2022-May-05

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Celebrating Our Pan-Asian Community

BY CHRISTY NAKASHIMA AND VICTOR LAM · WORLD CAAN CELEBRATION LEADS

WITH HELEN GALL

4 MINUTE READ · 6 MINUTE LISTEN

Cisco’s Connected Asian Affinity Network (CAAN) kicks off its annual World CAAN Celebration on Thursday, May 5, to commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the United States.

In its sixth year, the celebration is a time to recognize the contributions and influence of Pan-Asians across the globe, focusing on history, culture, and achievement.

Contributions and harmony

This year, we welcome the entire Cisco community to continue promoting the amazing contributions of the Pan-Asian community.

Through sharing knowledge, these events can increase awareness of Pan-Asian experiences and culture to promote global harmony. 

Reflect, Unite, Rewrite

The goal for this year’s event is to bring a voice to our Pan-Asian community by focusing on:

Cultural pride: Share our traditions, talents, and gratitude
Unification: Our community and attention to self-care and mental health
Social justice: Glimpse inside our Pan Asian colleagues’ past and present experiences that have helped shape our community 
Accomplishments and giving back: Join our journey through events and achievements

Amazing Guests

Throughout May, World CAAN Celebration will feature three keynote speakers:

Dr. Erika Lee, Professor and Author

Thursday, May 5, at 9-10 a.m. PDT
Tune in on Cisco TV

One of the nation’s leading immigration and Asian American historians, Erika teaches American history at the University of Minnesota as a Regents Professor, a Distinguished McKnight University Professor, the Rudolph J. Vecoli Chair in Immigration History, and the Director of the Immigration History Research Center.

The granddaughter of Chinese immigrants, Lee grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, attended Tufts University, and received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

She was recently elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, testified before Congress during its historic hearings on discrimination and violence against Asian Americans, was awarded an Andrew Carnegie Fellowship, and was named President-Elect of the Organization of American Historians.

Lee is also the author of four award-winning books on U.S. immigration and Asian American history: At America’s Gates: Chinese Immigration during the Exclusion Era, 1882-1943,  Angel Island: Immigrant Gateway to America, The Making of Asian America: A History, America for Americans: A History of Xenophobia in the United States.

Lisa Ling, Journalist and Media Personality with moderator VP, Chief Privacy Officer Harvey Jang

Wednesday, May 11 from 9-10 a.m. PDT
Tune in on Webex Webinar

Lisa is an American journalist, television personality, and author. She currently hosts “This Is Life with Lisa Ling” on CNN.

Previously, she was a reporter on Channel One News, cohosted ABC’s daytime talk show “The View” (1999–2002), hosted “National Geographic Explorer” (2003–2010), and was a special correspondent for “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Ling later hosted “Our America with Lisa Ling” on the Oprah Winfrey Network (2011 to 2014).

Most recently, Lisa has hosted a six-part documentary series titled “Take Out with Lisa Ling.” In Take Out, Lisa — whose own family story began in a Chinese restaurant — travels from the bayous of Louisiana to Orange County’s Little Saigon, exploring the foods we love while shining an overdue spotlight on contributions Asian Americans have been making since before the United States was even the United States.

Daniel Dae Kim, Actor, Director, Producer with moderator SVP/GM for Webex Calling and Contact Center Lorrissa Horton

May 25 and 26
In collaboration with the Cisco Illuminate Your Learning series

Daniel is a South Korean American actor and producer. He is known for his roles as Jin-Soo Kwon in “Lost,” Chin Ho Kelly in “Hawaii Five-0,” Gavin Park in “Angel,” and Johnny Gat in the “Saints Row” videogame series.

He runs a production company, 3AD, which currently produces the television series “The Good Doctor.” He portrayed Ben Daimio in the superhero film “Hellboy” (2019) and voiced Chief Benja in the Disney animated film “Raya and the Last Dragon” (2021).

Kim has also been a vocal activist on Asian American discrimination in the United States. After he tested positive for COVID-19, he spoke out against the xenophobia and racism related to the pandemic and spoke to Congress, urging lawmakers to pass more strict laws to reduce hate crimes.

Support the Pan-Asian Community

CAAN is proud to be part of Cisco’s inclusive communities. CAAN works in solidarity with other employee resource organizations, including them in our events and programming.

For more information on the events mentioned above, visit the World CAAN Celebration page on SharePoint.

To take action and support the Pan-Asian community, take the CAAN Pledge today.