It’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander Heritage Month 🌺 #AANHPI

While we were in Vancouver, Canada, Brandon and I visited the 🪷 Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. This was the first Ming Dynasty-style garden constructed outside of China in 1981. The garden is a product of community voices (residents, Chinatown merchants) advocating together to protest city plans of building a freeway in the area.

🎍 The gardens are meant to be a space where, even in the middle of a busy city, you can enter and be immersed in nature. They are ecosystems for plants and animals, designed thoughtfully in the Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist philosophies.

🪟 The windows are called “leak” windows bc the intricate patterns reveal and conceal (or leak) different views, depending on where you look through it.

🪨 The stones in the floor came directly from river beds in China and the designs of the paths were designed with both floral, round shapes (symbolizing Yin) and geometric, square shapes (symbolizing Yang).

It was lovely to walk through the garden, step into this oasis, and learn about the history and symbolism. I am amazed at the determination the Vancouver Chinatown community had to protect their neighborhood from harmful development—and then they constructed a meaningful testament of culture. 👏🏽✊🏽

Every voice matters—and together, many voices have the power to make real, positive impact in this world.

🙇🏽‍♀️ In reflection of May also being Mental Health Awareness Month and the dozens of tragedies and challenges our country faces, we can continue to not only hope, but ➡️work⬅️ towards a more just world.

⚡️ Action, resilience, healing, and advocacy take many forms. Do what’s right for you.

Some orgs and people I appreciate for their important work in reporting, celebrating, representing, creating, sharing, curating, and teaching this month (and every month):

@aapiwomenlead
@everytown
@pslbayarea
@kqed
@bindlestiff_sf
@lead_filipino
@dearasianyouth
@kevinnadal
@entrepinayship
@gelainesantiago
@rosaliecchiang
@girlsthatinvest