Asian Pacific American <br />Heritage Month , Celebrations Have Begun.<br />Asian Pacific American Heritage Month lasts throughout the month of May.<br />Community leaders say the month is a great time to raise awareness of issues that Asian Americans face.<br />as well as an important time to celebrate the diversity within the community.<br />Our history is also filled with incredible stories of resilience, of persistence, of determination, to fight for our basic rights, Cynthia Choi, Stop AAPI Hate Co-founder, via NPR News.<br />This is a celebration of our history, of our culture ... , Cynthia Choi, Stop AAPI Hate Co-founder, via NPR News.<br />... and all the different ways in which our community has really demonstrated that we're not only here to stay, we are a part of this fabric — a part of this country, Cynthia Choi, Stop AAPI Hate Co-founder, via NPR News.<br />Asian Pacific American Heritage Month began as a federally sanctioned week-long celebration in 1979.<br />The celebration was extended to a month in 1990, with May designated as the official month in 1992.<br />May was chosen to mark the substantial contribution of Chinese immigrants to the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, .<br />May was chosen to mark the substantial contribution of Chinese immigrants to the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, .<br />as well as the arrival of the first immigrants to the U.S. from Japan.<br />The theme of this year's Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is "Advancing Leaders Through Collaboration.".<br />Community leaders say that that diversity of leadership is a vital concept for innovation.<br />When you have diversity at the leadership table, the magnitude of what you can accomplish <br />is enormous, Fahmida Chhipa, FAPAC VP, via NPR News.<br />You really expand yourself in the horizons to have something creative and innovative, Fahmida Chhipa, FAPAC VP, via NPR News
