Museum with Asian Pacific American Heritage Month panel

HOLLAND, Mich. – The Holland Museum hosts a panel in honor of the month of May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The panel will take place on Thursday, April 19.

The panel will discuss how they proudly share their Asian and Pacific Islander cultures with others in the West Michigan community. There is also talk of what is being done to increase their presence.

Holland Museum

Jennifer Pascua

The panel will be moderated by Jennifer Pascua. Pascua is Lead Community Relations at Spectrum Health, with a focus on relationship management in the Community Partnership Team. She is also the Founder/Owner of Halo Halo Multimedia, LLC, a freelance micromedia service working to advance BIPOC and women entrepreneurs, disability and nonprofit organizations. She is also an Associate Professor in the Communications Department at Hope College. From 2005-2018 Pascua was a journalist and presenter for WZZM 13.

The panel will also include Bing Goei, CEO of Eastern Floral and the Goei Center. Goei has also served as chairman of the Asia-Pacific American Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, and director of the Office for New American in former Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration. Another member of the panel will be Ace Marasigan, who created the annual Grand Rapids Asian Festival in 2017. Stella Michael will also be a member of the board. Michael is Director of CRM Platforms and Applications at Spectrum Health. She is also a co-founder of Asian American Community Engagement (AACE) and the Asian Inclusion Resources Group at Spectrum Health. Michael is also the Board Chair of the West Michigan Asian American Association. Pujita Sieplinga will also be on the podium. Pujita is Associate Vice President and Advisor for PNC Organizational Financial Wellness. She is also Vice President’s Vice President for PNC’s Western Michigan Multicultural Group.

“We are pleased to provide a forum for this important conversation about Asian and Pacific Islanders,” said Ricki Levine, executive director of the Holland Museum. “As a cultural institution, the Holland Museum has a responsibility to provide opportunities to learn from one another, celebrate our differences and explore our collective humanity.”

“We value the diverse communities we serve and are excited to be part of the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month panel discussion, which enhances the history, perspectives and experiences of our members of the AAPI community,” said Bill Hoefer, President of Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital. “We applaud the Holland Museum for focusing on voices that have not been heard nearly enough in the past. As a health organization, we know that health is better when we feel we belong.”

The panel discussion will take place on Thursday, May 19 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Participation in the panel discussion requires registration, which can be done on Eventbrite.

Follow FOX 17: Facebook – Twitter -Instagram Youtube

Comments are closed.