Leaders in government, art and business will take center stage May 22 at GBH’s 14th annual commemoration of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Cultural Heritage Month. The event starts at 6pm and can be attended in person or online.
For Liz Cheng, GBH’s general manager for television and WORLD, who has helped create these events, next week’s gathering of government officials, artists and executives will be a celebration of the unprecedented numbers of AAPI leaders rising to the top of nearly every profession, most especially the political arena.
With a theme of “the invisible becoming visible,” the event will feature AAPI at the top of their fields sharing their fascinating journeys to success and recognition. “It will be a theater full of people who look like me talking candidly about the challenges and the discrimination as well as the triumphs, mentors and allies. It’s uplifting and motivating when leaders share their worst and best moments,” she said. “Plus, it will be an opportunity for the greater AAPI community to meet our impressive new President and CEO, Susan Goldberg.”
The theme resonates with Cheng, who reflected on the immense strides that have been made in Massachusetts and beyond, she said, even in the face of persistent anti-Asian hate.
“We’re seeing an exciting movement of Asians running for office, going into public service and excelling in the arts. To go from pockets of representation to having a groundswell of incredible leaders in just about every industry is so inspiring,” she said.
Planned by a 12-member group of GBH-affiliated AAPI professionals, the event will feature two panels, along with a preview of GBH WORLD’s film series Asian American Stories of Resilience and Beyond, which has been nominated for a Daytime Emmy for short-form program. An excerpt from the documentary Blurring the Color Line will also be highlighted, which features a Chinese American filmmaker who discovers the fascinating past of her grandparents owning a grocery store in segregated Augusta, Georgia, during the Jim Crow era.
“GBH is pleased to celebrate the accomplishments of the communities that we serve,” said Kate Kataja, manager of GBH board relations who helped plan the event. “We're so thrilled to be able to dedicate so much of our original content work and our resources to the AAPI community.”
Panelists include Massachusetts State Representative Tram T. Nguyen, 18th Essex District; Eileen Jay of the Lexington (Mass.) School Committee; Dr. Amar Sawhney, chairman and CEO of Instylla Inc., and CEO of Rejoni Inc.; Laura Sen, board member at MassMutual; and Connie C. Chin,
chief executive officer of Global Arts Live.
Nonprofit community groups, including The Asian Community Fund at the Boston Foundation, India Society of Worcester and Saheli Boston, will be showcased, and local restaurants will provide dinner after the event.
Register for the event here and check out Asian American Stories of Resilience and Beyond here. Part I of Asian American Stories of Resilience and Beyond airs on Monday, May 22 on WORLD at 9pm and Part 2 airs on Tuesday, May 30 on WORLD at 9pm.
America ReFramed: Blurring the Color Line premieres Thursday, May 25 at 8pm on WORLD. Watch the preview
here.
