By Yvette M. Alex-Assensoh
The 2026 theme for Asian American Heritage Month, “Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together” emphasizes solidarity and collective responsibility while honoring the diverse contributions of Asian Americans whose roots span more than 42 nations across Asia and the Pacific. It focuses on solidarity and acknowledging the diverse contributions of over the countries from which Asian Americans emanate.
This theme invites us to recognize both the richness of difference within Asian American communities and the shared values that bind us together.
The origins of what we now celebrate as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month trace back to the 95th Congress (1978–1979), when a joint resolution established a week‑long observance under the Carter Administration in 1978. This recognition expanded to a month‑long celebration in 1990 during the administration of President George H. W. Bush. On May 1, 2009, President Barack Obama, signed Proclamation 8369, formally designating May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. More recently, on April 30, 2021, President Joe Biden signed a proclamation recognizing Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, reflecting a more inclusive understanding of the community’s full breadth.
The month of May holds deep historical significance. It commemorates the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant to the United States on May 7, 1843, as well as the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869, a monumental achievement made possible largely through the labor of Chinese immigrants.
In the Pacific Northwest, many Asian American families trace their presence back more than a century. The first Asian Americans to arrive in Oregon were of Chinese Cantonese origin, followed by Japanese immigrants who worked in agriculture, fishing canneries, and lumber mills. By the 1870s, Chinese laborers played a critical role in building rail infrastructure connecting Oregon to Washington and California. Today, Asian Americans and Asian immigrants—including those of East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander descent—are among the fastest‑growing populations in the region and at the University of Oregon.
At UO, Asian, Desi, and Pacific Islander students, faculty, staff, and alumni are among our most accomplished leaders and scholars. The UO ADPI Strategies Group fosters belonging through programs that support wellbeing, leadership development, and community connection. ADPI department heads, vice presidents, and vice provosts provide visionary leadership that advances Oregon Rising, and demonstrates how unity across difference strengthens our entire institution.
Among UO’s most distinguished alumni is Minoru "Min" Yasui the only university graduate to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his courageous fight against the detention of Japanese Americans during World War II. Yasui was the first Japanese American to graduate from the UO School of Law and the first to pass the Oregon Bar. In 2025, the university honored his legacy with the naming of Yasui Hall, a residence hall that stands as a living reminder of moral courage, civic responsibility, and the enduring pursuit of justice. Yasui’s life and contributions are a reminder of our sacred duty to live with meaning, purpose and respect for all. It’s also a reminder that as a community of lifelong learners, we have an obligation to educate ourselves about the beautifully diverse Asian American culture as well as history, and to appropriately act in ways that eradicate Asian American hate. bias and violence.
This month, a multitude of events will offer the UO community a chance to expand their perspectives and opportunities to celebrate ADPI traditions and histories. For example, this month, Navigating Through Centuries: From Ancient to Global Contemporary in Korean Art is on view at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. On May 22, the Asian American Council of Oregon will host the annual Asian Night Market in downtown Eugene—events that invite connection, joy, and cultural appreciation.
As we observe Asian American Heritage Month, we are reminded that education, solidarity, and action must go hand in hand. In the words of Grace Lee Boggs, Asian American writer, activist, and visionary thinker: “To think about revolution is to think about how we make a better world for ourselves and for one another.”
Her words remind us that unity is not passive—it is practiced daily through learning, advocacy, and the courage to stand together in support of making the world better for all.