Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2023

May is Asian American and Pacific American Heritage Month, which celebrates all of the Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the United States who have made the country what it is today. During this month, the country celebrates the achievements and remembers the struggles endured by Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. 

The month of May was chosen for two reasons. First, to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States, a young fisherman named Manjiro, who arrived May 7, 1843. Second, May marks the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of workers on the transcontinental railroad were Chinese immigrants, who laid the tracks and were responsible for most of the dangerous and heavy manual labor tasks.

Asian Pacific Heritage Month Zoom Backgrounds

Please download any of these virtual backgrounds and add them to your Zoom by following these steps:

  1. In the Zoom.us desktop client, go to 'Settings' as noted above and select 'Visual Background'.
  2. Using the (+) icon, upload your new background.

Additional info at the UCSF Multicultural Resource Center webpage.


UCSF EVENTS

APASA Film Screening of “Not Your Model Minority” & Discussion with Filmmaker, Jon Ozaki

Wednesday, May 3, 2023 | 12pm to 1:15pm

Byers Auditorium, Genentech Hall, Mission Bay Campus

Register


United Filipinx Association Mixer 

Thursday, May 4 | 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm 

Location: Parklab Gardens, 1379 4th Street, San Francisco, CA 94158

Join us on May 4th at the Parklab Gardens (next to Stagecoach Greens) for our first in-person UFA mixer to kick off Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.We will provide you with a food/drink ticket which you can use at Spark Social.

More info at the United Filipinx Association


API Heritage Month Trivia at Staff Resource Day

Thursday, May 11 | 11 am - 2 pm, In-Person at Mission Bay on Gene Friend Way,

Join us in-person for an engaging trivia event at the Staff Resource Day, or just stop by to say "HI!" to APASA Steering Committee. We will have prizes so come by for some fun! Hope to see you there!


MedEd Grand Rounds: Medical Education in South East Asia, “Same same, but different“ with Vishna Devi Nadarajah

Monday, May 15 | 3 pm to 4 pm

Models of medical education around the globe have similarities and differences due to shared outcomes and contextualized needs in healthcare. Other factors that contribute to the why and how medical education is delivered include resources, historical context for example colonization, governance structures and political influence. In South East Asia, the medical education models and how they are evolving provides an interesting opportunity for global medical education scholars to learn from and engage with ethically. This presentation will offer an insight into the similarities and differences in South East Asian medical education with the aim of expanding the diverse and valuable narratives in medical education.

REgister


AAPI Mental Health Resilience - In conjunction with Global Accessibility Awareness

Tuesday, May 16, 10:00am - 11:00am, Virtual via Zoom

The Asian Pacific American Systemwide Alliance (APASA) in partnership with the Office of Disability Access and Inclusion (ODAI) and the ODO Anti-Racism Initiative are pleased to present a lunchtime forum on AAPI Mental Health Resilience. UCSF staff members Diane Ngo and Dr. Hoa Su will talk about their mental wellness journeys and the importance of centering access to healthcare and digital equity for the AAPI community. This event will also feature Dr. Thao Tran, Director of the Chinatown North Beach Mental Health Services, and a Psychiatrist in the San Francisco Department of Public Health. 

This event is hosted in conjunction with Global Accessibility Awareness Day and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrating the important contributions, stories, and lived experiences of the AAPI community.

Register 


API Mental Health Workshop: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Wednesday, May 17 | 12 pm - 1 pm 

Join Errol Feria, LMFT and Alexandra Thurston, PsyD for a workshop introducing concepts and skills from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to improve overall well-being and mental health. Through didactic and experiential exercises, you can learn how to act from your values, enhance psychological flexibility, and live more in the present moment

Presented by the United Filipinx Association (UFA) and Asian Pacific American Systemwide Alliance (APASA)

register


Parenting with Cultural Wisdom

Friday, May 19 | 12 pm - 1 pm 

All parents have cultural wisdom that supports their parenting. This wisdom shows up in the values of a family such as hard work, respect, kindness, or service. It shows up in traditions such as cousins as your first best friends, religious rituals, or Sunday suppers.  Many of us also have generational trauma that impedes us from being our best selves. You experience this when your child's tantrum sends you into fight/flight. Or when you are struggling to get your kiddos out the door in the morning, and you scream at them then feel shame.

Join us to learn how to tell the difference between cultural wisdom and generational trauma. You'll learn concrete tools to embrace your traditions, interrupt your triggers, and heal old wounds.

Presenter: Ed Center is the founder of The Village Well, which provides parenting coaching and courses for BIPOC families, focused on attaining more joy, calm, and meaning in family life. 

recording

If you haven’t yet, please fill out the post-workshop survey.


AAPI Leadership Panel

Monday, May 22 | 12 pm - 1 pm

We will have a dynamic conversation on identity, career trajectory, and AAPI workplace issues such as the bamboo ceiling with the following leaders:

  • Maye Chrisman, MBA, Vice Dean, Administration and Finance, School of Medicine
  • Clarice Estrada, MPA, Executive Director, Business Service Center, Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost 
  • Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, Professor & Associate Division Chief, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, SF Zuckerberg General Hospital
  • Tung Nguyen, MD, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism, Office of Research

Moderated by William Ho, UCSF Medical & Graduate Student, School of Medicine & Graduate Division (Chemistry and Chemical Biology), Medical Scientist Training Program, Co-Chair, UCSF AAPI Coalition.

recording


Status of Asians and Pacific Islanders at UCSF

Wednesday, May 24 | 12-1 PM

Join us as we present the current status of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians & Pacific Islanders within our UCSF community, including our AANHPI workforce demographics and Patient Experience by race/ethnicity and language.

Special Guests:

  • Jeffrey Chiu, VP/Assistant Vice Chancellor of Talent Management and Operations – Human Resources
  • Won Ha, Vice Chancellor Communications
  • Hanmin Lee, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals
  • Lourdes Moldre, RN, MSN, ACNP, Patient Care Director, Office of the Chief Nursing Officer; President, Filipino Nurses Association
  • Alyes Wong, CoreCHI,  Business Manager, Interpreting and Translation Services

1 free CME credit will be awarded by joining this Zoom event

RECORDING


 Warrior’s Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Employee Resource Group’s (ERG) Potluck Mixer

Thursday, May 25, 2023 | 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Chase Center 

Various UCSF AAPI (APASA, UFA, AAPI Coalition) groups were invited to the Warrior's AAPI Employee Resource Group's Potluck Mixer to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month. This social celebrated Asian cultures through food while bringing our ERG’s together and foster future collaboration to help our communities. In additon to the social hour, AAPI DUBS provided a behind the scenes tour of Chase Center starting at 6:30 PM.  

See the VIDEO on Instagram


Lion Dancers at BCH! 

Friday, May 26, 2023

Lion Dancers from LionDanceME in San Francisco will visit both BCH Oakland and BCH Mission Bay on Friday, May 26, in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month. The performance will include 2 Lions, ground routine, event blessing, releasing of scrolls, & photo-ops.

  • 11:15 am, performance at BCH Mission Bay auditorium
  • 12:45 pm, performance at BCH Oakland Redwood Cafe 

See the VIDEO on Instagram



In ConversAsian: A Community Space for AAPI Students

May 31, noon-1p.m., Identity & Celebrating Our Heritage
Register: tiny.ucsf.edu/conversAsian1

June 7, noon-1 p.m., Intergenerational Trauma & Healing
Register: tiny.ucsf.edu/conversAsian2

June 21, noon-1 p.m., Coping with AAPI Hate & Cultivating Collective Joy
Register: tiny.ucsf.edu/conversAsian3

Join Mental Health Provider, Alexandra Thurston, PsyD, and Health Education and Promotion Coordinator, Rumpa Yeasin, for a drop-in supportive space for students who identify as part of the Asian/Asian American Pacific Islander communities, including individuals with multi-racial/ethnic identities. Participants are invited to connect, engage, and build solidarity as we explore shared topics and experiences ranging from family dynamics, impostor phenomenon, shared joy, and allyship in this community-centered space.

Learn more & Register


 

Asian American Pacific Islander Celebration @UCSF Cafes

Wednesday, May 17th, 24th, and 31st, 11:00am - 2:00pm
Come celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander with Nutrition and Food Services at Shorenstein Family CafeMoffitt Cafe, and Mount Zion Cafe


Notes of Solidarity & API Heritage Month Library Display

May 3 - 31

The UCSF Library will display AAPI books films, articles. Stay tune for more information coming soon!

 

ASIANS & PACIFIC ISLANDERS in UCSF

UCSF AAPI Coalition Joint Statement

A Joint Statement to address justice and inclusion for AAPI at UCSF was developed by a new coalition of the various UCSF Asian groups, students, staff, and faculty against anti-Asian hate and exclusionary practices. The Joint Statement outlined 6 recommendations and a proposed action plan intended to make a positive impact on the learning, clinical, research and working environment for AAPI, and to further advance the DEI initiatives at UCSF. The joint statement was endorsed by over 20 campus departments/groups and more than 2000 UCSF community members including our students/learners, staff, faculty, and researchers. The Joint Statement was presented to UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood and his leadership team on June 24, 2021, to discuss a plan to address the 6 recommendations. 

This is a historical moment for all AAPI at UCSF. The COVID-driven verbal and physical assaults since March 2020 have angered and terrorized many in the AAPI community at UCSF beyond their tolerance limits, giving a burst of strength and courage to unify us as a strong coalition that crosses all socioeconomic, educational and status divides. It is the goal of the UCSF AAPI Coalition to collaborate with our communities and allies to use the Statement and the Appendix to strategically address some long-time deficiencies and issues affecting our AAPI community. We are only at a starting point, and more action items can be developed later.

Read the full AAPI Coalition Statement here.


 

Asian Pacific American Systemwide Alliance (APASA)

To promote professional and social relations within UCSF, as well as the rich and diverse cultural heritage of all Asian communities. APASA works with other minority organizations to address issues of equality, fair labor practices and diversity at UCSF.


The UCSF Asian Heart and Vascular Center is a cardiovascular care hub for the Asian community, the fastest-growing population in San Francisco. 

We respect the cultural differences that exist in the Asian community. Patients receive language-appropriate information and educational materials about heart disease and how to prevent it. The center also participates in research to better understand the metabolic and genetic differences of the Asian community.


  • Association of Chinese Students & Scholars (learners) 
  • Asian Faculty Group (faculty) 
  • Asian Health Caucus (learners)

 

Asian Health Institute

As the large population of Asians continues to take a prominent presence within the San Francisco and Bay Areas, the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) has established the Asian Health Institute as one of the newest departments to build the important bridge with the Asian community to achieve health parities and improve medical access.



  • Asian Faculty Group (faculty) 
  • Asian Health Caucus (learners)

 

 

AAPI DISPARITIES 



Fill the Data Gap on Asian Americans: Pew Research Center's Being Asian in America Project

Dr. Neil G. Ruiz, a political economist and associate director of race and ethnicity research at the Pew Research Center, presented a special webinar focused on the Pew Research Center’s Being Asian in America project which is the largest focus group study Pew Research Center has ever conducted – 66 focus groups (conducted in 18 languages) with 264 total participants – to hear Asian Americans talk about their lived experiences in America. Presentation was conducted on Tuesday, September 13, 2022.

Co-sponsored by AAPI Coalition and Asian American Research Center on Health (ARCH)

              VIDEO        

Attitudes towards Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders - STAATUS Index 2023

The Social Tracking of Asian Americans in the U.S. (STAATUS Index) is a leading, annual survey of attitudes towards and stereotypes of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).

Some Key Findings: 

  • Asian Americans were among the least likely racial groups to feel that they belonged and were accepted in the United States.
  • More than half of Asian Americans feel unsafe in at leat one type of public space.
  • Many Americans are unable to name a famous Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander
  • Respondents felt that more interaction with and more education about AAPIs would go a long way towards supporting the community.

Full Report