Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
During May, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It is an opportunity to honor the contributions of Asian Americans who have built a rich history in our country. Asian Americans have been instrumental from the beginning of our country. Many paid with their lives while building the U.S. Transcontinental Railroad.
Asian Americans have also made notable achievements in music, politics, arts, physics, science, agriculture, architecture, etc. We credit the Asian culture for many pioneered inventions that are still used today. The origin of paper, the design of the compass, the toothbrush, the wheelbarrow, the creation of soap and other agricultural advancements are some of these inventions.
Jim Moriarty, executive vice president, general counsel, corporate secretary and chief policy and risk officer
Opening Remarks from Jim Moriarty, Executive Sponsor for EPIC
As I reflect on this important celebration, I am reminded of the extraordinary diversity of our country and the faith, courage and hard work of so many who helped to make us who we are today, and who we hope to be tomorrow.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have strengthened the fabric of our nation by their achievements in many fields, including medicine, science, technology, education, law and government policy and advocacy.
At Chesapeake Utilities, we welcome and celebrate diversity. We promote and value the free exchange of ideas and the sharing of different perspectives.
Our culture empowers us as an organization to learn from the richness of our differences, as we work together to promote understanding and mutual respect. Celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month rightly continues this tradition.
As part of our celebration of Asian culture, Jina Hwang joined us for a live Speaker Symposium.
Jina shared her incredible story and experiences while encouraging resiliency and determination and she participated in a brief Q&A during the session.
Jina is an adjunct professor at George Mason University Law School. She is also an attorney and the assistant inspector general for the Federal Reserve Board. As the counsel to the Inspector General (IG) at the Federal Reserve Board and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Office of Inspector General (OIG), Jina advises on various legal and strategic matters, including employment law, ethics, audits and civil, criminal and administrative investigations.
She received a law degree from George Mason Law, an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland and is a member of the Maryland Bar. Jina is a frequent lecturer at the IG Criminal Investigator Academy. She recently received the Outstanding Service Award for her commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the broader IG community.
EDI Spotlight: Inspiring Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a tribute to the diverse and tremendous achievements that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made throughout history. Here is a snapshot of the many who have contributed to shaping our nation then and now.
“When you learn something from people, or from a culture, you accept it as a gift, and it is your lifelong commitment to preserve it and build on it.”
― Yo-Yo Ma
Kamala Harris (1964-present)
49th and current vice president of the United States. Harris is the first Asian-American and African-American vice president, and the first female vice president and highest-ranking female official in U.S. history.
Ellison Onizuka (1946-1986)
First Asian American and the first person of Japanese origin to go to space. As a NASA astronaut, he flew his first mission on the space shuttle Discovery. Onizuka died in the tragic space shuttle Challenger mission. For his service, he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
Tammy Duckworth (1968-present)
First Thai American woman and first woman with a disability elected to Congress. Duckworth became a member of the House of Representatives and then a senator, representing Illinois. She is a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel who served as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot and is a combat veteran of the Iraq War.
Patsy Mink (1927-2002)
First woman of color and first Asian-American elected to Congress. As a Japanese American, Mink was born in Hawaii, which she represented in Congress from 1965-1986; and from 1990-2002.
Michelle Yeoh (1962-present)
First Asian to win an Oscar for best actress, Yeoh claimed the award for her 2023 role in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Yeoh is an acclaimed Malaysian actress with more than 40 years in the industry, including roles in “Tomorrow Never Dies,” “Crouching Tiger,” “Memoirs of a Geisha” and “Crazy Rich Asians.”
Yo-Yo Ma (1955-present)
Renowned cellist and songwriter of Chinese descent. The child prodigy attended the Juilliard School and continues to excel throughout his adult life, producing more than 75 albums and winning 18 Grammy Awards.
Ke Huy Quan (1971-present)
First Vietnam-born actor to win an Academy Award. Born in Saigon, South Vietnam, Quan is an American actor who earned an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” As a child actor, Quan is best known for his roles in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “The Goonies.”
Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee (1896-1966)
American activist and minister born in 1896 in New York City. Lee was a leader in the women’s rights movement and campaigned for women’s suffrage. She became the first Chinese woman to earn a Ph.D. in economics and was the director of the First Chinese Baptist Church of New York City.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas (1982-present)
The winner of the Miss World 2000 pageant. Jonas was born in India, and is an award-winning actress and producer. She is the first South Asian actress to win a People’s Choice Award.
Celeste Ng (1980-present)
American writer and accomplished novelist born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Hong Kong. Her first novel, “Everything I Never Told You,” earned the 2014 Amazon Book of the Year, and her second novel, “Little Fires Everywhere,” was adapted into a miniseries.
The EPIC ERG is creating a multicultural cookbook, “Global Delights,” that represents the various background and cultures across the Company. This creative cookbook is a collection of diverse and delicious recipes shared by employees, accompanied by their stories and family traditions.
Share your taste of culture! Please contact Sonya Malcolm, EPIC Chair, at [email protected] to submit a recipe that reflects you.
Join One, Start One, Explore Them All
Join our EPIC Employee Resource Group!
The EPIC Employee Resource Group is open to all employees and encourages diversity by exploring the many cultures around the globe. Team members promote the heritage or ethnicity of our employees and offer opportunities for all to leverage their unique backgrounds which contribute to the success of our Company.
To join the EPIC ERG as a team member, supporter or ally, please contact Sonya Malcolm, EPIC Chair, at [email protected].
Our team values the strength of differences. This cultivates inclusion and drives innovation and creativity. ERGs involve employees who voluntarily organize around a particular identity, shared background or other interest aligning with the mission, vision and values of Chesapeake Utilities.
ERGs enable team members to share perspectives and experiences, advocate for common interests and provide recommendations that support key business objectives. They are a great place to build experiences and skills through mentorship, leadership opportunities and training. ERGS also offer opportunities to participate in community outreach and advocacy.
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