For Immediate Release: Wednesday, April 26, 2023
From the Offices of Council President Glass and Councilmember Mink
On Tuesday, May 2 at 11:30 a.m., special celebration will highlight AAPI community members making a difference in Montgomery County
Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass, Councilmember Kristin Mink and the full County Council will commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month on Tuesday, May 2 at 11:30 a.m. Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which is recognized nationally throughout the month of May, acknowledges the roles that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have played in our history and celebrates their achievements and contributions.
This year’s theme is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.” The commemoration will include a video documenting Asian American and Pacific Islanders making a difference in our communities through government, the nonprofit sector, medicine, education and entrepreneurship. This year's commemoration will recognize Montgomery County Councilmember Kristin Mink, Dr. Mary Hong Ji and Stacey Xin Ma, acupuncturists at East West Wellness, Kaimana Chee, co-founder of Hālau Nohona Hawaiʻi, Tetsu Ichino, owner of Maruichi Japanese Grocery & Gifts, Neha Singhal, staff development teacher at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and Yonsoo Kang, AP NSL teacher at John F. Kennedy High School.
“This month, we celebrate the wide diversity of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities who have made Montgomery County home. For generations, AAPI residents have shaped our county with rich cultures, languages and traditions and made significant contributions to society that have continued to strengthen our future,” said Council President Glass. “At the same time, it is also an opportunity for us to reflect on the stories of resilience and recommit ourselves to promoting AAPI inclusiveness, celebrating diversity, and rejecting hate in all its forms.”
As the first Asian American Councilmember in the Council’s history, this commemoration is especially meaningful to Councilmember Mink.
“It is an honor to represent the people of District Five as the daughter of a Chinese immigrant and the first member of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community to sit on the Montgomery County Council. AAPIs are one of our county’s largest and fastest-growing groups, representing a rich diversity of cultures, religions, languages, and experiences. The legacies and contributions of AAPIs are essential to both the story and fabric of Montgomery County, from culture and the arts to science and technology, from public service to healthcare, from businesses to nonprofits, and more,” said Councilmember Mink. “This month, we recognize the challenges and celebrate the contributions of AAPIs historically and today as we work to make our county an ever more welcoming place for people from every part of the world.”
The Council commemoration will be streaming live on the Council’s Facebook page, YouTube channel and Council website. Residents also will be able to watch live on television on Comcast/RCN channels 996/1056 Verizon channel 30.
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Release ID: 23-144