Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland Recognizes Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, a time dedicated to honoring generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders. It is a special time when we can come together to listen to the stories of elders, celebrate the present, and grabbled with lived experiences of hope, triumph, trauma, and resilience.
The history of the Month goes back over 40 years ago when President Carter signed Public Law 95-419, establishing a week in May to celebrate Asian/Pacific Americans (representing all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands in Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia). The week was chosen to commemorate the date of immigration of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10,1869, a monumental project that was largely made possible by Chinese immigrants. In 1990, this week became what is now Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. Visit https://asianpacificheritage.gov for an abundance of virtual resources, articles, and information.
This month we are excited to celebrate the culture, traditions, and history of such a diverse group of people. According to recent Pew Research Study, the Asian and Pacific American population is made up of over 23 million folks from over 20 countries. It is the nation’s fastest-growing racial or ethnic group, nearly doubling in population between 2000-2019. 71% of Asian American adults are immigrants, creating flourishing communities across the US.
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed engrained and systemic racism as Asian people throughout the country were stereotyped and attacked. At Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, we stand up to celebrate Asian joy and stand against any form of discrimination.
We are proud of our Korean Meal Program, a unique home-delivered meal service made possible through a partnership with the Bethany United Methodist Church in Ellicott City. This program provides authentically prepared, Korean home-delivered meals to Korean Americans aging in place in Howard County. To view a video of this program in action click here.