Orange County celebrates Asian Pacific Heritage Month

From the Orange County Newsroom

Throughout the month of May, Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings and the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) have been celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month at events across the County, including the Guang Ming Temple’s Buddha Birthday ceremony and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce’s Heritage celebration.

Culminating many of these community events, Orange County Government along with the Orange County Asian Committee, hosted the 2019 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration on Tuesday, May 21st on the lawn of the County Administration Center. The highly popular event included Asian-style pastries and light bites, cultural dances, acrobatics, traditional songs, and artisan craftwork.

Now in its seventh year, the event celebrates the cultural heritage of the Asian-Pacific region and recognizes the contributions of the County’s diverse array of Asian residents, businesses and community leaders. Mayor Demings, the BCC and other elected officials greeted guests at the event and presented a proclamation to the Committee, naming May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in Orange County.

“Innovation, collaboration, and inclusiveness are paramount for my administration. We integrate these elements to create a community that works for everyone, one that is safe and embraces diversity,” said Mayor Demings. “Today, we honor and celebrate our more than 67,000 Asian-Pacific Orange County residents who are active contributors to our community, and for the influence and impact they bring to Orange County across many different sectors.”

After the meeting, Mayor Demings met with the Florida Consulate-General of Japan Kenji Hirata. The two discussed growing community engagement and building a closer connection between Central Florida and the East Asian nation.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month recognizes all of the Asian continent and the Pacific island groups of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The Orange County Asian Committee is an employee-based volunteer organization formed in 2012. The Committee’s goal is to promote and preserve the heritage and culture of Asian Americans while forming partnerships throughout the community and building relationships with local and international governments.