Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

Celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month 

May 1, 2025 - AFA is proud to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month in May, an annual national observance celebrating the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States.

While we celebrate the contributions of trailblazers, this month is not just a time to highlight history—we must take on racism, poverty and inequality today to make lasting change. That starts in our union, in our industry and our country.

Asian and Pacific Islanders Aviation Heroes >

In 2022, our union developed an AAPI pin. Local Councils will receive the pins and distribute them. Diversity and Inclusion pins were a concept put forward by AFA members through AFA structure. We now have a PRIDE pin, a Black History Month pin, Black Lives Matter pin, AAPI pin, Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month Pin, and a Native American pin. We expect to hear from additional members who want to celebrate our diverse history, and we will take similar action when we do.

Throughout AAPI Heritage Month, we want to uplift leaders in our own union. Do you know a Flight Attendant leader or activist who goes above and beyond in our union? Nominate them to be featured in May.

	"Joni embodies the spirit of Aloha through her gentle and caring nature. Combined with the resilience and inner strength of a fierce warrior, she has dedicated her career to protecting and inspiring our members." — Tim Green, Alaska-Hawaiian MEC President.
	“Arvee, a New Yorker from Queens, has volunteered for AFA since 2015 starting with the RSV committee. After tirelessly assisting reserves all hours of the day and night, she switched gears in 2019 and now builds domestic lines. Council 6 is grateful for all of Arvee’s hard work and dedication to AFA members.” — Eileen Lovell, United AFA Council 6.
	“I’ve been with Spirit for almost 12 years. Being of Filipino descent is deeply important to me because it connects me to a cultural heritage rooted in resilience, family, and community. Growing up with Filipino values like bayanihan (community spirit), respect for elders, and the importance of hospitality has shaped who I am and how I interact with the world. Embracing my Filipino roots allows me to honor my ancestors, celebrate my culture, and pass on meaningful values to future generations.”
	As a Native Hawaiian, AAPI Month is a time to honor my ancestors and celebrate the culture and values that shape who I am. Being a Flight Attendant allows me to share my heritage and represent a community often overlooked. Raised with the spirit of aloha, respect, and connection, I carry those values with me at work and in union service. AAPI Month reminds us to uplift our stories, perpetuate our cultures, and advocate for visibility and equity.”
	“As a proud Chamorro-Filipino and based on GUM, my home island, sharing our ‘Hafa Adai’ spirit is important to us, and we share that with our passengers. Working on GUM, we are a family. We take care of each other and the people we care about. Our culture and respect for each other gets passed on to our passengers, coworkers, and family. As we say here, ‘Welcome to the warmth of Paradise.’ Hafa Adai, yan Prubechu (Hello and Welcome).”