FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2017
Contact:Jason Tengco, NaFFAA Executive Director
jason.tengco@naffaa.org
Tel. 650-867-9837
NaFFAA Proudly Celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Washington, DC – The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) is proud to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month this May. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Filipinos make up nearly 20% of the overall Asian American community, with almost 4 million Filipinos living in the United States.
Congress established Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week in 1978 through a joint congressional resolution. The month of May was selected to recognize the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in May 1843, as well as the completion of the transcontinental railroad in May 1869. Congress then expanded the week to a month-long observance in 1992.
“Filipino Americans have played an important role in the history of this nation in many sectors of society, ranging from business, entertainment, health, law, politics, and beyond. NaFFAA celebrates AAPI Heritage Month by not only highlighting the achievements of Filipino Americans and other AAPIs, but by also promoting solidarity with diverse groups across the country,” said Brendan Flores, NaFFAA National Chairman. “We’re proud of our community’s contributions, and feel energized by the next generation of Filipino Americans getting involved.”
With NaFFAA’s 20th anniversary approaching this October, the organization is focused on three core areas: leadership development, civic engagement, and national advocacy. Building on the energy of AAPI Heritage Month, NaFFAA will host its first-ever Federation Forum leadership development summit in Washington, DC from May 14-15. The forum will empower leaders and help provide them with the tools, best practices, and capacity needed to better serve their communities.
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About NaFFAA
The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Established in 1997, NaFFAA has been the standard bearer for promoting the welfare and well-being of the 4 million Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States. NaFFAA’s vision is to serve as the voice of all Filipinos and Filipino Americans by uniting, engaging, and empowering diverse individuals and community organizations through leadership development, civic engagement, and national advocacy.
