Dear CSSW Community,
As May begins, we commemorate Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to recognize and honor the many contributions and achievements of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the U.S. This includes many notable social workers of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage, as highlighted in this 2021 article by Matthea Marquart and Nicole Wong. You can read more about the establishment of this historic month-long celebration in an article posted today by NPR. In addition, we were glad to hear that NPR featured Dr. Qin Gao this morning, speaking about her research on poverty rates among Asian Americans in New York City.
Sadly, 2022 also marks another year in which the AAPI Heritage Month celebration takes place against a backdrop of anti-Asian statements and actions across the globe. This only further emphasizes the importance of this month, compelling us to pause and take a moment to do what we should be doing all year: celebrating and paying tribute to a community that has been so pivotal to progress in this country and beyond.
The Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) has announced this year’s theme for API Heritage Month to be Advancing Leaders through Collaboration, a concept that is at the heart of what we do here at CSSW. For a growing list of resources for API-identified students, it’s easy for anyone with a LionMail account to access a google doc from this website hosted by our DEI Office.
As we get ready for our first in-person graduation in over two years later this month, please join us in taking a moment to pause and reflect on the enormous impact those of Asian and Pacific Islander descent have had within the U.S. and beyond. And let us continue to deepen our commitment to dismantling the systemic inequities that perpetuate anti-Asian hate and violence. We can and must do better.
In community,
Melissa Begg
Dean & Professor
Karma Lowe
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Community Engagement