To close off May, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Community Members. May is AANHPI Heritage month and to celebrate, we are putting the spotlight on our Community Partner (CP) Vietnamese Association of Illinois (VAI). VAI houses a variety of programs from organizing and mutual aid efforts, immigration and community services, homecare program, youth program and adult education. These programs come together to celebrate and strengthen solidarity among the Vietnamese Americans in the state of Illinois, as well as support and serve the needs of other immigrant communities.
Since 2017, VAI has been a valued community law office partner, hosting some of the largest legal clinics in our organization's history. We are honored to collaborate with such an impactful and community-driven organization.
We spoke to Jessica Arellano at VAI about the importance of this month, with her noting that:
“Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is a time for the Vietnamese Association of Illinois to honor the rich cultural heritage, resilience, and contributions of our diverse communities. It is an opportunity to celebrate our shared history while uplifting the voices and experiences of Vietnamese Americans and other AANHPI groups. This month reminds us of the importance of unity, advocacy, and cultural pride in building a more inclusive and equitable community.”
Jessica also shared why VAI’s programming is impactful for the AANHPI community:
“The Vietnamese Association of Illinois' programming is impactful for the AANHPI community because it provides culturally responsive services, education, and advocacy that address the unique needs of our diverse populations. Through immigration services, language access, youth leadership development, civic engagement, and community-building events, we empower individuals, families and all neighborhoods that we serve. Our work helps bridge generations and cultures, ensuring that AANHPI voices are heard, valued, and represented in places where they've been absent in the past.”
We’re proud to honor VAI’s vital work and celebrate the strength, resilience, and vibrancy of our AANHPI community members. We thank VAI for their continued leadership and invite our readers to stay connected by subscribing to their Monthly eNewsletter – because building a more inclusive future starts with supporting those doing the work today.