It’s the end of May, and the end of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We want to wrap up the month by celebrating a few of our Hello Neighbor Network partners who stand strong with the AAPI community while also advocating for our newest neighbors from all over the world: 

• Jin-Ya Huang, Founder of Break Bread Break Borders (BBBB)
• James Knyawhoo, Executive Director of Karen Society of Nebraska
• Vickee Moy, Founder and Executive Director of Starting Point

We love having the chance to meet so many amazing individuals and organizations across the U.S. building a more welcoming community in their respective cities! 

Today, we honor these individuals and remind you that just because the month of May is over, we should each never stop honoring and uplifting the AAPI community. On this note, we’ve asked each of these leaders what AAPI Heritage Month means to them, and some things you can do to keep supporting the AAPI community. 

Introduce yourself and your organization

JH: Hi, my name is Jin-Ya (sounds like Virginia, just without the Vir) Huang, I'm the founder of Break Bread, Break Borders. BBBB is a social enterprise building a culinary workforce development training program for refugee women from war-torn countries, to find them job opportunities in the food service industry. Through the storytelling of food and culture, we break bread with the communities and break down borders at the same time. 

JK: My name is James Knyawhtoo, from the Karen Society of Nebraska. [The Karen Society of Nebraska's mission is to help refugees and immigrants from Burma build and sustain a high quality of life and achieve self-sufficiency in Nebraska.]

VM: My name is Vickee Moy, and I am the Founder and Executive Director of Starting Point, an organization I formed after being inspired by my refugee students’ stories and lives. Starting Point supports young newcomers with basic necessities as well as soccer and scholarship programs as they resettle in the Greater Sacramento Area. Since its 2017 launch, the volunteer-run organization has supported 4500+ refugee children.  

What does AAPI month mean to you? 

JH: AAPI Heritage month means I am seen, heard, and belong. 

JK: Members of the AAPI community and friends of the AAPI community come together to celebrate AAPI culture and traditions. 

VM: Asian American and Pacific Islander Month is a time to focus on the presence and impact of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in our nation. It’s truly a celebration of our community’s rich diversity and heritage, a highlight of our important contributions, an opportunity to amplify our voices to raise awareness, and a moment to pause to remember and learn from our history.  

What are some of the best ways folks can show support for the AAPI community, both locally and nationally? 

JH: Take the time to learn AAPI history, education on AAPI heritage, value the AAPI culture, and celebrate it not just the month of May, but each and every day - that's how we can support the AAPI Community TOGETHER.  

JK: You can show support for the AAPI community by posting welcoming messages on social media. You can also have AAPI things in your office, attending and sponsoring AAPI events. A smile, care, and welcome are also important.

VM: I encourage others to be intentional about finding ways to connect with the communities near them because connection is the gateway to understanding, acceptance, celebration, and solidarity. 

Break Bread Break Borders

Karen Society of Nebraska

Starting Point

Local Groups

If you’re reading this as a local to Pittsburgh, here are just a couple local groups we recommend you check out!

OCA Pittsburgh

ocapghpa.org

The Pittsburgh branch of national civil rights advocacy and educational organization dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent.

The JADED Collective

@JADEDPgh

An artist collective celebrating AAPI art & culture in Pittsburgh