WHIAAPI Celebrates Asian Heritage Month
By Anila Ali
The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders WHIAAPI celebrated the Asian Heritage Month with several events to bring communities together. Several Pakistani organizations - American Muslim & Multifaith Women's Empowerment Council (AMWEC), Calpak Education Services, and Council of Pakistan American Affairs (COPAA) - joined the celebrations with the Executive Director of the initiative, Ms Holly Ham at the WHIAAPI Forum2018.
The speakers at the Forum shared data on Asian Americans, such as: Pakistanis are the third highest earners in the United States in a group that is the fastest growing racial/ethnic group but many other groups are underserved such a s the Vietnamese. In a very detailed discussion on issues that affect Asian Americans, such as immigration, education, census; the issue of disaggregation of data, workforce training, business, the leaders discussed issues with the decision makers.
Ms Holly Ham welcomed the community leaders and shared her incredible personal narrative of her boat journey to America in 1980 as a little girl. Pleased to see women in leadership, she assured Anila Ali, Nikki Kardar, and Dr Farhat Zubair that she has an open door policy and this grassroots engagement is open and inclusive to all.
Mr Akil Vohra, who has been with the initiative for over a decade, also met with women leaders from California. In his conversations, he recalled that he was the first speaker for AMWEC’s annual conference 11 years ago in California. Mr Vohra's family is from Cerritos, California.
Secretary Betsy Davos also welcomed the leaders to the forum and the Deputy Secretaries of Education, heard the differing opinions on desegregation of data but a common theme heard was that all the communities care deeply about their students and education.
Many Asian Americans in leadership joined the celebrations throughout the week. Secretary of Transportation, the most high profile Asian American, Secretary Elaine Chao also welcomed many Asian American organizations to celebrate the AAPI heritage at the Department of Transportation.
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