently working diligently to mobilize voters and continues to be an inspiration.

Her story is the Asian Pacific American Story and it completes America's Story!

BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Minh-Thu Pham, co-founder of New American Voices and senior adviser at Connect-Frontier Happy birthday!

Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) has seen a lot of firsts. She was the first female soldier to lose her legs in the Iraq War, the first woman elected to Congress, and the first U.S. senator to give birth while in Congress.

In addition, she was among the first Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom and served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring from military service in 2014 at the rank of lieutenant colonel. She is also a Purple Heart recipient and served as the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) in the Obama administration.

In her role at the VA, Duckworth coordinated a joint initiative with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to end . She also created the Office of Online Communications to improve the VA’s accessibility and worked to address the unique challenges that Native American and female veterans face.

She is a of Asian Pacific Americans and an to all Americans!

www.govinfo.gov

Star of ABC’s miniseries When We Rise, Cecilia Chung is a recognized for LGBTQ+ health.

As a woman living openly with HIV, Cecilia has harnessed her experiences to support others like her. Building on extensive work service in HIV relief, she was appointed by President Obama to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/Aids.

Cecilia has dedicated her life to the transgender community. She is the Director of the Transgender Law Center and founded the San Francisco Transgender Advocacy and Mentorship Team to provide resources to the transgender community. She was also one of the founders of the annual , San Francisco's largest transgender Pride event.

Cecilia Chung’s has helped make our communities healthier and more equitable.

http://www.ceciliachung.com/bio

About Cecilia Chung — Cecilia Chung Cecilia Chung, a transgender woman living openly with HIV and Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives and Evaluation of Transgender Law Center, is an internationally recognized civil rights leader who advocates for HIV/AIDS awareness and care, LGBT equality, and social justice. Cecilia has been a v...

Doctor Gang Chen was arrested in 2021 for concealing ties to China in securing federal grants. The charges were dismissed, and Dr. Chen subsequently became part of a research effort that discovered what could be the “ semiconductor material ever found.” This consequential discovery could the foundation of modern technology, from smartphones to computer chips.

Dr. Chen has been elected a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences for his contributions. As a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dr. Chen teaches future leaders of the country, propelling America’s .

This is the Asian Pacific American story, and the Asian Pacific American story completes America’s story.

MIT professor wrongfully accused of spying for China helps make a major discovery Gang Chen, who was cleared after a lengthy DOJ investigation, said he is stepping away from federally funded research because of anxieties around being racially profiled.

January 30 is Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution in New Jersey—the sixth state that officially commemorates the birthday of icon Fred Korematsu.

Fred Korematsu’s story is often taught in high school classrooms to illustrate the incarceration history during World War II. Born in Oakland, California, Fred Korematsu, was one of the falsely convicted and incarnated Japanese Americans in the early 1940s, as a result of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s exclusion order in 1942. President Roosevelt’s order marked the beginning of the darkest time for Asian Americans that started years of government-endorsed discrimination against Japanese communities: incarcerate and relocate Asian communities and pushing them into concentration camps.

After the war, Fred Korematsu brought his case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court suing the government for its action. Although Korematsu did not win this case, his conviction was eventually overturned by a federal court. Korematsu v. United States is one of the most constitutional cases in legal history and has become synonymous with anti-Asian hate.

Korematsu’s story is an story. The waves of anti-Asian hate over the past three years and the systematic racism that marginalized groups continue to face in this country are reminders that Korematsu’s story remains alive today.

The Fred T. Korematsu Institute, Fred Korematsu’s daughter, and other Asian American advocates hope that Fred Korematsu Day in New Jersey will shed light on the history of anti-Asian sentiment in America, as well as Asian American .

Reps. Takano, Tokuda, Sens. Hirono, Duckworth Introduce Legislative Package Honoring Korematsu on His Birthday - Rafu Shimpo WASHINGTON – Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside), Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) released the following statement Jan. 30 after introducing a bicameral package of bills honoring civil rights icon Fred Korematsu (1919-2005) on the anniversary...

We are honored to work with Jay Xu (Director and CEO of the Asian Art Museum), one of the commissioners appointed by Nancy Pelosi for the Commission to Report to Congress on the potential creation of the National Asian Pacific American Museum.

In our meetings with Rep. Grace Meng (who authored the Bill to create the Commission) and Erika Moritsugu (Dep Asst to the President, AA&NHPI Sr. Liason), it’s clear that Jay Xu's and on the Commission and its work are profound.

We thank our probono counsel, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, for hosting Jay and providing views and to us in our mission to attain Congressional authorization of and establishment of the National APA Museum