TOLEDO, Ohio — May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and Women of Toledo and HerHub are partnering to provide a luncheon on Thursday with more than just food.
The organizers say the event is to celebrate those of Asian American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander descent and gives women a chance to learn how to celebrate different cultures and network while doing so.
"Toledo is beautiful. Northwest Ohio is amazing. There's a lot to offer. We have a lot of people here that if we understand their story, if we understand what we've been through, we'll be inspired," said Sierra Ortiz, associate director of Women of Toledo. "You think about the history of Toledo and Northwest Ohio. It's built on different cultures coming together within their own little pockets of the community. It's the food, it's the perseverance, it's the faith, whatever type of religion, ideology or theology that people can bring, that's something that should be celebrated."
The luncheon, which will be held at the Glass City Metropark from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. will feature international speakers and consultants with the United Nations.
"We're continuing to empower our HerHub directory listings through economic empowerment by showing and encouraging them to use referral power teams to grow their business for economic equity," Ortiz said.
Women of Toledo wants to do more for the AANHPI community, too, she said.
"Right now is incredibly important to look to that community and say we support you," Ortiz said. "We might not understand every single bit of your culture, but your culture is something that should be worthy of respect."
Xianshuang Zhang is from China and works at the Asian Development Bank as a regional gender specialist consultant and will be a speaker for the panel.
She hopes people can open their minds and learn more from the event.
"When you are immersed in your own community, you don't know that you're different from others," Zhang said. "But, when you come to another country, you will realize that there are so many people from different cultural backgrounds."
Back home, she says things are different and she was excited to witness America as a melting pot despite the recent hate that Asian people have experienced over the last few years.
"I think it comes from sometimes ignorance, or you don't know what's going on. The people are always scared of things that they don't know," Zhang said.
Ortiz agreed, expressing her disappointment with the treatment of the AANHPI community over the last few years.
"It's unfortunate when we look at a certain individual and assume that they are either disease-ridden or they do something that we would never, that we look down upon and say I don't respect what you do," she said.
Zhang says she's excited to see Americans embracing different Asian cultures.
"I'm so glad that people here still feature their identity, their diverse background, and to celebrate," Zhang said.
The group's next meeting is May 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Bombay Kitchen located at 5228 Monroe St. in Toledo.
"It's really important to highlight the diversity that we have in northwest Ohio. Toledo is a beautiful example of that mixed salad or that melting pot," Ortiz said at Thursday's luncheon. "We have so many different cultures and communities that found northwest Ohio to be home and we don't want them to lose their sense of identity."