[0:00] [Music] [0:03] aapi month to me is the joy of sharing [0:07] my culture and representing it with the [0:10] community aapi to me means um [0:15] celebrating and honoring the many [0:18] cultures that exist within the AAPI [0:21] community [0:22] it's a time for myself and my community [0:25] to reflect on where we've been where we [0:29] are and where we are going to be in the [0:32] future what's most important about AAPI [0:36] is that it's able to bring awareness to [0:38] our stories and experiences and reminds [0:40] people that our identities are diverse [0:43] and that we are valuable it's amazing [0:45] how we have so many things in common [0:48] with traditions and cultures even though [0:50] we all came from different parts of the [0:52] world asian-american Pacific Islander [0:55] Heritage Month is a really special time [0:56] for Asian-Americans like me one of the [0:59] things I'd really like people to know [1:00] about my culture specifically is that [1:03] Indian-Americans are Asian-American and [1:05] I think that's something that sometimes [1:07] can get lost for people they don't [1:08] always realize that Indians are part of [1:10] the broader Asian community ap AAPI [1:13] month also represents this year for me [1:16] the 50th anniversary of Mong Americans [1:19] in the United States of America [1:21] particularly here in the state of [1:22] Minnesota the AAPI contribution to the [1:25] state of Minnesota is important as today [1:27] we have nine Mong state legislators and [1:31] one Japanese American legislator and [1:34] that's important because as we move [1:36] forward as a community we are ensuring [1:38] that all voices are at the table and [1:41] that everyone has an opportunity to be [1:43] heard [1:46] [Music]