BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Resolution Recognizing May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution RECOGNIZING MAY AS ASIAN-PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
Body
SUMMARY:
Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month is a month to celebrate and pay tribute to the contributions that generations of Asian and Pacific Americans have made to American history, society and culture.
Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month was established in 1977 as a congressional bill initiated by Representatives Norman Mineta of California and Frank Horton of New York, and Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga of Hawaii. Initially the resolution was to declare the first ten days of May as Asian-Pacific Heritage Week. In 1978 President Carter made it an annual event. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush extended the recognition and proclaimed the entire month of May to be Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, and in 1992, the official designation was signed into law. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States on May 7, 1843 and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, which was primarily built by Chinese immigrants.
As a response to the surge of racism and violence against the Asian-American community over this past year, on March 26, 2021 the Valley Water Board of Directors passed a resolution Addressing Violence and Racism Against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community. The resolution condemns all forms of anti-Asian sentiment, discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance, and declares solidarity with the AAPI community and its allies in calling for an end to violence and racism against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
In recognizing Asian-Pacific Heritage Month, Valley Water can further promote the Board’s Governance Policies committed to creating an inclusive work environment, which reflects and supports the diversity of our community and enriches our perspectives.
Due to COVID-19 and restrictions on mass gatherings, the Asian Pacific Resource Group will commemorate Asian-Pacific Heritage Month during the virtual all-employee Town Hall meeting on May 13, 2021.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with this item.
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA because it does not have the potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Tina Yoke, 408-630-2385