I hope you have been enjoying Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, an annual designation signed into law in 1992. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the first Japanese immigrants who came to the United States on May 7, 1843, and the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869.

I participated in two noteworthy celebrations. Earlier this month, I attended a Night Market in Washington D.C., hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris, outside her residence. More than twenty vendors treated us to a wide variety of food, teas, artwork, entertainment and more. It was definitely an event to remember.

Then in Sacramento, members of the AAPI Legislative Caucus honored 15 people for excelling in their field and uplifting the AAPI community. I chose Kim Tavaglione, Executive Director of the San Francisco Labor Council. She is the first woman and first woman of color to lead the organization in its 125-year history.

Kim spent her career fighting for workers and making sure their voices are heard. She joined the labor movement in 2002 as a union representative. Today, she aims to increase civic engagement among union members. This helps ensure wages and benefits are fair, working conditions are safe and labor laws are respected.

Meanwhile, there are still a couple more days left to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month. Try a new restaurant, visit a cultural site, read a book or catch a movie that helps you appreciate, even understand, the diverse AAPI communities we have in California. Actually, you can do this all year long!

PHIL TING
Assemblymember, 19th District