COUNCIL MEMBER WANIKA FISHER HOSTS ‘AAPI LEADERSHIP AND BREAKING BARRIERS’ EVENT HONORING FORMER STATE DELEGATE DAVID VALDERRAMA
Maryland’s Lt. Governor Aruna Miller Featured Keynote Speaker
Prince George’s County Council Member Wanika Fisher (District 2) will host an AAPI Leadership and Breaking Barriers event honoring the first AAPI State Delegate for Prince George’s County, David Valderrama, on Thursday, May 18th, 6:00 p.m. at Rollingcrest Community Center, 6120 Sargent Road, in Chillum.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will commemorate AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Heritage Month, and honor David Valderrama, the first Asian American and first Filipino American elected to the Maryland General Assembly. Attendees will have an opportunity to experience AAPI cultures and traditions through music, food, and special performances. Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, who made history as the first South Asian woman elected lieutenant governor in the United States, will serve as the event’s featured keynote speaker.
Council Member Fisher, the first AAPI member serving on the County Council, says AAPI Heritage Month is an ideal time to honor the contributions of Prince George’s County’s AAPI cultures, communities, and leaders who have enriched our history and paved the way so others might follow.
“The opportunity to celebrate the AAPI community and recognize David Valderrama is an honor and a privilege. Mr. Valderrama was a fierce advocate for AAPI families, communities, and individuals before the term was ‘coined,’ and we want to recognize and honor his many contributions, which have cleared a path for so many of us who currently serve in leadership, adding, “This is also a time for us to learn more about the historical and cultural contributions of friends and neighbors of Asian and Pacific Islander decent, so we might better understand each other as we build community together. This event promises to be an exciting time and we invite residents to join the activities.”
The AAPI Leadership and Breaking Barriers event is co-sponsored by the AAPI Democratic Club of Prince George’s County, the Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee, and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) Department of Parks and Recreation.
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