“Dad – we have to find some red envelopes…right now!”
I wasn’t sure why my 6 year old daughter suddenly had this need, but it was a harmless request so I obliged. I found some leftover Valentine’s Day envelopes from the previous year. She scrunched up her nose and said “Ok…I guess these will work.”
I went back to fixing dinner.
“Dad – I need you to give me about $20 in single bills.”
Ok. Now it was time to investigate. As it turns out, she was learning about Chinese New Year at school..something I knew very little about. As she shared the tradition of the red envelopes, I was excited to learn something new…but it also reminded me of the value of Heritage Months. In this case, I was aware that my understanding of AAPI culture and traditions was sorely lacking.
I would imagine the same is true for many workplaces and campuses. But that could be changing.
The 2023 Academy Awards were a milestone for Asian American representation in film. Oscar wins for Actors Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan and Director Daniel Kwan (“Everything Everywhere All At Once”) signaled surging demand for diverse stories that are well told. Hollywood has come a long ways from the problematic depictions of AAPI characters in movies like “Sixteen Candles” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. But as with many other parts of American life, there are still miles to go.
In 2024, even more AAPI creatives were nominated for works as diverse as “Past Lives”, “The Boy and the Heron”, and “Perfect Days”. While not as splashy as the previous year, it still represented a seismic shift in the way these stories are told on screen.
But for all the reasons for celebration, not everyone is ready to embrace a more diverse world. Hate Crimes against Asian communities continue to increase. A community on edge was further terrorized by the events March 16, 2021, one of the most heinous acts of violence against Asian Americans since the end of World War II.
Leaders for social justice have sounded the alarm for years. But advocacy must go beyond merely curtailing violence and eliminating stereotypes on your favorite sitcom. Workplaces, communities, and schools must allow space for AAPI voices. Their stories reflect experiences long absence from popular American narratives. If you are looking to create more inclusive spaces, keynotes and workshops are a great way to start the conversations. We all benefit when our neighbors can show up as there authentic selves each and every day.
The May 2025 Theme of AAPI Heritage Month is “A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience”. We are thrilled to collaborate with some of the sharpest thought leaders and gifted storytellers who offer insight on the unique experience of AAPI Identity in America.
Mia Ives-Rublee is a self-described disabled Asian American progressive policy nerd. A prominent voice in the disability rights movement, Mia also draws on her experiences as transracial adoptee in order to highlight the potential for more intersectional activism, accessibility, and advocacy.
Kristina Wong is a Doris Duke Artist Award winner, a Guggenheim Fellow, and a Pulitzer Prize finalist in Drama. She’s also one of the funniest people on the planet. Her one woman shows have brought laughs as well as awareness. Tackling everything from mental health to income inequality to the global health crisis of 2020, there is no one better equipped at starting hard conversations.
Schuyler Bailar is the first openly transgender NCAA Division I swimmer and a proud Korean American. In addition to championing greater understanding of transgender identities, he is also a gifted host of workshops, trainings, and podcasts that promote diversity and inclusion.
Nicole Ponseca is a Filipino Food leader, a James Beard finalist, and author of “I Am A Filipino: And This Is How We Cook”. Her lively keynotes and cooking demos use the concept of hospitality in order to create greater understanding and awareness of AAPI culture.
Amina AlTai is a holistic leadership and mindset coach who helps executives, entrepreneurs and leaders bring purpose back to their professional life. Her book “The Ambition Trap” will be published in May.
Nitika Chopra is a life coach, wellness entrepreneur, and the pioneering force behind Chronicon, a media and event conglomerate dedicated to empowering individuals living with chronic illnesses.
Maz Jobrani is an Iranian American comedian and actor who rose to prominence as part of the “Axis of Evil” comedy group. He continues to entertain and educated, using humor to raise awareness for the struggles of Middle Easterners in America.
Muniba Mazari is the Iron Lady of Pakistan. She has worked as an activist, anchor, model, and singer. She has served as the National Ambassador for UN Women Pakistan. She has been a disability activist since 2007.
Tara Grammy is an Iranian Canadian actress whose work includes the award winning one woman show Mahmoud.
Susana Barkataki is a yoga advocate, speaker and teacher. She is working to remove stigmas and colonization (as well as misunderstandings) within the yoga community.
Tiffany Yu is a social entrepreneur and podcaster who works to create greater understanding and empathy for diversity and disabled folx in the workforce. She is the founder and CEO of Di, a social enterprise that is rebranding disability through the power of community.
Zahra Noorbakhsh is an Iranian American comedian, writer, and actor. She co-hosted the #GoodMuslimBadMuslim podcast with Tanzila Ahmed. Her sharp wit has been her weapon of choice against misogyny and Islamaphobia.
Geena Rocero is a Filipino American model, author, and transgender advocate. She is the founder of Gender Proud, a production company that tells stories of the transgender community worldwide. In 2023, she released “Horse Barbie: A Memoir” to worldwide acclaim.
Kam Redlawsk is a disabled travel influencer, writer and activist. Her first book, Yumi and Monster, inspired by her rare disease and disability, will be released in the fall of 2025.
As you can see, the breadth of understanding and expertise on AAPI issues is still expanding. If you’d like to start (or continue) the conversation, hiring one of these dynamic thought leaders is the easiest and most cost effective first steps.