Rep. Kilmer Honors Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Okay. Okay, Okay. hey Hey Hey folks Derek Derek Kilmer Kilmer Kilmer here here here here each each each each may we. may may may we we we proudly proudly proudly proudly celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrates. Asian Pacific Pacific American American Heritage Heritage Heritage Month. Month Month Month and and and now now now now more more more. more than than than ever. ever. ever. I I I think think think we have to stand up up and and stand stand United United United with with with our our our Asian Asian Asian. Asian American American American American and and and. and Pacific Pacific Pacific Islander communities communities in in the the face face of of unfortunately unfortunately, unfortunately some some some. some of of of the the the hate hate hate hate and and and and intolerance intolerance intolerance that we're seeing seeing toward toward toward them them them during during during during this. this this this pandemic. pandemic pandemic. today I am joined joined by by one one one of of of my my my favorite favorite favorite favorite people people. people people on on on on the the. the the planet, planet. planet, the one and and only only Lou Lou Pritchard. Pritchard she is the. Director of the Asia Pacific Cultural Center in Tacoma, which proudly represents 47 countries and cultures offering incredible programs and services honoring the distinct artistry and business protocols and history and social practices of these incredible cultures right here in our community. Thank you for being with me today I I I'm bummed I couldn't see you in person last month at the Taste of Asia event, which is truly one of my favorite favorite things, but. It's good to see you. I'm wondering if you could tell everyone a little bit about the APC and the work that you do and maybe a few words about how that's changed during this pandemic. Yeah. So Thank you Congressman Derek for taking the time to be with us today. you're one of our favorite people as well and we consider you as family. Thank you for all the the leadership leadership and and and the the the work work work that that that that you you you you do. do do do for for for all all all of of of of us. so so ABC ABC ABC ABC was was was. was established established established 25 years. actually, it's it's gonna gonna be be 25 25 years years next next year. year. In 1990, - six so we became available to like congressman said to teach and talk about the 47 Nations the people and who they are so that our public here in the United States can really understand who we are so we can live better with you and be with you in every sense of the word so because what great people but a lot of. people don't really truly understand who we are and what makes us as people so Asia Pacific Cultural Center work statewide, but we're located in Tacoma, Pierce County. so, of course, a lot of people that in Pierce County is is who we serve and like, for example, last year 2019, we were able to serve 260 - 9000 people so of all ages and out of that 260 - 9101. And children were served and 55000 plus seniors so in between is the rest of the world and the aid groups. so we are just great feeling being here in Tacoma, Pierce County and we just love our network. We have an extensive network of partnerships that really help us exist and go forward now for the covid- 19. Of course, you know we can't we have to close the building so we can't Renters rent-a spaces from us and provide classes to the public for through us so that has been shut off so that was quite a loss for us and we're really trying. That's why we went to virtual classes So as you can see we I hope you're you're catching up with us through Facebook and our website because and normally we do a lot but we can only do so much and what we're going. Nineteen thank you thanks a lot and I mentioned that the kick off its Asian Pacific American heritage month may be talking little bit about why it so important recognise our API communities and offer few words of advice on help books can help me and allied right now yes well you know what we are proudly to to say say that that ah ah ah the national Asian Pacific Pacific heritage heritage month month of of Asia Asia pacific people It has been in existence for 42 years. now, you know 12 years as a week and then 30 years, they turned it into a month 30 years we've been honoring as a month. It is wonderful for us to honor the Asia-Pacific people because we do so much like, for example, you know the the the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States in 1843 and then The first transcontinental railroad, you know that would have happened without the Chinese people who labored that whole effort so and then all the Asian Americans. Most of them are business owners here in the United States and they bring in a lot of economic growth to our nation and nine Pacific Islanders. we are mostly recognized in the military ask for capital. There's so many of us who are in the military serving our country, so it's wonderful to celebrate us because we we we contribute so much and we were so proud to be Americans. That's awesome. Well, you know I think our country has always been a nation built and made by great people who contribute in so many ways often coming from some place else and and the work you're doing at the PCC. it's so important one of. I value it is that it's focused on giving more people a shot at living the American Dream and it's not that are amazing diversity should be celebrated and you know it's the model of our nation E Pluribus unum out of many. we are one And I think the work of the APC and Asia Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is so important because it's another way to celebrate that notion that even though we come from many places we are one And Americas better when. Recognize and celebrate our differences so any final words you wanna share Yeah. So please tune in and I hope you enjoyed all the different activities. I'm sure the whole United States of America. We're honoring our month of and this coming to an end the month of May so and thank you the general public for you know working with us playing with us and and just being with us. so we value you. Value was thank you. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you for the amazing work you do and thanks for being here today and thanks everybody for watching.