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Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Hillsboro!

During May and throughout the year, we are honored to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) people and the depth, breadth, and richness of their culture in Hillsboro and beyond.

Visit the Library of Congress Asian Pacific American Heritage Month webpage.

2025 Theme: A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience

This year, the City of Hillsboro proudly honors Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month under the theme A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience.

This theme recognizes the powerful contributions AANHPI communities have made in shaping history, advancing equity, and leading with strength across generations—often in the face of adversity.

Learn more about this year’s AANHPI Heritage Month Theme by visiting the Federal Asian Pacific American Council’s webpage.

Countries of Cultural Heritage

People with Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander heritage descend or emigrate from a vast range of unique and diverse cultures and countries.

Notice:
Many of the links included in the following content sections are to third party websites. The City of Hillsboro does not endorse any of the following products or services and the quality of each website will vary.

Events

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City of Hillsboro Programs

Hillsboro's Sister City: Fukuroi, Japan

Hillsboro and Fukuroi celebrates 37 years as a Sister City in November 2025. Throughout the years, the two cities have participated in student and employee exchange programs, annual gift exchanges of cultural artifacts, and more.

Visit the fifth floor of the Hillsboro Civic Center to see art, artifacts, and documents that detail the relationship.

About Fukuroi

Fukuroi is on the coastal plain in southwestern Shizuoka Prefecture and has a mild maritime climate with hot, humid summers and short, cool winters.

Distance from Hillsboro: 4,943 miles
Population: 88,395
Agriculture: Main crops are green tea and musk melons, like the Shizouka Crown Musk Melon
Industry: Includes food processing, cosmetics, pharmaceutical plants, electronics and automotive components
Currency: Yen

Sister City Student Delegation

The Sister City Student Delegation is a cultural exchange program through the City of Hillsboro’s Sister City relationship with Fukuroi, Japan. Every two years, Hillsboro and Fukuroi alternate hosting student delegations. In June 2025, ten Hillsboro students will travel to Fukuroi, with Fukuroi students scheduled to visit Hillsboro in 2027.

This meaningful exchange gives high school students the opportunity to serve as youth ambassadors, build international friendships, and experience life in another country. While abroad, delegates participate in homestays, visit schools, attend cultural workshops, and engage in community activities that deepen their understanding of Japanese culture and global citizenship.

Students are selected through a competitive application and interview process and take part in orientation, fundraising, and team-building activities before traveling.

For more information about how to apply or get involved, please contact: Michaela.Canete@hillsboro-oregon.gov

Employee Affinity Group (EAG)

The AANHPI Employee Affinity Group (EAG) was formed to build a welcoming and supportive space for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander employees across the City of Hillsboro. Its mission is to foster cultural understanding, empower professional development, and promote belonging through community, advocacy, and education.

About the AANHPI EAG

As part of the City’s commitment to equity and inclusion, the AANHPI EAG:

Creates opportunities for connection, celebration, and dialogue among AANHPI-identifying staff.
Elevates the voices, stories, and experiences of AANHPI employees through internal events, heritage month programming, and learning opportunities.
Shares perspectives on workplace culture and community engagement efforts that impact AANHPI employees and the communities they serve.
Collaborates with other EAGs and departments to support a more inclusive and culturally responsive workplace.

Over the last year since its development, the AANHPI EAG has grown into an active and engaged group—providing opportunities to celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month, developing educational resources, supporting representation in City initiatives, and building cross-departmental relationships to strengthen visibility and cultural awareness throughout the organization.

Participation is open to all City of Hillsboro employees—whether you identify as part of the AANHPI community or wish to serve as an ally and learn more. Together, we work to create a City organization where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

For more information or to get involved, please contact: AANHPI.EAG@hillsboro-oregon.gov

Art, Culture, & Nature

Jackson Bottom: Environmental Leader Spotlight

On your next visit to Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve this May, learn about environmental leaders from right here at Jackson Bottom and around the country that have contributed to conservation while honoring the rich cultural heritage we celebrate during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Pattern Reidy

Jackson Bottom Nature Maintenance Worker

Jackson Bottom’s year-round Nature Maintenance Worker, handling everything from trail checks, invasive species management, and seed collection and dispersal to leading community planting and trail chipping events.

Nancy M. Lin

Wetlands Protector, Public Servant

Nancy M. Lin is nationally recognized for her work in wetlands conservation. She has over thirty years of experience as a wetlands protection regulator, senior environmental analyst, and outreach training manager for the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Division of Wetland and Waterways in Massachusetts.

Yenyen Chan

Park Ranger, Historian

For Yosemite National Park ranger Yenyen Chan, a curiosity about Chinese history in the park turned into a mission to discover and share cultural stories that might otherwise be forgotten.􀀃

Craig Santos Perez

Eco-poet, Environmentalist

Craig Santos Perez is a poet, essayist, and teacher from the indigenous Chamorro people of the Pacific Island of Guam.

Japanese American Museum of Oregon (JAMO)

Formerly known as the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, JAMO at Naito Center is a venue for culture and research as well as an invaluable resource for exploring Nikkei experiences and their role in Oregon's multicultural community.

Visit the JAMO website.

Portland Japanese Garden

When His Excellency Nobuo Matsunaga, the former Ambassador of Japan to the United States, visited Portland Japanese Garden, he proclaimed it to be “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan.”

The Garden sits nestled in the hills of Portland, Oregon’s iconic Washington Park, overlooking the city and providing a tranquil, urban oasis for locals and travelers alike.

Visit the Portland Japanese Garden website.

Lan Su Chinese Garden

A result of a collaboration between the cities of Portland and Suzhou, Portland's sister city in China's Jiangsu province that's famous for its beautiful Ming dynasty gardens, Lan Su was built by Chinese artisans from Suzhou and is one the most authentic Chinese gardens outside of China.

Visit the Lan Su Chinese Garden website.

Portland Chinatown Museum

The Portland Chinatown Museum (PCM) is Oregon’s first museum about Chinese American history, art, and culture. Opened to the public in December 2018 in an historic building at NW Third Avenue and Davis Street, the Museum honors Portland Chinatown’s past, celebrates its present, and is helping to create its future.

Visit the Portland Chinatown Museum website.

Support Local Businesses

Support Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in Hillsboro when you shop, eat, and get pampered at small locally-owned businesses.

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Business List

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

Barbershops and Hair Salons

Childcare and Education

Dental and Medical Offices

Fitness and Yoga

Lodging Facilities

Holiday Inn Express
Staybridge Suites
Cedartree Hotel

Professional Services and Consultants

ACK American Vacations Inc.
Bayani Designs
Compuchips CPC
GoFlight Technologies
Cornell Coin Laundry
RGL Water Purification, Inc
Royalty Trips LLC
The UPS Store, Imbrie Location #4174
Walnut Laundry

Restaurants, Bars, and Food Carts

Retail

503 Mobile Wheels & Tires
Amrapali
Aqua Terra Pet Décor

Spas, Nail Salons, and Massage

Aria Nails & Spa
Gorgeous Nails & Spa
Happy Nails & Lashes
Isse Salon
Melody Nail & Spa
NT Nails
Natural Nails
Poshe' Salon
Rainbow Nails & Spa
Tresor Day Spa

Library Resources & Reading Lists

Honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future with these recommendations for all age groups from Hillsboro Public Library.

Library Reading Lists

Lectura en español

Local Resources

Community Organizations

The community organizations below support Asian and Pacific Islander health, wellness, advocacy, and culture.

Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) APANO logo

APANO unites Asians and Pacific Islanders to build power, develop leaders, and advance equity through organizing, advocacy, community development and cultural work.

Asian Health & Service Center Asian Health & Services Center logo

The mission of Asian Health & Service Center is to be the bridge between Asian and American cultures and build a harmonious community. Their vision is to reduce health inequity and improve health care quality for all Asians.

Oregon Rises Above Hate Rise Above Hate Logo

A group of AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander) leaders who want to defeat anti-Asian hate through government action, broad educational programs, and by harnessing the power of the entire AANHPI community and all Oregonians.

API Forward API Forward logo

API Forward’s mission is to inspire, develop, and advocate for Asian American and Pacific Islanders to become civically engaged and socially responsible leaders in Oregon and Washington.

Marianas Alliance for Growth of Islanders

Mariana's Alliance for Growth of Islanders primary goal is to preserve the unique cultural heritage of the indigenous population across the Mariana Islands. They aim to safeguard traditional customs, practices, arts, and crafts, ensuring that they are passed down to future generations.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The City of Hillsboro is committed to instilling diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential parts of policy-making and the delivery of City services. Learn more about our equity work and browse our Celebrating Culture series through the buttons below.

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