This month, the Economic Development Authority (EDA) will join economic development leaders from across the country to observe Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.
AANHPI Heritage Month provides an important opportunity to reflect on the past and present contributions of the U.S. ANNHPI community to the economic, social, and cultural development of the United States. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on the central role that AANPI’s entrepreneurs, innovators, and economic development leaders play in this country.
EDA recently asked a select panel of some of our network’s AANPI economic development leaders what AANPI Heritage Month means to them.
Johnny Park (Indiana)
“The Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community has made significant contributions to the economic growth of the United States, from innovative entrepreneurs to influential leaders in technology, finance, and business. As a proud member of this community, I believe that our nation’s diverse talents and perspectives not only enrich our marketplace; , inspired by how we can foster broader economic growth and resilience.”
Dr. Johnny Park is the CEO of the Wabash Heartland Innovation Network (WHIN), Indiana’s intergovernmental economic development consortium. Mr. Park joins WHIN from Spensa, the successful agricultural technology startup he founded and was named one of Forbes’ Top 25 Most Innovative Agriculture Technology Startups of 2017.
Shamik Amin (Illinois)
“For me, AANPI Heritage Month is an opportunity to reflect on the tremendous contributions that the AAHPI community has made to American culture, whether through historic scientific and technological advances that have improved the quality of our lives or through the foods that have become the norm. Through , art and fashion, our heritage leaves its mark on society.”
Shamik Amin PE is a civil engineer with the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Chicago Regional Office, where he is responsible for evaluating the merits and technical feasibility of EDA’s infrastructure-related economic development projects in the Midwest.
Megan Hageney (New York)
“As an economic development professional who is half-Filipino, I am grateful for AANHPI Month because it is a time of great concern, especially for the AANHPHI women’s pay gap, pandemic-related business closures, and especially for AANHPHI women. Because it’s a reminder to address the economic hardships that disproportionately impact our communities in terms of things like wage inequality.” concerns. This month also gives us an opportunity to celebrate the often overlooked but noteworthy historical and current contributions that AANPI people have made to our nation’s economy despite the challenges through the resilience, resourcefulness, and strength of our communities. I’ll give it to you. ”
Megan Hageney is a fellow with the Economic Recovery Corps. She works with the New York State Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Commission to design and implement programs for business skills training, business mentorship, and strengthening social capital in rural areas.
