This month, HISD is recognizing the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) members of our community in observance of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

AAPI Heritage Month began as a weeklong observance in 1978 and expanded in 1990 to the month-long observance we celebrate today. AAPI Heritage Month is an opportunity for HISD to appreciate and pay tribute to the generations of AAPI neighbors, classmates, family, and friends who are instrumental in making our community the diverse and unique melting pot that it is.

AAPI populations are diverse within themselves with heritages rooted in all parts of the continent of Asia and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. AAPI people number an estimated 5.8% of the US population (as of the 2018 census) and 6.9% of the population here in Houston.

Our AAPI community have made rich contributions to our society by sharing amazing customs, food, culture, and leading the development of the transcontinental railroad. We are proud to acknowledge our AAPI HISD students, parents, community partners, and friends and their important influence on HISD’s history, present, and future.

We also acknowledge and appreciate our AAPI administrators, teachers, and staff members who bring their unique cultural perspective to our campuses and continually make a lasting impact in the lives of our students.

For educational resources and more information on AAPI Heritage Month, visit AsianPacificHeritage.gov.