AAPI HERITAGE MONTH

This first week of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a good time to remind ourselves that while Asian Americans are often grouped into a monolithic block, there are a number of different ethnicities that make up the larger community. CNN breaks down the complexity and history of the catch-all term, and it’s an interesting read that gives context to the celebrations this month. Also, if history is the kind of thing you’re into, get excited, because our Tiny History Lessons on Instagram are back—check ‘em out every Wednesday this month! 

On the news front, fast food chain Panda Express announced its new $10M fund to support AAPI community organizations. The company shared that it kicked off the fund with a $1.5 million pledge to AAPI organizations dedicated to offering critical aid, as well as promoting cultural understanding and acceptance. In an Instagram post sharing info about the new five-year initiative, Panda Express detailed that “as a proud American-born company founded by Chinese immigrants, we are celebrating our multicultural heritage all month long.” 

If you’d like to contribute on your own, we’ve got a few ideas. Our friends at CAPE put together this list of community-based orgs in LA specifically that we can all support, but I recommend checking out community organizations in whatever neighborhood you’re a part of, too.  

If you watch one video on TikTok this week, make it this one. Creator @spoiledmel tackles mental health in a way that’s very relatable for anyone who spends time on social media. So, probably all of us. And this video depicts an elite level of life that I am now striving to achieve one day. 

—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist\