The story behind Asian Pacific American Heritage, and why it's celebrated in May

May marks Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which celebrates the histories of Americans hailing from across the Asian continent and from the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

This year’s theme, selected by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council, is “Advancing Leaders Through Collaboration,” which builds on a leadership advancement theme series that began last year.

Cynthia Choi, co-executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate says the month is a time to speak out, share stories and debunk myths about Asian communities, she said. But it’s not the only time to celebrate Asian culture or diversity.