This month, the IDEAs Council chose to discuss Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month as well as introduce the newest council member, Alison Brown, Program Specialist II – CT.
Brown, a graduate of the University of Connecticut, joined CMC in June 2021 partly because of the company’s values and mission. Her hope in joining the IDEAs Council was to continue to uphold the values that drew her to CMC – inclusion, diversity, equitability and accessibility.
Last month, the IDEAs Council honored Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, which celebrates the historical and cultural accomplishments of Asian and Pacific Island Americans. According to Pew Research, Asian and Pacific Islanders make up around 7 percent of the population of the United States and are the fastest-growing racial group. May marks an important date in history as the first immigration of Japanese people took place in May 1843 in addition to the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad built with significant help from Chinese workers in May 1869. In 2021, Kamala Harris become the first Asian American Vice President.
In 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed that May would be Jewish American Heritage Month. May was chosen due to a highly successful celebration organized by the Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History. A briefing from the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Poland summarizes the reason we celebrate Jewish American Heritage very well, “Throughout our country’s history, Jewish Americans have proudly served our Nation in uniform, in elected office, and on our Nation’s highest courts. They have made enormous contributions to America’s cultural, scientific, artistic, and intellectual life, and they have marched, petitioned, and boarded buses to demand civil and political rights for all — from women’s rights to voting rights to workers’ rights.”
For more information on either of these topics please click the links below.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
IDEAs Council topics for the coming months:
- July – Pride & Juneteenth
- August – International Non-Binary People’s day
- September – Hijri New Year
If any of these topics inspire you and you want to share your story, a friend or loved one’s story, or simply would like to expand on why the topic is important to you, please feel free to reach out the IDEAs Council at ideascouncil@cmcenergy.com.