Fiscal Note
No City appropriation required.
Title
Recognizing May as Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Body
WHEREAS, the people of Madison join together each May to pay tribute to the generations of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) who have enriched the history of our community and the United States; and,
WHEREAS, the AANHPI history in Madison is inextricably tied to the story of Madison; and,
WHEREAS, there are approximately 24 million United States residents who identify as Asian and approximately 1.6 million United States residents who identify as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, comprising about 7 percent of the total population; and,
WHEREAS, Madison’s AANHPI population totaled 25,815 in the 2020 census; and,
WHEREAS, the AANHPI community is an inherently diverse population, composed of more than 45 distinct ethnicities and more than 100 language dialects; and,
WHEREAS, 2025 marks 50 years of the Hmong diaspora, beginning with the immigration of Hmong refugees from Laos to Wisconsin in 1975 and lasting through the 1990s, which enriched our communities immeasurably; and,
WHEREAS, Wisconsin has the third largest Hmong population in the United States, with Madison having nearly 3,000 Hmong residents; and,
WHEREAS, the month of May was selected for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month because the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843, and the first transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10, 1869, with substantial contributions from Chinese immigrants; and,
WHEREAS, AANHPI Heritage Month provides the people of Madison with an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the achievements, contributions, and history of AANHPI communities and understand the challenges they face;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Madison Common Council recognizes May as Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
BE IT FUR...
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