St. Petersburg College (SPC) will host a moderator-led discussion with members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community on May 29 at 12:30 p.m. at SPC Clearwater Campus, Room ES-104. Panelists will share their culture, challenges, and traditions.

May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, commemorating the history and achievements of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau reports:

• 24 million people in the U.S. are members of the AAPI community.
• 7% of the total U.S. population is AAPI.
• The estimated AAPI population in Florida is 896,383.
• The AAPI population in Florida has grown 39% since 2012.
• An estimated 4.9% and 3.8% of the population in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are of Asian descent.

The moderator of the event is Dr. Abby Hamilton, President of the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) Tampa Bay. Hamilton is a three-time TEDx speaker, industrial/organizational psychologist, public speaker, and author of Speak Up, Anak: Assertiveness for Filipino Americans. She is the Director of Student Services at Everglades University, Vice Chairman – Philippine Cultural Foundation, President-National Federation of Filipino American Associations Florida Chapter.

“The National Association of Asian American Professionals has coined this year’s AAPI month with the theme of Grit and Grace as we look at the aspects of resilience, strength, and identity. This event will give light on our personal and professional challenges as well as our victories as Asian Americans. Having these discussions and raising awareness will bring our communities together,” Hamilton said.

Panelists of the event include:

• Young Lee, Member, National Association of Asian American Professionals
• Phi Nguyen, SPC Office of Employee Engagement, Associate Director
• Jimmy Chang, SPC Dean of Mathematics
• Will Lyu, SPC Financial Data Analyst
• Maginda Montero, SPC Director, Corporate College

Can’t attend in person? Register at stpe.co/AAPIRegister to watch the event livestreamed.