Celebrating Asian Pacific Heritage Month in Georgia

Joseph Phillips, HUD and Ron Stephans, FEB Director present State of Georgia Governor's Proclamation to APAC President C.P. Huang.

Korean Drum Performance - Jindo drum dance - Korean traditional dance.

In celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month, Joseph Phillips, HUD SE Region, Senior Communications Office, along with Ron Stephans, Executive Director, Federal Executive Board Region IV and SE Region Network member and Executive Director of the SE Region Network, White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI (https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/aapi)) respectively spoke and presented the State of Georgia Governor's Proclamation officially recognizing May as Asian Pacific Month before 300 Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders during the "Celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month and Scholarship Award Ceremony" - 31st Annual Unity Gala in Duluth, Georgia organized by the Asian Pacific American Council of Georgia, Inc (APAC - www.apacga.org).

"It is an honor on behalf of the White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders to recognize the contributions of the AAPI community and leadership throughout the State of Georgia. The SE Region Network of WHIAAPI continues to work as federal partners committed to helping AAPI community," said Phillips.

"We celebrate the cultural traditions, ancestry, native languages, and unique experiences represented among ethnic groups from Asia and the Pacific found here in the United States," stated Gov. Deal in the proclamation. "We also recognize millions of Asian-Pacific Americans whose hard work and love of family and community have helped sustain us as a nation."

"APAC recognizes the importance of our unique identity with cultural heritage as an American and the importance of our cultural contribution to the diversity and the richness of American Society," said president of APAC, C.P. Huang. "We coordinate, participate, and assist member organization's events, celebration of its heritage dates, and charity works to its own ethnic community and beyond. The annual gala is the only event that involves all groups and presents our best to celebrate unity of all Asian Pacific Americans."

The evening was highlighted by colorful and beautifully attired and choreographed musical and dance groups performing throughout the program too.

In addition to recognizing the contributions of the Asian Pacific community the focus of APAC's is to also recognize academic achievement and provide financial aid through scholarship for college bound students in Asian Pacific communities. During the evening's program nine students were selected from over 15 various organizations for scholarships ranging from $500 - $1000.

The Center for Pan Asian Community Services (CPAC)(https://cpacs.org/) is "the first, largest, and longest standing organization in the Southeast focused on issues concerning Asian Americans" was instrumental among the other 14 partner AAPI organizations in helping to make the event a major success.

Asian American and Native Hawaii and Pacific Islander (NHPI) are the fastest - growing racial group in the South according to the US Census Bureau. Over 350,000 Asian Americans live in Georgia with more than 287,000 of them living in the Atlanta Metro Area. The AAPI economic impact is seen and felt in Atlanta and the state as Asian Americans own nearly 36,000 businesses and NHPI own 648 businesses employing over 58,000 employees and dispensing over $1.5 billion in annual payrolls.

###