On May 3, 2023, the White House and the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) hosted The White House Forum on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AA and NHPIs) at The George Washington University in Washington DC, kicking off AA and NHPI Heritage Month under the theme ‘Visible Together.’

The all-day event drew more than 1,300 AA and NHPI community members from over two dozen states and U.S. territories, making it one of the largest in-person events ever hosted by the Biden-Harris Administration in celebration of AA and NHPI Heritage Month. The forum livestream also generated 253,000+ views across White House-branded YouTube and social media accounts.

Through more than a dozen breakout convenings, panels, and artistic performances that included Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander creatives—attendees celebrated the diversity, inclusivity and visibility of the community.

Biden-Harris Administration leaders, including Vice President Kamala Harris, the first South Asian American to serve in the second highest office in the nation, paid tribute to the rich history and cultures of AA and NHPIs and shared the accomplishments made by the Biden-Harris Administration over the past two years—including the release of the first-ever National Strategy to Advance Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for AA and NHPI Communities and progress on addressing hate and promoting greater inclusion.

“You may find when you walk into a room that you are the only one who looks like you or has your lived experiences,” said Vice President Kamala Harris. “My message is: Walk in with your chin up, shoulders back—knowing that you are representing the voices of so many people who are proud that you’re in that room. We are all in that room with you. You are not walking in that room alone.”

“We are excited to host this historic Forum to honor our communities’ diverse cultures and contributions to our nation as we kick off Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month,” said Krystal Ka‘ai, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. “The President has made clear that it is a priority of his Administration to advance equity for underserved communities, including Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Today, speakers across the Administration reaffirmed that we are committed to empowering our communities.”

“Thanks to President Biden, our community has become more visible than ever before. We have an unprecedented AA and NHPI representation in the Administration. Both the President and Vice President have demonstrated with their words, and their actions, and their presence, how much they sincerely care for our community. And have hope for our future,” said Erika L. Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the President and AA and NHPI Senior Liaison at the White House. “That’s what today’s Forum is all about—becoming even more ‘Visible Together.’”

“I’m moved and inspired by the beauty of the AA and NHPI’s diverse community and proud of the historic and unprecedented ways this Administration has seen and uplifted the community,” said Stephen K. Benjamin, Senior Advisor and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. “This Administration has made once-in-a-generation investments to improve the lives of AA and NHPIs, and with the help of our partners we will finish the job we started. That’s why this week’s Forum and gathering of community, learning, and coalition building is so timely and critical.”

The historic program included:

Emcees:

Jeannie Mai Jenkins, Emmy Award Winning TV Host, Producer, and Advocate

Philip Kim, Senior Advisor, White House Office of Public Engagement

A conversation with Vice President Kamala Harris, moderated by:

Poorna Jagannathan, Actress

Jerry Won, Founder and CEO of Just Like Media and Always Be Creating

Musical and artistic performances by a diverse array of creatives from across the country and diaspora.

Rupi Kaur, Poet, Artist, and Performer

MILCK, Singer-Songwriter, Producer, and Advocate

Wolftyla, Singer/Songwriter

Melonie Leihua Stewart, CEO, E Ala E Hawaiian Cultural Center

Sonny Singh, Musician, Social Justice Educator

Keilana, Singer/Songwriter

Aaron J. Salā, Founder and CEO, Gravitas Pasifika

John Taukäve, Performing Artist, Rako Pasefika

Ikelau Misech, Student, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Four main stage panels, featuring community trailblazers and Biden-Harris Administration leaders focused on advancing equity, public service, creative excellence, and the power of the AA and NHPI voice.

Advancing Equity for AA and NHPI Communities Across Government

Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), Chair, National Endowment for the Humanities

Rohit Chopra, Director, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Kiran Ahuja, Director, U.S. Office of Personnel Management

Erika L. Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison, The White House

AA and NHPI Leadership in Public Service and the Biden-Harris Administration

Gautam Raghavan, Assistant to the President and Director, White House Presidential Personnel Office

Nani A. Coloretti, Deputy Director, White House Office of Management and Budget

Vanita Gupta, Associate Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice

Jenny R. Yang, Deputy Assistant to the President for Racial Justice and Equity, Domestic Policy Council, The White House

Daniel Arrigg Koh, Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Cabinet Secretary, The White House

Advancing AA and NHPI Creative Excellence

Geena Rocero, Author, Director, Producer, and Trans Advocate

Rupi Kaur, Poet, Artist, and Performer

Daniel Dae Kim, Actor, Director, Producer, and Activist

Aaron J. Salā, Founder and CEO, Gravitas Pasifika

Bing Chen, CEO and Co-Founder, Gold House

The Power of the AA and NHPI Voice

Eric Nam, Artist and Co-Founder, Creative Director at DIVE Studios/Mindset

Versha Sharma, Editor in Chief, Teen Vogue

Estella Owoimaha-Church, Executive Director, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities

John C. Yang, President and Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC

Lisa Ling, Host and Executive Producer, CNN’s This Is Life

Eight breakout convenings, with national advocates, elected officials, and AA and NHPI leaders focused on community-building that examined the advocacy, policy, and public service efforts to support our communities.

Advancing Justice Through Data Equity

Featuring remarks and discussions with:

Kei Koizumi, Principal Deputy Director for Policy, The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

Dr. Margo Schwab, Co-Chair, Equitable Data Working Group, Office of Management and Budget, and Senior Science Policy Analyst, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs

Karthick Ramakrishnan, Co-Founder and Co-Director, AAPI Data

Rachel Marks, Branch Chief, Racial Statistics Branch, Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau

Jordan Matsudaira, Deputy Under Secretary and Chief Economist, U.S. Department of Education

Jim Walker, Supervisory Economist, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

Meina Banh, Deputy Director, Office of Financial Education, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Gregg Orton, National Director, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans

Kham Moua, National Deputy Director, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center

Neil Ruiz, Head of Pew Research Initiatives, Pew Research Center

Fontane Lo, Deputy Director, AAPI Data

Ninez Ponce, Professor and Fred W. & Pamela K. Wasserman Endowed Chair, UCLA

Advancing Equity Through Storytelling and Narrative Change

Featuring remarks and discussions with:

Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), Chair, National Endowment for the Humanities

Don Young, Director of Programs, Center on Asian American Media

Kiki Rivera, Storyteller, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities

May Lee-Yang, Writer, Performer, Educator, and Co-Founder of Funny Asian Women Kollective

Rinku Sen, Executive Director, Narrative Initiative

Naomi Tacuyan Underwood, Executive Director, Asian American Journalists Association

Supporting the Mental Health Needs of AA and NHPI Communities

Featuring remarks and discussions with:

Sejal Hathi, Senior Policy Advisor for Public Health, Domestic Policy Council, The White House

Trina Dutta, Senior Advisor to the Office of the Assistant Secretary, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Kevin Kreider, Actor, CEO and Founder of ALLS Productions, and Sans Alcohol Free by Taejin Beverage

Richard Lui, Anchor and Journalist, MSNBC/NBC News

DJ Ida, Executive Director, National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association

David Ko, CEO and Board Member, Calm

Mina Fedor, Founder and Executive Director, AAPI Youth Rising

Sahaj Kohli, Founder, Brown Girl Therapy

Expanding Philanthropic Investments in AA and NHPI Communities

Featuring remarks and discussions with:

Doua Thor, Vice President, Strategy and Influence, Sobrato Philanthropies

Stephanie Hsu, Executive Director, The Jeremy Lin Foundation

Gia Vang, Co-Founder, The Very Asian Foundation

Georgette Bhathena, Chief Programs Officer, The Asian American Foundation

Expanding and Empowering AA and NHPI Entrepreneurship

Featuring remarks and discussions with:

Jennifer Kim, Associate Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration

Christy Innouvong-Thornton, Founder, Tuk Tuk Box

Helen Nguyen, Owner and Chef, Saigon Social

Shanty Sigrah Asher, Pacific Islander Liaison Officer, Office of Economic Revitalization, City and County of Honolulu

Luisa Blue, Commissioner, President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders

Chiling Tong, President and CEO, National Asian & Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship

Andrew Chau, Co-Founder and CEO, Boba Guys

David Zhao, Founding Partner, Chubby Cattle International

Raji Sankar, Co-CEO, Choolaah Indian BBQ

Lydia Zhang, Owner and Business Partner, Peter Chang Restaurant Group

The Impact of Local and State-Level Policymaking

Featuring remarks and discussions with:

Mayor Aftab Pureval, City of Cincinnati, Ohio

Neera Tanden, Senior Advisor to the President and White House Staff Secretary

Assemblymember Evan Low (CA-26)

Representative Sam Park (GA-107)

Delegate Kathy Tran (VA-42)

PaaWee Rivera, Senior Advisor, White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

Promoting Careers in the Federal Government

Making Connections: A Community Space for Relationship-Building & Networking