May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in the United States and Asian Heritage Month in Canada. It is a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions and influence of Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Canadians of Asian heritage to their countries’ history, culture, and achievements.
Celebrations for Asian American Pacific Islander heritage in the month of May began in the late 1970s in the United States, though it wasn’t until 1990 that it became a month-long holiday. May was chosen in honor of the first Japanese immigrant who came to the U.S. in May of 1843, and to honor the work of the many Chinese Americans who worked on the transcontinental railroad, completed in May of 1869.
Many Asian Canadians have also celebrated Asian Heritage Month in May since the 1990s, though it wasn’t officially recognized in Canada until 2002, when the government signed an official declaration to announce the holiday.
At DB SCHENKER, we are extremely proud of our diverse, inclusive team of professionals who help our customers move their freight around the world safely and on time.
Year-round, but with a specific focus this month, we celebrate the stories, successes, and countless contributions of the AAPI community. As part of this effort, in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’re putting a spotlight some of our many amazing Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander team members.
Tommi Vorabouth, Driver Manager, shares that Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a reminder of the perseverance and grit of his grandparents, who were sponsored to come live in America by a church in Canyon, TX during the Vietnam War. For 34 years, though they endured many difficulties, such as the language barrier and adjusting to America, they were able to make an impact in the community by simply living the American Dream with positivity and kindness. Their story was so moving, that the administration of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, where his grandmother worked as a janitor, saw fit to honor them by hanging the family’s picture up on the wall near the entrance.
Besides thinking back on the success story of his grandparents, Vorabouth takes time with his family during AAPI Heritage Month to reconnect with their roots through food. “Food is a very important aspect of our culture, so we spend this month recreating some of our favorite dishes and sharing them with the community,” stated Vorabouth. He says that one dish he thinks everyone should try is Pho, is a Vietnamese/Laotian/Thai soup dish consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and your choice of meat.
Grace Esperon, Customer Service Representative,shares what excites her about Asian Heritage Month and shares thoughts on ways to recognize and celebrate the holiday.
“Asian Heritage Month excites me because it gives opportunities to learn many different and beautiful cultures that are worth learning about,” Esperon says. “It’s a time to reflect and recognize the many contributions that Canadians of Asian heritage have made and continue to make to Canada by attending cultural festivals and activities, enjoying different kind of cuisines, or going to an art gallery or local museum.”
In addition to recognizing and celebrating the holiday, Esperon hopes that non-Asian teammates can become allies by just taking time to learn about the people and the cultures. “Understanding leads to unity,” she states. “Being a Filipino, my heritage allows me to bring in new lines of thought and introduce our ancient practices, food and traditions at the workplace. I feel blessed to be able to share new lines of thought with my colleagues and enjoy the sense of interest with which my opinions are heard and welcomed.”
Victoria Payumo, Ocean Support Specialist, views Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month as a celebration, a chance to get to know about other cultures, values and upbringings, and also a chance to better ourselves, by being open to more life possibilities.
Payumo gets excited about AAPI Heritage Month because it allows people to see the beauty of other cultures, including values, food, and traditions. Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, Payumo’s favorite cultural tradition is all about respect. “We take the hands of our elderly, put them on our forehead, which is a sign of respect to them, and they bless us for doing that,” says Payumo.
Saloni Sharma, Warehouse Associate, says that Asian Heritage Month is significant to her because it allows us to celebrate the rich culture, diversity, and heritage that each unique community contributes. “This month allows us to appreciate our ancestors’ resilience and sacrifices in leaving their homelands to build a better life for themselves and their families. This month also encourages us to support one another, share our stories, and embrace our identities, all while working towards a more inclusive and equitable society,” shared Sharma.
For Sharma, recognizing and celebrating Asian Heritage Month includes participating in cultural festivals and activities to engage with the community.
A native of India, Sharma is also taking the time to share her cultural heritage with friends and family by preparing traditional food and discussing her unique journey. “One dish that I believe everyone should try is chana masala. It provides an unforgettable taste of Indian cuisine that can be appreciated by people of all backgrounds,” she exclaimed.
Prastiti Hadipramono, Team Leader, shares her thoughts on what this month means to her and how she plans on celebrating.
“Asian Heritage Month reminds me of my Javanese culture, which gives me inner strength and makes me happy to think of my young days in my country,” Hadipramono says. “Seeing all Asian Pacific people together to celebrate our heritage, excites me.”
Hadipramono has a unique way of celebrating Asian Heritage Month. She meets with her Indonesian community at the Residence of Indonesian Consulate General in Toronto, where they enjoy different events and foods, like beef rendang and chicken satay, two dishes that she thinks everyone should try.
Kulwant Multani, Team Leader, views Asian Heritage Month as an opportunity for people from heritage to share their stories and culture with their non-Asian peers.
“My favorite cultural traditions are wedding celebrations that include Mehndi, Sangeet, Haldi, and Choora ceremonies,” shared Multani.
A native of Lucknow, India, Multani sites Bhagha (folk dance) and Biryani (rice and chicken, or vegetables) as an activity and a dish that she thinks everyone should try.
Khaldoun Abu-Alhaija, Operation Supervisor, views Asian Heritage Month as a month-long celebration that provides a great chance to acknowledge and remember the achievements of Asian immigrants and how they participated in building modern America and to highlight their undeniable impact on North American history.
In honor of Asian Heritage Month, the native of Jordan will celebrate the month with family and attend events such as art exhibits, concerts, and educational programs.
Family gatherings in weddings, the month of Ramadan, and annual traditional folklore food taste all serve as Abu-Alhaija’s favorite cultural traditions.
Joseph Yamasta, Logistics Manager, shared his thoughts on ways to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month and becoming an AAPI ally.
A professional truck driver that has worked his way into a management position, Yamasta says, “Non-AAPI people can be AAPI allies by just sharing in each other’s heritages and trying new things, especially the food. Chamorro barbeque and Chamorro red rice are dishes that I think everyone should try.”
DB SCHENKER is extremely proud of its diverse workforce and the different ways that its employees of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage are celebrating this year. As we continue to grow and expand our team around the globe, creating a safe space for employees from all backgrounds and finding fun and unique ways to recognize and celebrate our unique cultural differences is of utmost importance. This May, and year-round, join us in celebrating them all as we lead the way for younger generations to grow up with pride in their heritage and empathy for others.
