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WHEREAS, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage in the United States was celebrated beginning in 1978 and was made into a month-long event in 1992; and

WHEREAS, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI) seeks to honor and recognize the contributions of residents from countries located throughout Asia, and the India sub-continent; and

WHEREAS, Asian/Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island); and

WHEREAS, during AAPI, we acknowledge Asians and Pacific Islanders who have lived and worked in Wappinger and the greater Wappinger area for many decades, contributing to our local economy, culture, education, politics, arts, literature, science and technological developments; and

WHEREAS, we cannot deny the unique challenges and complicated, sometimes violent histories of peoples, nations, former empires and colonies across Asia and the Pacific, but we can commit to working together to strengthen our community for the future; and

WHEREAS, racially motivated discrimination and harassment is at a high level with recent national and New York City spikes in hate crimes against the AAPI community, especially targeting its Muslim, South and East Asian members; and

WHEREAS, the Wappingers Central School District, as of October 2022 in grades PreK thru Grade 12, had 423 enrolled students of Asian/Pacific Islander descent, 421 students of Asian descent, and 2 students of Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander descent; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Wappinger Board and the Wappingers Central School District are committed to and advocate for equal educational, professional, and social opportunities for AAPI students; and

WHEREAS, during AAPI, in working with the Wappingers Central School District, we also focus on the crucial role of education in the history of AAPI Americans; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the members of the Board of the Town of Wappinger, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2023 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I Richard L. Thurston, Supervisor, have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of May 2023

 

Richard L. Thurston, Wappinger Town Supervisor