Asian Pacific American Program

The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program was established in 1997 in order to incorporate the meaningful elements of Asian Pacific American heritages in all aspects of the Smithsonian Institution's work. Through exhibitions, programs, research, and collaboration, the APA Program seeks to improve the public's appreciation of the rols of APAs in the history of the nation and empower APA communities by increasing their sense of inclusion into the national culture. The program has provided leadership, vision, and support for APA activities at the Smithsonian and has also served as the Smithsonian's liaison to APA communities. Dr. Franklin Odo is the director of the Program.

History

In 1997, the Smithsonian Institution established an advisory group headed by the Honorable Norman Y. Mineta with a mandate to research, deliberate, and then report to Secretary I. Michael Heyman on the Institution's ability to increase and diffuse knowledge about the nation's richly diverse APA communities.

The Asian Pacific American National Advisory Group's final report, released in June 1998, called for the creation of a program for Asian Pacific American Studies. This central program would provide vision, leadership, and support for all APA activities at the Smithsonian, while serving as a liaison to APA communities.

The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program has had significant impact on how the Smithsonian, the world’s largest museum complex, is evolving to better reflect the diversity of our nation of immigrants and indigenous peoples.

External Links

* [http://www.apa.si.edu Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program]