Sacred Ground in Action (SGIA) Ministry:
In May we celebrate Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and their contributions to US now and over the centuries. It is nationally recognized this month because the first Japanese immigrant came to the United States in May 1843, and the first transcontinental railroad was completed in May 1869 with the hard work of Chinese laborers.
While this year there is no federal recognition of this Month due to current administrative policies against diversity, equity and inclusion, the Smithsonian has curated and promoted several events, some of which can be found here.
EDSD Missioner for Community, Vitality, and Diversity Rachel Ambasing, Program lead for the recent gathering of AAPI clergy and lay leaders in Kansas City, said, “The deeper we can embrace those gifts and those stories [shaped by different cultural traditions] the richer everyone in The Episcopal Church would be.”
