Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month celebrates the incredibly diverse cultures and contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander Americans—a community that spans generations and includes countless languages and dialects, ethnicities, religions, and countries of origin.
This year’s theme, “A Legacy of Leadership & Resilience,” honors the hard work of AANHPI leaders who established a foundation for future generations to thrive and adapt to change and adversity. The 2025 AANHPI Heritage Month poster features bamboo as a symbol of strength, endurance, and resilience for its ability to withstand the harshest conditions. The bamboo also acknowledges the colloquial “bamboo ceiling” and the cultural, organizational, and individual barriers that hinder advancement for AANHPIs in the workplace.
Why do we celebrate AANHPI Heritage in May? In 1992, Congress established May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to coincide with two key milestones: the arrival of the nation’s first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and Chinese workers’ pivotal role in building the transcontinental railroad (completed May 10, 1869). The move expanded what had been Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week since 1978. In 2021, a presidential proclamation broadened it to include Native Hawaiians.
S:US stands with all of our AANHPI staff, partners, people we serve, and our community. We will continue to work hard to ensure all New Yorkers feel safe, protected, and empowered.
If you or someone you know has faced harassment or discrimination, contact the NYC Commission on Human Rights by filling out our online form or by calling 212-416-0197. If you are a victim of or witness a hate crime, call 911. There is language support if you need interpretation services.
