The 6th annual AANHPI celebration hosted by the New England Chinese American Alliance began not on a stage, but in motion.
A “freedom run” to the Bunker Hill Monument set the tone, with the Dragon Youth Sports Team leading the way along historic streets and raising a simple question: who has always been part of this story? By the time participants arrived at Boston Common, the answer was already visible in the community gathered there.
This year’s theme—“Many Roots, One Future: from the Freedom Trail toward the Future“—brought together community leaders, elected officials, youth performers, and cultural organizations across Massachusetts. The program featured performances across cultures, alongside remarks from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, NECAA youth leaders, State Representative Erika Uyterhoeven, and AAPIC Vice Chair Rakashi Chand.
In her remarks, Vice Chair Chand said:
“AAPI Heritage Month is a time to honor the many Asian American and Pacific Islander communities who call Massachusetts home… Our cultures, our histories, and our contributions strengthen every corner of this state.”
She also reflected on the broader arc of history as the nation marks 250 years:
“It is important to remember a truth that history too often overlooks: we were always here… AAPI communities have always been part of the American story. We are not newcomers to American history; we are authors of it.”
That belief is what shapes the work of the Massachusetts Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission. AAPIC exists to listen to communities across the Commonwealth and translate what it hears into policy recommendations and advocacy rooted in lived experience.
This work continues year-round through community listening sessions, partnerships across the Commonwealth, and policy recommendations shaped directly by the voices of residents and organizations we serve. Engagement is not symbolic—it is the foundation of how advocacy is built.
The Freedom Trail traces the nation’s beginnings. But as the “freedom run” and gathering at Boston Common made clear, this story is still unfolding—through the communities who have always been part of it, and through the work of ensuring their voices shape what comes next.
