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Edmonds CC leaders attend White House Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

06/24/15

Emily Yim
Emily Yim, Edmonds CC Board of Trustee Chair
Jean Hernandez
Dr. Jean Hernandez, Edmonds CC President

Dr. Jean Hernandez, Edmonds College President and Emily Yim, Edmonds CC Board of Trustee Chair attended a White House Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) at George Washington University in Washington D.C. on May 12.

The summit was held during AAPI Heritage Month and was an unprecedented and historic all-day congregation of senior federal officials and community leaders. The day included conversations with federal officials and AAPI leaders, performances by distinguished AAPI artists, and interactive sessions on diverse issues including economic growth, education, health care, civil rights, and immigration.

"I was so impressed with the quality of speakers and the many Secretaries who took the time to serve on panels and give us their perspectives on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders educational and career advancement and opportunities, as well as positions of leadership,” said President Hernandez. “It was exciting to be part of a conference with more than 1,500 attendees, celebrating the achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in our nation."

The Summit also celebrated President Obama’s leadership, featured administration policies and programs that have supported the AAPI community over the past six years, and laid out priorities for the next two years and decades to come.

Break out sessions held covered: education equity, health equity and innovation, human and civil rights, immigrant integration and reform, and social entrepreneurship.

"The summit continued to push people to think about our country's fastest growing demographic and the challenges facing the AAPI community. As Trustees, Presidents, and leaders in our community, it is imperative that we stay informed, and at the forefront of how we think about college access, completion and ways to remove the unique barriers that face our AAPI students,” said Yim. “It was an honor to attend and be a part of the conversation on our nation’s changing demographics and our future."
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