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File #: 150457    Version: 0 Name:
Type: Resolution Status: ADOPTED
File created: 5/7/2015 In control: CITY COUNCIL
On agenda: Final action: 5/7/2015
Title: Recognizing May 2015 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Philadelphia to celebrate and commemorate the proud heritage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and their invaluable contributions to enhancing the City's culture, economy, and the founding ideals of independence and democracy.
Sponsors: Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember O'Brien, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Neilson, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember O'Neill
Attachments: 1. Signature15045700.pdf
Title
Recognizing May 2015 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Philadelphia to celebrate and commemorate the proud heritage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and their invaluable contributions to enhancing the City's culture, economy, and the founding ideals of independence and democracy.

Body
WHEREAS, Section 102 of Title 36, United States Code, officially designates May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and authorizes the President to issue each year a proclamation calling on the People of the United States to observe this special month; and

WHEREAS, The month of May was chosen because of two important historical dates in Asian American and Pacific Islander history: on May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States, and on May 10, 1869, the building of the transcontinental railroad was completed due to significant contributions of Chinese workers; and

WHEREAS, Asians first settled in the United States around 1750 when Filipino sailors settled in what would later be Louisiana. Today, the United States is home to nearly 19 million Asian Americans and 1.4 million Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders; and

WHEREAS, The Asian American and Pacific Islander community in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has grown to over 300,000 citizens; and

WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, between 2000 and 2010, both Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations grew significantly, increasing 43% and 32%, respectively; Philadelphia has nearly 110,000 Asian Americans and over 3,100 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders; and

WHEREAS, The Pan Asian Association of Greater Philadelphia will hold its 9th Annual Asian American Pacific American Heritage Month Festival on May 9, 2015 in Franklin Square Park where participants will experience Asian culture and many other facets of Philadelphia's vibrant and dynamic Asian American and Pacific Islander community; and

WHEREAS...

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