Simple strategies to host a successful AAPI Heritage Month Celebration as a remote team
Given the important contributions of the Asian and Pacific Islander community to American society, it’s always a significant moment to welcome the month of May and all the activities earmarked to commemorate their efforts. With so many virtual activities to choose from, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what to do and how to make an impact as a remote company. Here are brilliant strategies to host an AAPI Heritage Month celebration at your remote company.
Take into consideration all the things and people that make up the AAPI community
Whether you’re organizing a series of events throughout the month or hosting a one-time, week-long session for your remote team, it’s important to understand the diversity of the AAPI community and how to capture every aspect in your planning. The Asian and Pacific Islander American community comprises people from 48 Asian countries and 15 Pacific Island nations. Understanding diversity, nuanced cultural differences, and territorial systems help inform your remote company what to include in your celebration and how to capture everyone.
Give the AAPI community a platform to share their experiences
While remote teams will organize activities like virtual trivia, word puzzles, and online exhibitions to commemorate the month, it’s also important to pay attention to giving the AAPI community the voice to speak up and share their experiences. This is the time to give the community the spotlight to educate and talk about their journey - and this is the content you should consume, share, or advocate for. Ultimately, the month should be less about random experts on this topic and more about giving the AAPI community the voice to speak up and champion solidarity and inclusion.
Focus on policy implementation and less on promises
Sometimes, companies make promises during these occasions and never follow through on them. Use this month as the time to change the narrative and focus on actions rather than words. While remote teams will organize virtual events and share content on social media to commemorate the month, they should also implement policies to support the AAPI community throughout the full year. This could include reviewing the company’s diversity and inclusion policies to ensure it doesn’t discriminate against Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders or any other group at work, establishing systems to tackle any issues the community may face, and supporting local AAPI businesses and nonprofits with donations and volunteer services.
It should be an all-time effort to honor the AAPI community
Once we step into June, it’s easy to forget all the promises and policies undertaken to commemorate the AAPI community in the previous month, and this shouldn’t be the case. Efforts to support, honor, and help Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and any other minority group at your remote company should be all-year-round. Your diversity and inclusion efforts should continue to help these communities feel comfortable and welcome in your team.
