In 1977, the first ten days of May were declared Asian-Pacific Heritage Week. In 2009, it grew into Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. We are proud and excited to celebrate the achievements and contributions of AAPI community members to American society as well as to our Clubhouse community. Asian American and Pacific Islander communities have roots in many countries with unique traditions and cultures but are often brought together by shared experiences and histories.
In particular, we are proud to highlight the work of The CYC Clubhouse in San Francisco, USA. CYC (Community Youth Center), a Clubhouse Network partner since 2001, serves over 8,000 youth each year and is one of only a few agencies in San Francisco addressing the needs of a diverse population of low-income, high-need, and at-risk Asian Pacific Islander, Latinx, and African American youth.
CYC recently held its 15th annual API Youth Summit. At this one-day event, youth led engaging discussions about mental and physical health, anti-Asian hate, beauty standards, social media dangers, allyship, and civic engagement. We are so proud of the youth of CYC for their leadership!
As a global network, we also recognize and celebrate the contributions to our community from Clubhouses outside of the United States: The Kaga Clubhouse in Japan, The Good Friend Mission Clubhouse in Taiwan, The Bacoor and General Trias Clubhouses in the Philippines, and The Taita and Naenae Clubhouses in New Zealand, some of which have been a part of our Network for many years. We are a stronger community because of you.
For those of AAPI descent, how will you celebrate your heritage? For those who are not, how will you learn about AAPI heritage today?