AANHPI Heritage Month: Celebrate the Leaders

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders Month (AANHPI) Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the contributions that generations of the AAPI community have made to our history and culture. This year’s theme is “Advancing Leaders Through Innovation.” To celebrate, we’re highlighting AANHPI leaders and innovators throughout history.

Let’s take a moment this month to celebrate these AANHPI leaders:

Patsy Mink

The first woman of color and the first Asian American woman elected to the U.S. Congress, Mink co-authored Title IX, a landmark law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs.

Kamala Harris

The first woman, first Black person, and first Asian American to become Vice President of the United States.

David Ho

A pioneering AIDS researcher who was named Time magazine’s “Man of the Year” in 1996 for his work in developing effective HIV treatments.

Yo-Yo Ma

A world-renowned cellist who has won multiple Grammy Awards and is recognized for his cultural contributions to music.

Jeremy Lin

The first American of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA and whose rise to prominence created the “Linsanity” phenomenon.

Tammy Duckworth

A U.S. Senator and Iraq War veteran who became the first Thai American woman elected to Congress and the first disabled woman to be elected to the House of Representatives.

Vivek Murthy

The 19th Surgeon General of the United States, advocating for public health issues such as mental health and COVID-19.