Best Practices

DBP Members Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2023

May 2023
Topics Asian American and Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Holidays & Heritage Months

Encompassing the diverse histories of people from the Asian continent, Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, AANHPI Heritage Month is a time to celebrate and honor AANHPI contributions to American society. Starting as a 10-day heritage week in 1977 and moving to a month-long celebration in 1990, the month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese citizens to the United States on May 7, 1843. It was also chosen to honor the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The theme for this year’s heritage month is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.” Hosted by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council, this theme is a continuation of last year’s “Advancing Leaders” topic and places the onus on organizations to build opportunities so they can be accessed, achieved, and given to those who demonstrate innovative and critical thinking, strategic leadership, and the ability to create great teams.

Additionally, there are many virtual offerings this year to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month. People can explore the following resources:

Charitable donations to organizations promoting and advancing AAPI people is another option to show support. Some organizations include:

May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness and educate the public about mental illnesses and reduce the stigma that surrounds mental illnesses. It has been observed in the United States since 1949. There are various themes for this month based on the supporting organization. Mental Health America (MHA) is amplifying the message “Look Around, Look Within” to bring awareness to safe and stable housing, healthy home environments, safety in neighborhoods and towns, and the impact being outside and nature can have on people.

The importance of addressing mental health at this time cannot be underscored. At Seramount, we’ve added several questions on mental health to our 2022 Inclusion Index since it’s such an important topic because of its intersections with current events. Questions include whether senior leadership is actively engaged in supporting employee mental health, whether companies offer specific programs to address racial trauma, and whether organizations provide education or training to all employees on mental health issues assess inclusive and supportive workplaces.

Below, see what some DBP members are doing to celebrate and honor Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month in 2023:

Capgemini

At Capgemini, the AsiaPacT employee resource group (ERG) hosts a variety of events, engagements, and initiatives for AANHPI Heritage Month. Each event is aligned to our mission of empowering Asians and allies through talent, tech, and togetherness to break barriers and be a catalyst for change. The goal of this year’s AANHPI Heritage Month is to highlight our backgrounds and culture to celebrate our differences and commonalities. It is a call to action for all participants to share their stories and commit to enhancing our lives through awareness, education, and relationships with the diverse representation at Capgemini. To achieve these goals, events include these:

The company will also have social media campaigns using the #APAHM2023 #APAHM23 #InspirASIAN hashtags on LinkedIn. Those interested can also find examples of the company’s Campaign Train with leadership here, here, here, and here.

Constellation Brands

Constellation Brands celebrates May as Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month in the United States, an opportunity to celebrate the rich history and culture of Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Desis/South Asians. During the month, the company recognizes the long history of APIDA communities and their many strengths, contributions, and traditions. The ASIAA business resource group (BRG) is focused on providing Constellation employees with the opportunity for increased exposure and proximity to the lives and experiences of their Asian colleagues and consumers. Greater understanding of the experiences of these groups will position employees to better meet the current and future needs of consumers and foster an inclusive culture at Constellation Brands.

ASIAA will host an event open to all Constellation Brands employees with a keynote address focusing on “Demystifying the Model Minority Myth” and how the stereotype can impact business and communities. Following the keynote, leaders from different parts of the business will participate in a candid panel discussion about their experiences, how they have navigated the model minority myth, and what actions they take to develop a best-in-class, diverse, and equitable workforce. Additionally, in collaboration with Stellar Pride (Constellation’s LGBTQ+ BRG), ASIAA is hosting an event for members of both BRGs to connect employees to Asian and LGBTQ+ culture through the shared experience of film. This year the teams have chosen the film Badhaai Do, which is directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni and available on Netflix. As the company moves from APIDA Heritage Month (May) into Pride Month (June), robust discussions will be hosted in breakout rooms with the members of these two BRGs.

Follow along on Constellation Brand’s LinkedIn for more information.

Freddie Mac

Throughout Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Freddie Mac’ers will create new opportunities to connect and better understand the experiences, challenges, and contributions of the Asian community. Freddie Mac’s InspirASIAN business resource group (BRG) will host Dr. Niel Ruiz, Pew Research Center’s Head of New Research Initiatives, for a conversation on “What It Means to Be Asian in America” and discuss different housing opportunities. With “Dance Your Way Through Fitness,” employees can show off their dancing skills at the intersection of Salsa and Bollywood. The BRG will also conduct several activities in support of our community outreach. Freddie Mac’s AAPI month activities build upon our everyday efforts to ensure Freddie Mac reflects the diverse people the company serves.

Fresenius Kabi

Fresenius Kabi will be honoring Mental Health Awareness Month by offering resources from ComPsych, a provider of employee assistance programs (EAP). The company will also be offering two mental health awareness webinars and other resources on mental health to promote its employee assistance program.

Gallagher

Gallagher’s CHRO sent out a message on the importance of taking care of mental well-being and announced a paid mental health day off for all global colleagues, to be taken on a day of their choosing before the end of August. The company published this message as an article on its intranet site and included more resources for colleagues to browse, including information about how to request the Mental Health Day off, a recording of a mental health awareness coffee chat, and an announcement that the organization earned the Platinum Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health Certification from Mental Health America. Gallagher also created a one-page informational document about the certification should their colleagues need to speak about it to their clients. Several divisions will host their own events and initiatives around mental health awareness, such as meditation sessions, training mental health first aiders, webinars, and coffee chats.

Gallagher promoted both internally and externally the following events:

Ionis Pharmaceuticals

Ionis Pharmaceuticals is celebrating Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month to include South Asia as well. The company is hosting an on-site art exhibit where employees can share their own art, which they have created or they own, that represents their country of origin. This includes paintings, statues, textiles, clothing, and more. The company will also have a live demonstration of Chinese brush painting and calligraphy during the exhibit.

To follow Ionis Pharmaceuticals and its events for APIDA Heritage Month, see the company’s LinkedIn and Twitter posts that will highlight the art exhibit event.

For Mental Health Awareness Month, Ionis Pharmaceuticals’ Mental Health and Wellness employee resource group (ERG) will take the lead on highlighting the mental health resources available to employees through the health plan, the EAP, and the community, including Mental Health First Aid training being offered to all employees.

KPMG LLP

Throughout the month of May, KPMG will celebrate Asian Pacific Islander (API) Heritage Month by amplifying the voices of those within the Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian communities and recognizing the significant contributions of their API colleagues both inside and outside the firm. Events hosted by the company include:

For Mental Health Awareness Month, KPMG is hosting a variety of events designed to help break the stigmas around mental health and raise awareness within the company’s teams. Initiatives that drive this campaign include:

Merck & Co.

The Asia Pacific Association (APA) employee business resource group (EBRG) will be hosting a variety of events throughout the month globally to celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month. The theme for this year is “Amplifying & Celebrating Asian Voices.” Some of the key programs this month include:

For Mental Health Awareness Month, the company’s capAbility Network has prepared a variety of events for Merck and MSD employees in honor of mental health awareness month, including:

Furthermore, Merck hopes to utilize external partnerships with Disability:IN and Best Buddies and is looking at other partnership opportunities to support the mental well-being priority for the capAbility Network as it looks to support the community holistically beyond disabilities. Beyond Mental Health Awareness Month, the company hosts the Authenticity Series, a regularly occurring event #safespace to focus on topics that affect mental well-being, such as discrimination, anxiety, invisible struggles, and caregiving. These sessions are well attended (up to 300 employees for some events) and are formatted as fireside chats featuring employees of all levels within the company. Merck also has quarterly sessions on grief and loneliness to support employees who have lost loved ones, both human and animal companions.

Many members of the capAbility Network actively post on social media, including for Mental Health Month. On Yammer, the Network encourages members to share self-care experiences and mental health victories throughout the month of May with #MHAM2023 to show support, reduce stigma, and help others do the same.

Moody’s Corporation

Moody’s Pan-Asian Impact (PAI) business resource group (BRG) in collaboration with Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) and MuLan Club (New York City-based nonprofit organization that inspires and supports professional Asian women) will host a hybrid panel discussion to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month. Other events for the month include:

In support of Mental Health Awareness Month, several of Moody’s BRGs that are located in EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) are partnering to deliver an event supporting parents in the workplace by offering multilevel solutions for burnout. The event features Dr. Jacqueline Kerr, a renowned behavior scientist and burnout survivor. Other events for the month include:

New York Life

New York Life’s Asian Pacific Circle (APC) employee resource group (ERG) will be hosting a number of events throughout the month of May for members and colleagues to join, in person and/or virtually:

For Mental Health Awareness Month, New York Life’s Black Organization for Leadership and Development (BOLD) and ENABLE, the company’s disability-focused ERG, will present “A Conversation on Mental Health” with Dr. Janet Taylor. Dr. Taylor is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist, self-care coach, and mindfulness expert who has been featured on multiple media outlets and networks, including CNN, GMA, and the Dr. Oz Show. Dr. Taylor leverages her knowledge and insights to continuously speak on mental health and wellness. She is also the author of The Courageous Classroom: Creating a Culture for Students to Learn and Thrive.

Otis Elevators

For AANHPI Heritage Month, the Wave employee resource group for Asian and Pacific Islander employees will host several events, starting with a launch call on May 1. Other events include:

For Mental Health Awareness Month, Otis will be hosting the following events and programs:

Paramount Global

For AANHPI Heritage Month, Paramount will be hosting the following initiatives and events:

TEKsystems

TEKsystems will host the following events for AANHPI Heritage Month:

For Mental Health Awareness Month, the Health & Well-Being employee resource group (ERG) is hosting Gayle Cicero, a mental health provider, to speak with the company. This is an ERG-sponsored event that is open to the entire company to attend. TEKsystems is also running a Corporate Wellness Challenge across the entire company motivating folks to live an active and healthy life style.

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

The Estée Lauder Companies’ (ELC) Asian Affinity Group (AAG) will launch Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, an annual celebration of the historical and cultural contributions and achievements of the AAPI community, on May 1. AAG is excited to celebrate the month in partnership with The Estée Lauder Companies and share in the unique perspectives and experiences that represent the AAPI community. This year’s theme, “Bridging Communities,” aims to celebrate the diversity within the AAPI community, which includes over 50 distinct ethnic groups as well as descendants of 60+ nationalities who speak more than 100 languages. This is an opportunity to bring together ELC’s New York City employees to foster understanding across cultures through shared experiences. During AAPI Heritage Month, AAG will promote renewal through connection and bring people together to share in different aspects of the community through food, culture, and wellness.

The company’s planned programming for AAPI Heritage Month, held through the month of May, includes:

For Mental Health Awareness Month, ELC’s Disability & Mental Health ERG, Kindred, is planning:

Twilio

For ANNHPI Heritage Month, Twilio will host the following events:

For Mental Health Awareness Month, Twilio will host the following:

Unity

For AANHPI Heritage Month, Unity will be hosting networking happy hours, movie nights, and AAPI heritage month trivia. The company will also be running a giving campaign for AANHPI organizations.

UScellular

During AAPI Heritage Month, UScellular celebrates the accomplishments of its Asian American and Pacific Islander associates. The Asian Associate Network hosts a variety of events and provides resources to educate employees on their rich culture and contributions in science and technology. Celebrations for AAPI Heritage Month will align with Mental Health Awareness Month, creating opportunities to learn more about overcoming the stigma of mental health and ways to discuss it. These events include:

Specifically for Mental Health Awareness Month, UScellular reminds associates to take time for themselves and recognize the importance of mental health and its impact on well-being by spotlighting the following activities:

Vizient Inc.

Vizient is launching an Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi America employee resource group (ERG) (APIDA@Vizient) this month. This will be announced with an article and an image on the internal intranet page. The article will include a short video from the APIDA leadership team and an article explaining the background of AANHPI and suggesting ways to get involved (e.g., providing favorite APIDA recipes, encouraging folks to volunteer for local APAHM events in their area, engaging in social media and virtual events, and tracing genealogy).

The new APIDA@Vizient ERG is now featured on the company’s external-facing DEI page. The company will also have a “Celebrating APAHM” ad on the top of the page noting how the organization supports APIDA colleagues and communities and encouraging people to learn more about the company’s ERGs below.

Vizient will promote AANHPI Heritage Month via Vizient social media channels with the graphic seen on the webpage above and with the #AAPIHeritageMonth hashtag. It will additionally be placed in the Social Media Amplification Platform with drafted posts for employees to optionally share (who are a part of that program) and be shared with the Diversity Networking Associations (DNA) leadership team for their membership as well.

For Mental Health Awareness Month, Vizient’s Pharmacy Employee Engagement Committee partnered with the Ability@Vizient ERG to host a group guided meditation session. The purpose of this session is to provide a relaxing and rejuvenating experience for everyone who attends as Vizient believes that it’s important to take a break from daily routine and focus on well-being. Meditation has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression and improve overall mental health and well-being. Additionally, the groups will be providing an FAQ highlighting Vizient benefits, including the EAP program. Finally, the company will be posting a blurb on the internal intranet site to bring awareness to Mental Health Awareness Month.

An additional blurb will be posted on the company’s social media sites to promote awareness of and recognize Mental Health Awareness Month.

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