BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Kern County launched its Asian Chamber of Commerce Friday morning at the Liberty Bell.
Each May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander — or AAPI — Heritage Month, designated by President George H.W. Bush in 1990.
The Biden administration has made it even more inclusive, calling it Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Throughout the country, the month calls for a celebration of that community.
Kern County celebrated by launching the Kern Asian Chamber of Commerce and recognizing the group’s more than 150 years here.
“This is a very historical day, how are we feeling this morning? Yeah!” said an energetic Raji Brar, businesswoman and board member of the California Chamber of Commerce.
That enthusiasm was very well maintained by other speakers, including president of the Asian Chamber of Commerse, Vivian Cao.
“The Asian community has been here for 150 years, more than that, actually, and it’s just now launching, and so it’s time,” Cao said of the launch.
Cao said as someone from Orange County, an area with heavy Asian presence and representation, launching the chamber in Kern was a bit of a “challenge accepted.”
The president said she hopes the chamber can be “a platform for congregation,” raising awareness for those who have yet to see the impact of the Asian community, especially in the economic landscape.
The group’s debut, which organizers say took decades, also was celebrated by county supervisors, city councilmembers and Mayor Karen Goh, many who are also Asian American and Pacific Islanders themselves.
“The first Sikh American at state office, the first south Asian woman in the Legislature in the state was elected from Delano as well,” Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains, explaining the firsts she’s contributed to…
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