May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to recognize, in an intentional way, how individuals of Asian and Pacific Islander descent have helped build this nation and continue to do so.

The first major wave of Asian immigration to the continental United States occurred primarily on the West Coast during the California Gold Rush. These early immigrants typically found work as miners, railroad builders, farmers, factory workers and fishermen, contributing to the area’s economic development. Though hailing from different countries and cultures, they all faced similar conditions of exclusion, forging the foundation of a common, shared Asian experience in America.

St. Francis College proudly recognizes and celebrates the incredible diversity of our AAPI students, faculty and staff. As we raise awareness and celebrate the achievements of AAPI communities in Brooklyn and across the country and the resilience they have shown through generations, we support their continuing struggle for acceptance in light of the rise, in recent years, in anti-Asian xenophobia and violence.

Let us recommit ourselves to building a more just society, one in which everyone, regardless of who they are or where they come from, has the opportunity to live freely and thrive.

Happy AAPI Heritage Month!

Tim Cecere
Acting President

Jeanne J. Arnold
Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer & Chief of Staff

Maliek Sterrett
Director of Multicultural Student Affairs