A post from our Volunteer

My name is Julienne Pagulayan. I’m from Bowie, Maryland, and just graduated high school from the Academy of Health Sciences of Prince George's Community College.

I joined the AsianWeek Database project as a video intern because I saw an important gap that the AsianWeek Database fills for youth and the educational system.

Many AAPI youth, like myself, don't know about their culture and heritage. AsianWeek Database opens their eyes to a history and a perspective that younger people aren't familiar with. The AsianWeek Database documents how our community developed a united identity by bringing together all of our different Asian cultures. These kinds of courses aren’t taught in schools, specifically around Asian American culture.

I helped the AsianWeek Database project to produce videos that interviewed prominent national community leaders, and everyday Asian Americans. AsianWeek uses this video series to help communicate the importance of being seen and heard in America. AWDB also uses these videos, and its social media and community partnerships to inform and unite the Asian American community by disseminating our shared histories.

Mainstream culture primarily pushes "American" culture that forces a level of assimilation. It doesn't show as much behind the scenes, or the cultures of other countries. The AsianWeek Database helps our community to be heard by mainstream American society through the recording of our community’s history and milestones. AWDB sets the example by covering all the diverse Asian communities. AWDB also helps us better understand how to unite our unique identity today.

- Database user & contributor, Julienne Pagulayan