Honoring the contributions and achievements of Asian American and Pacific Islander and Jewish Americans.

The City of Boulder is committed to building a welcoming, inclusive and diverse community, where all community members experience physical health, safety and well-being.

May marks the celebration of both Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month. During this time, we recognize and honor the contributions and achievements of these two communities to our society and culture. We encourage you to take the opportunity to learn more about the history and experiences of AAPI and Jewish Americans in Boulder and beyond.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian American and Pacific Islander encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).

The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese immigrant to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

Resources to learn more:

Jewish American Heritage Month

Jewish American Heritage Month celebrates the vibrant and varied American Jewish experience.

The month of May was chosen due to the highly successful celebration of the 350th Anniversary of American Jewish History in May 2004, which was organized by the Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History. This commission was composed of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, the American Jewish Historical Society, the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration.

Resources to learn more:

Fostering Belonging in Communities and Respecting Human Rights

While we strive to create a welcoming and inclusive community for all, we acknowledge that discrimination in our community is a reality. The Human Rights Ordinance exists to protect against discrimination in Boulder and assist people who have been discriminated against in three areas, including:

  • Housing

  • Employment

  • Public accommodation in places such as stores, restaurants, health clubs and movie theaters

Within these areas, the ordinance prohibits discrimination based on ancestry, color, creed, gender variance, genetic characteristics, immigration status, marital status, mental disability, national origin, physical disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and source of income. In housing, it also prohibits discrimination based on custody of a minor child, parenthood and pregnancy. In employment, it also prohibits discrimination based on age, specifically 40 and older.

City Council enacted the Human Rights Ordinance in 1972 to create prompt, local protection and for classes not protected at the state or federal levels, such as sexual orientation, gender variance and genetic characteristics.

If you or someone you know has been the target of discrimination, you can file a claim through the City of Boulder’s Human Rights Ordinance. Learn more on the city’s website.

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