Commemorate, Commit and Celebrate

In 1985, Tiffany Chin won the U.S. Figure Skating national championship, paving the way for legends like Kristi Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan to revolutionize the sport. In 2011, Eric Yuan founded Zoom, which would soon become integral to our daily lives. In 2013, Dr. Katherine Luzuriaga led a team of doctors and researchers who delivered the world’s first functional cure for a HIV-infected infants.

While these are just some recent accomplishments, pioneers in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community have had far reaching influence in our country since its earliest days. In countless ways, this multi-cultural community has improved our lives, enhanced our society and advanced our understanding of the world around us.

Unfortunately, their achievements have not been without significant challenges. Most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a surge in long-simmering anti-Asian hate, with AAPI people of all ages and backgrounds facing harassment, assault and lethal harm in cities across the United States, including the March 2021 Georgia spa shootings that killed six Asian women and horrified the nation.

As we mark the start of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and celebrate the countless contributions that the AAPI community has made to American history and society, we also pause to honor those who’ve been impacted by prejudice and violence.

All month long at UBS, we’ll be honoring the unique journeys of our AAPI colleagues, and providing opportunities to learn more about their life experiences, rich traditions and diverse cultures.

This month, I hope you’ll join us to spotlight AAPI success, and take time to learn about the histories and perspectives of the many AAPI communities.