We are Americans!

We are Oregonians!

We are the Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) each have a unique history, culture, language, and other characteristics.  AAPI is the largest growing populations growing from 23 million in 2019 and estimating to hit 46 million by 2060.  Based on the U.S. Census Bureau data, AAPI traces their roots to over 19 countries in East, South, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent.  Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese account for 85% of all Asian American in 2019, others make up the 15%.  Western States, started allowing AAPI laborers in the 1800s (mainly Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Koreans, and Hawaiians).  Regulations codified into law regulated the flow in the mid-1900s due to fear, sexism, and racism.  In the late 1970s, Oregon started resettling Refugees from Vietnam, Laos, Hmong, Cambodia, and has continued to resettle other Asians today.  Asian have mix status families, meaning they can be US citizens, green card holders, student visa holders, business visa holders, refugee/asylee status, and those who are undocumented.

The makeup of the diversity of Oregon AAPI community encompasses vast cultural, historical, and linguistic difference.  AAPI have helped build railroads, mining, industries, farming, and continue to shape the fabric of America.