On April 25, the City Council of Rohnert Park officially proclaimed May as Asian America, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) heritage month, in celebration and in honor of the contributions brought about by members of the AANHPI community to American and Rohnert Park society, history, and culture.
“Whereas since our city’s founding, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have been instrumental in writing Rohnert Park’s history and building our city as we know it today…,” says Rohnert Park’s mayor Samantha Rodriguez.
“And whereas, we are proud of the immeasurable contributions that generations of AA and NHPIs of various backgrounds have made as educators, service men and women, entrepreneurs, athletes, community builders and activists, and in positions of leadership at all levels,” Rodriguez further states in the proclamation.
“You know, everytime I talk about representation and different cultures, it is so empowering to see the diversity that we have and how much we can celebrate as a community, so I am so happy to celebrate you, we see you, and I am proud to be a part of this community along with you,” said Councilmember Jackie Elward during the meeting.
“Honestly if it wasn’t for Asian Americans there probably wouldn’t be much of a Rohnert Park,” acknowledged Councilmember Gerald Giudice, “When the Rohnert Park Seed Farm was founded it was really built on the backs of Asian labor, in particular Filipino-Americans at that time.” Giudice further said that Rohnert Park is appreciative of all the meaningful contributions and efforts of its AANHPI community, as well as recognizing the disproportionate violence against people of AANHPI descent within recent years.
The proclamation was received by fourth-year biology major and president of the Filipino American Association at Sonoma State University (FAASSU), Leah Vallespin, from Rodriguez.
“I think it was great for the city council to acknowledge the achievements of AANHPI in the county,” says Vallespin. “I think it’s important to highlight the voices of our community as we may often be overlooked especially in areas that are predominately white.”
Vallespin brings up the importance of acknowledging the different and diverse cultures within the AANHPI community, and how mixed the community is in and of itself, as it’s important to recognize the contributions of East, Southeast, and South Asians, and especially Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
As for why May was chosen to commemorate the AANHPI community, SSU’s Director of Equity & Access Programs, Khou Yang-Vigil, explains that “the month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869,” in last year’s opening remarks for AANHPI heritage month. It is important to note that the majority of the workforce behind the transcontinental railroad were more than 20,000 Chinese immigrants, who endured hours of back-breaking labor in extreme conditions, and hundreds would succumb to natural disasters, accidents, and disease during the construction process. With that in mind, the month of May is also seen as a time for the AANHPI community to honor and thank their ancestors.
Even though this proclamation is a positive step forward, there is still work needed to be done. Fourth-year English major Jaiden Ha says the proclamation is a good step forward, but it’s still just a baby step in terms of acknowledging Rohnert Park’s AANHPI community. “It is a piece of paper stating the city recognizes us ”, says Ha, “Working with our community and serving our needs is a completely different thing, so the proclamation alone doesn’t do anything to directly benefit our community or create any direct impacts. The only people impacted are the people who were there to receive the proclamation and who know about it.”.
“What needs to happen next is continued work in investing in our AAPI community, and we also need more people from our community to be invested in the work of the city council.”, said Ha in regards to what further actions Rohnert Park needs to undertake.
Earlier last Thursday and Friday, ten representatives from Sonoma State University along with SSU President Mike Lee, were in attendance at the 2023 Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE). APAHE is an annual conference centered on enhancing the educational experiences of AANHPI students, supporting AAPI staff, faculty, and administrators, and creating a better understanding of issues affecting the AANHPI community in higher education, with this year’s theme focused on Amplifying our Voices through Unity and Action.
If you want to stay connected with FAASSU, you can reach out via their Instagram page at @FAASSU and their email @[email protected], as well as the Asian Pacific Islander American Faculty and Staff Association (APIAFSA), via their instagram @ssuapiafsa.
The agenda and video of Rohnert Park’s City Council meeting on April 25, can be accessed and viewed on the City Council website at rpcity.org.
SSU will also be hosting numerous events on campus in observation of AAPI month. The first is Asian American Herbalism – Folk Traditions in Modern Day Practice, which will be in the HUB Cultural Center on May 3, and Rhythms of the Pacific and Pacific Cultural Night, which will be both be performed and organized by FAASSU, and will be on May 9 from noon-1 p.m. at Seawolf Plaza and May 13 starting 3 p.m. at Person Theater respectively.
