By Jan Xie, President of the Asian Culture and Education Society USA (ACAESUSA)
作者：解健，美国亚洲文化与教育联盟（ACAESUSA）会长
美国亚洲文化与教育联盟（ACAESUSA）能够共同主办2024年全国AANHPI团结峰会，真是莫大的荣幸。这次峰会为我们提供了一个独特的平台，探讨AANHPI社区的共同经历、挑战和愿望。我被富有力量的讨论深深感动，尤其是ACAESUSA协助举办的青年研讨会。看到来自不同背景的青年领袖满怀热情地讨论他们的未来，给我留下了深刻的印象。他们的能量、勇气和对改变的渴望，完美诠释了我们为何从事这一工作的意义所在.
今年峰会的亮点之一是ACAESUSA在国会山举办的艺术展，展示了来自世界各地的艺术家的佳作。今年的主题是“爱之世界”，我们收集了来自国际的艺术作品。展览不仅庆祝了文化表达，还通过艺术这门世界通用的语言促进了跨文化的理解。看到艺术可以成为连接和赋权社区的桥梁，令人倍感鼓舞。2024年ACAESUSA国际艺术展览和比赛的艺术作品将用于筹集资金，帮助有自闭症和心理健康问题的学生。我诚邀所有峰会与会者访问这个网页并了解如何捐款并参与这一有影响力的活动.
峰会晚宴上，ACAESUSA团队的传统歌曲演唱将现场的喜悦和友谊氛围推向高潮。我们饱含感情的歌声为晚宴增添了欢庆的氛围，展示了文化传统的美好，也进一步凸显了快乐与团结在我们工作中的重要性。这是一个令人动容的时刻，彰显了艺术、文化与社区之间的深厚联系。
此外，我感到非常幸运，能够在此次峰会期间在白宫发表演讲。这是一次令我谦卑的经历，我衷心感谢所有为此机会做出努力的人。在演讲中，我表达了消除反亚裔仇恨的愿望，这种仇恨深深影响了我们的社区。我希望通过我们共同的努力，能够建立一个反对仇恨和歧视的社会。
我要向拜登总统为此次会议所写的信表示衷心的感谢，这封信赋予了此次会议极大的意义。我还要感谢Erika将这封信送到我们手中，感谢白宫AAPI工作人员Emily, Krystal and Kota 为我们提供在如此重要平台上发声的机会。
峰会上展现出的团结不仅令人鼓舞，也证明了当我们团结一致时，社区的力量有多么强大。倡导、民众参与和跨文化理解的主题引起了强烈共鸣，这提醒我们，作为领导者，我们有责任为未来的世代铺平道路。
尽管我对峰会的结果感到满意，特别是青年参与和文化展览的深远影响，但我们仍有许多成长的空间。对于未来的活动，我建议扩大青年研讨会的规模，提供更多互动式的工作坊，帮助年轻参与者合作制定可行的计划，并带回各自的社区。同时，创造更多的导师机会和跨代对话也将进一步丰富峰会的体验。
我还要感谢常教授，他通过影片记录了此次峰会的精髓。这些录像将成为未来反思和启发的重要资源。
展望2025年峰会，ACAESUSA期待继续我们的合作，并为加强AANHPI社区团结的使命做出贡献。我们完全致力于这一共同愿景，并将不懈努力，确保下一届峰会能够在今年成功的基础上更进一步。
感谢组织委员会、共同主办方和所有与会者，使这一峰会成为一次难忘的经历。你们的贡献留下了深远的影响，我期待与大家一起继续这段旅程。
此致，
解健
美国亚洲文化与教育联盟（ACAESUSA）会长
It was a profound honor for the Asian Culture and Education Society USA (ACAESUSA) to co-host the 2024 National AANHPI Unity Summit. This gathering provided a unique platform to address the collective experiences, challenges, and aspirations of the AANHPI communities. I was deeply moved by the powerful discussions, particularly the Youth Seminar, which ACAESUSA helped facilitate. Witnessing young leaders from diverse backgrounds passionately engage in conversations about their future left a lasting impression on me. Their energy, courage, and desire to contribute to meaningful change encapsulated the very essence of why we do this work. Pictures
A highlight of this year’s summit was the ACAESUSA art exhibition at Capitol Hill, showcasing artistic talent from around the world. This year’s theme, World of Love, brought together international art submissions. The exhibit not only celebrated cultural expression but also fostered cross-cultural understanding through the universal language of art. It was inspiring to see how art can serve as a bridge to connect and empower communities. The art pieces from the 2024 ACAESUSA International Art Exhibit & Contest will raise funds to support students with autism and mental health challenges. I invite all summit attendees to visit https://acaesusa.org/art-exhibit-%26-contest for more information on how to donate and participate in this impactful event.
The joy and camaraderie shared at the summit banquet were elevated by the ACAESUSA team’s performance of traditional songs. Their heartfelt singing brought a celebratory spirit to the evening, showcasing the beauty of cultural traditions and reinforcing the importance of joy and unity in our work. It was a touching moment that highlighted the deep connections between art, culture, and community.
I also feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to speak at the White House during this summit. It was a humbling experience, and I want to express my heartfelt thanks to those who made this possible. During my speech, I shared my wish to end anti-Asian hate, which has deeply affected our communities. It is my hope that through our collective efforts, we can build a society that stands against hate and discrimination in all its forms.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to President Biden for his thoughtful letter to this conference, which added immense significance to the event. I am also grateful to Erika for sending this letter and to the AAPI White House staff (Emily , Krystal and Kota for giving us the opportunity to have a voice at such a prestigious platform.
The unity displayed at the Summit was not only inspiring but also served as a testament to the strength of our communities when we stand together. The themes of advocacy, civic engagement, and cross-cultural understanding resonated strongly, reminding me that, as leaders, we have the responsibility to continue paving the way for future generations.
While I am pleased with how the Summit unfolded, particularly with the impactful youth engagement and cultural exhibitions, there are always opportunities to grow. For future events, I suggest expanding the Youth Seminar to provide even more interactive workshops where young participants can collaborate on actionable plans they can take back to their communities. Creating additional opportunities for mentorship and cross-generational dialogue would also further enrich the experience.
I would also like to express my gratitude to Professor Chang for capturing the Summit’s essence through film. These recordings will serve as valuable resources for reflection and inspiration in the years to come.
As we look forward to the 2025 Summit, ACAESUSA is eager to continue our partnership and contribute to the ongoing mission of strengthening unity among AANHPI communities. We are fully committed to this shared vision and will work tirelessly to ensure that the next summit builds upon the successes of this year.
Thank you to the organizing committee, fellow co-hosts, and all participants for making this summit an unforgettable experience. Your contributions have left an indelible mark, and I look forward to continuing this journey together.
Warm regards,
Jan Xie
President, Asian Culture and Education Society USA (ACAESUSA)