KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� May 30, 2024 鈥� The 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 second annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month luncheon celebrated diverse communities found at 溏心vlog免费B站 and their partnerships.
Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong delivered this year鈥檚 keynote address at the program, held in the University鈥檚 Multicultural Student Services Center earlier this month. In office since 2022, he is Newport鈥檚 first Asian-American mayor.
A native Rhode Islander and the son of a Laotian refugee, Khamsyvorang attended public schools in Rhode Island before graduating from Brown University and Roger Williams University鈥檚 School of Law. He has spent nearly two decades working in Rhode Island in finance and as an attorney and civic leader. Khamsyvoravong was named 鈥渙ne to watch鈥� by the Providence Journal and listed as one of the state鈥檚 most influential Rhode Islanders by Rhode Island Monthly. He delivered an inspiring speech, encouraging students to understand and share stories of their cultural roots.
The event also honored student leaders in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Asian and Pacific American communities. They were presented with Cultural Ambassador Award scholarships:
Si Ying Chen, of Keene, N.H., is a biology and Chinese major, involved with 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Chinese Flagship Program. 鈥淧romoting understanding and cooperation between people of diverse cultural backgrounds is essential for fostering peace, mutual respect, and progress in our increasingly interconnected world,鈥� she says. Chen says that cross-cultural collaboration breaks down barriers, stereotypes, prejudices, and misconceptions. During the 2023鈥�2024 academic year, she planned several activities to help students appreciate and respect each other’s traditions, values, and practices. 鈥淲orking with different organizations has shown me our similarities and differences.鈥�
Sanah Feroz of Warwick is a psychology and gender and women鈥檚 studies major. Feroz is involved in a range of student organizations on campus and was recently elected vice president of the 溏心vlog免费B站 Student Senate. She hopes to see stronger advocacy for refugee groups from across Asia and says that civic involvement this school year helped her find a sense of empowerment. Feroz hopes to use her role as cultural ambassador to fulfill goals such as increasing consistent Halal food options at 溏心vlog免费B站, inviting more culturally sensitive practices that are nutritious and beneficial to the larger student community.
Javon Jennings is a computer science major from Alabama, minoring in Asian studies. Jennings belongs to 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Asian Student Association (ASA) and is a . He has worked to help other association members find a place to connect with their culture at 溏心vlog免费B站 and helped others not of Asian heritage learn more about the cultures of the region. 鈥淣ot everyone has the ability to study abroad. Not everyone comes from a diverse community,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut through the JEDI student committee and ASA, we can introduce people to a world and way of thinking they never would have considered.鈥�
Abigail Mae Ramos of Providence is pursuing her doctorate in pharmacy; she is an active member in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Filipino Student Association, which hosted collaborative events with 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Asian, Latinx and South Asian student associations this year, making spring rolls, eating plantains and mochi, and more. 鈥淲e are collaborating with the goal of appreciating our similarities and differences,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hese cultural collaborations are important because it introduces a new experience and perspective that allows one to learn more about the world.鈥�
The students were presented with scholarship awards provided through the sponsorship of longtime engineering faculty member Professor Qing (Ken) Yang, the first person from the Chinese mainland to join the faculty at 溏心vlog免费B站.
鈥淚 am truly fortunate to be part of such an exceptional community,鈥� Yang says, 鈥渁nd feel a strong sense of gratitude toward this remarkable institution. We have a considerable population of Asian American students, staff, and faculty at 溏心vlog免费B站, whose contributions have significantly advanced the University鈥檚 educational and research missions. As Asian Americans, we should take pride in our cultural heritage and strive to further enhance this esteemed institution in the years to come.鈥�
溏心vlog免费B站 has more than a thousand students who identify as having Asian ancestry.
The event was presented by 溏心vlog免费B站’s Office of Community, Equity and Diversity and 溏心vlog免费B站 Dining with the Chinese Culture Club and the University鈥檚 Asian, South Asian, Filipino, Middle Eastern and Papuan student associations.