By Nicholas Ditro, Francesca Lombardo, Alex Thomas
On January 14, 1987, the Balch Institute hosted an exhibit showcasing the contributions of prominent Chinese American women from 1834 to 1982 (Figure 1). Co-sponsored by the Chinese American Women of the Delaware Valley along with various organizations and private donors, the exhibit ran for three months, concluding on March 30th. The event was a remarkable success, leading to the creation of the Asian American Women's Coalition (AAWC) later that year. The AAWC’s mission is to help Asian American women become leaders and to provide a supportive space for Asian American women. Some notable members of the organization include founding members Ida Chen, the first Asian American Judge in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Cecilia Moy Yep, the Executive Director Emeritus of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC).
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s organizations developed to advocate for Asian-American rights. Early on, Asian-American groups in Philadelphia came together to establish the Pan Asian Association of Greater Philadelphia (PAA) in 1981. The Pan Asian Association works to offer support to Asian communities and to organize within Asian communities within the Philadelphia area. The PAA also balances the concerns of various different ethnic groups throughout the region. To do this, the association decided on a novel organizational structure. Its board of directors would consist directly of several pre-existing organizations that represented the interests of specific identities, such as Chinese Americans, Filipino Americans, Indian Americans, and Japanese Americans, and numerous others. Each member organization would send a representative who would have one vote on the board. That way, all Asian-Americans in the city would be represented.
The Pan Asian Association of Greater Philadelphia also aims to educate people about Asian-American identity and culture, promoting a positive image of Asian Americans to the public, and encouraging leadership within the Asian-American community. The Pan Asian Association has accomplished these goals through community events and organizing seminars to encourage Asian-American leadership (Figure 2).
One such event is the Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Festival. The festival seeks to unite the Asian American population of Philadelphia and to educate the general public about the Asian-American community. The association has also been an advocate for social-justice and equity, holding those responsible for racist or prejudiced behaviors. For example, in June of 1990, PAA chair Skip Voluntad and member of Mayor Wilson Goode’s Asian American Advisory Board, wrote a letter to WIP-AM radio, criticizing a DJ for making racist comments on air. He asked the radio station manager to direct the staff and guests that such comments were unacceptable, concluding that "Asian Americans are taking notice."1
The work of Skip Voluntad and other members of the Pan-Asian Association would go beyond social-justice, resulting in legislation. In March 1990, the Philadelphia City Council, led by Joseph Coleman, passed Resolution 771 (Figure 3) which established the second week of May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week in Philadelphia. The effort to establish Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week was spearheaded by the Pan Asian Association of Greater Philadelphia to celebrate and highlight the efforts and achievements of AAPI people, communities, and organizations.
On May 6th of that year, Mayor Wilson Goode would personally read the city resolution to commemorate the start of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week the following day. Around the same time, then Governor of Pennsylvania, Bob Casey Sr. would proclaim the same week as a statewide celebration of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.
The endorsement of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week by the Philadelphia City Council in 1990 was an important step in the recognition of the efforts of Asian/Pacific Americans. While Asian/Pacific Americans remain under-represented in Philadelphia, the first Asian-American to serve on the Philadelphia City Council, David Oh, was elected in 2012. In striving for further representation, the words of the Philadelphia City Council within Resolution 771 should be regarded by all, “We.. urge all our neighbors of Asian-American descent to reflect on their proud past as they look ahead to a bright future filled with success and happiness”.
Today, the Pan Asian Association of Greater Philadelphia remains an active and involved organization, elevating the voices of Asian and Pacific Americans within the Philadelphia area. Visitors to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania are welcome to research the Pan Asian Association’s collection. They can find resources regarding the establishment of the organization, the organization’s work over the years, and their relationship with the city – specifically in regard to the Mayor’s Office.
Voluntad, Skip. Letter to Jack Williams. 10 June 1990. Pan Asian Association Collection. Coll. Number MSS 138. Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Pennsylvania.
Nicholas Ditro is a senior history major at LaSalle University. Francesca Lombardo is a senior at Rowan University, pursuing degrees in history and education. Alex Thomas is a sophomore at Temple University majoring in political science. Ditro, Lombardo, and Thomas were participants in HSP’s undergraduate Public History Summer Academy. They spent a week in August 2024 learning about archival research and public history practice and careers. Drawing on the vast collections at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the students focused their research on city government and citizen action in Philadelphia. Visit https://www.portal.hsp.org/phisa for more information.
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