Many AAPI local organizations have initiated community-based public safety effort to improve safety in their neighborhood. Public Safety Patrol in Flushing was introduced in this CNN article. Quote: “From coast to coast, volunteer groups have emerged in the past year to patrol Asian neighborhoods in an effort to deter the racism and violent attacks that people of Asian descent have been subjected to in the past year.”

During the AAPI Heritage Month in 2021, USPS is going to issue stamps in recognition of the 442nd Regiment’s service to the nation. “Go for Broke” was the motto of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, an Army unit comprised of Japanese Americans during the World War II. Despite the skepticism and sometimes outright rejection among the general Americans that time, the 442nd Regiment often took the highest risks and endured the one of the highest casualty rates during the war. The 442nd Regiment is now known as the most decorated unit for its size in U.S. military history.

Viet Thanh Nguyen argues that “Asian Americans” are a chosen social identity to keep all Asian groups unified in alliances with other minority groups such as Black Americans, Muslims, Latinos, and LGBTQ people. Quote: “We should look to other ideals: solidarity, unity and decolonization. Colonization and racism divide and conquer, telling the subjugated that they have nothing in common. That’s why unity is crucial, and a broader unity can grow from the solidarity we have expressed with one another as Asian Americans, the force that pulled together such disparate peoples and experiences. That will to find kinship can be the …

Language access is a key to AAPI community’s political engagement. It is great news that more languages will be available during the NYC Primaries 2021. Quote: Translation will be provided in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, (Cantonese, Mandarin), French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Urdu, and Yiddish. The program will run on the last weekend of early voting (June 19 and June 20) and on Election Day (Tuesday, June 22).

This Harvard Business Review article introduces historical analysis of the model minority myths and make several recommendations for institution/organization leaders.

President Biden will sign an Executive Order on Friday, May 28, 2021, establishing the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AA/NHPI), and delivering on the President’s commitment to reinstate and reinvigorate this historic Initiative.

This NPR article uses graphics and charts to debunk the model minority myth.

More and more Asian Americans are carrying items for personal defense and are taking self-defense trainings. Quote: “In April, [Kenji Jones] distributed nearly 3,000 canisters of pepper spray and more than 1,000 personal alarms. During another giveaway, he was met with throngs of people and ran out of supplies within 20 minutes. And last weekend, at a Chinatown event, thousands more devices — including kubotans (keychain weapons), whistles and more pepper spray — were distributed.”

Ken Jeong hosted this special TV show with other AAPI public figures such as Daniel Dae Kim and Lisa Ling on Friday, May 21, 2021. Quote: ‘One of the goals of the show and the overall campaign is to invite others to own the phrase “see us” and apply it to their own life. Tennis player Naomi Osaka, for example, has claimed “see us defy expectation,” while basketball player Jeremy Lin claimed “see us make history” and actor Daniel Dae Kim claimed “see us create change.”‘ The recording is available at different platforms, including Facebook at https://fb.watch/5EynOgO7br/.

NYC Parks is organizing a number of events in May 2021 to celebrate the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Title: NYC Parks AAPI Heritage Month URL: https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/asian-american-and-pacific-islander-heritage-month Description: May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Celebrate with the Urban Park Rangers on free history tours and fun activities around the city.