Garden State Times

Event celebrates & honors the leadership, contributions, and legacy of the AAPI community in NJ and the US

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) will host his Second Annual Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Celebration on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. at Fort Lee High School to commemorate the cultural, economic, and social contributions of the AAPI community in New Jersey and the nation.

Created last year to celebrate and honor the new Jersey’s diverse AAPI community, the event recognizes the AAPI community’s many contributions to the fabric of America and reaffirms that Asian American history is American history by telling the stories of the AAPI journalists, entrepreneurs, elected leaders, teachers, doctors, and hard-working families all across the Garden State.

    “It’s my honor to host my second Annual Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration at Fort Lee High School,” said Sen. Menendez. “I’ve proudly worked with my colleagues in the U.S. Senate to combat anti-Asian hate, provide support to Asian-owned small businesses as they weathered the pandemic, and stood shoulder to shoulder with the AAPI community as they face challenges in light of rising anti-Asian prejudice, discrimination and violence. As your senior Senator, I have made it my life’s work to protect vulnerable communities and there is more to be done to keep AAPI communities safe, seen, and heard.”

The keynote speaker for this year’s AAPI event will be Arvin Amatorio, Mayor of Bergenfield. Emmy-award winning broadcaster, journalism educator and host of Asian American Life, Ernabel Demillo, will serve as the event’s Master of Ceremonies. The event, which is free and open to the public, will highlight cultural performances from the Philippines, South Korea and South Asia presented by the Filipino School of N.Y. and N.J., K-MZ, a K-pop music group, and Kulture Kool, an Indian performing arts group.

This year’s event will feature awards to Mayor Arvin Amatorio, the Asian American Youth Council, and the Philippine Nurses Association of NJ.

Last year’s honorees included Assemblywoman Ellen Park, who received the Excellence in Public Service Award, Balpreet Grewal-Virk, who received the Community Service Award, Amber Reed of AAPI Montclair, who received the Volunteer Award, and Livingston AAPI Youth Alliance, who received the Youth Award.

Members of the public wishing to attend the event should RSVP at: https://www.menendez.senate.gov/aapi

The event is open to members of the press. If interested in covering the event, please RSVP topress@menendez.senate.gov.

Original source can be found here.