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Celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of people of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. The month of May was chosen* for AANHPI Heritage Month because it commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States on May 7, 1843. May is also a significant month because it recognizes Golden Spike Day*, May 10, 1869, which marks the completion of the transcontinental railroad* that was built with significant contributions from Chinese workers.
In Atlanta, our Asian and Pacific Islander business resource group (BRG) celebrated by hosting an outdoor event that welcomed more than 150 employees to partake in spirited cricket and badminton tournaments, while offering an array of Asian street foods and traditional music.
The true success of the event was in its ability to unite employees while capturing the importance of culture, togetherness, and appreciation of AANHPI histories and experiences. The celebration brought our community together in a spirit of unity, respect, and joy, creating lasting memories and strengthening our collective commitment to diversity and inclusion.
HBCUs: Pillars of Black History
In February, we take time to recognize, acknowledge and celebrate Black History in the United States. A major part of Black history and the development of significant and notable Black people who have made major contributions to society derives from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, known as HBCUs. These institutions were established in the 19th century to provide higher education for African Americans, who were denied access to predominantly white institutions due to racial segregation and discrimination. The first HBCU was Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, founded in 1837. Today, there are over 100 HBCUs in the United States, including well-known institutions such as North Carolina A&T State University, Howard University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Tennessee State University.
HBCUs were created with the belief that education is a fundamental right and that African Americans should have equal opportunities to pursue higher learning. These institutions became centers of intellectual and cultural development – nurturing the talents and aspirations of students and faculty while providing a safe space where scholars, educators, and leaders can flourish and make significant contributions to society. HBCUs continue to play a vital role in empowering African American communities and contributing to the advancement of society.
Since their inception, HBCUs have produced groundbreaking research in various fields – including medicine, engineering, agriculture, and social sciences. These institutions have also played a vital role in promoting diversity in research and academia; through their curriculum, courses, and cultural events, HBCUs ensure that students have a deep understanding and appreciation for their heritage. Further, these vital institutions create jobs, attract students and visitors, and contribute to economic development in their local communities.
U.S. Bank supports HBCUs through comprehensive programming led by our early career recruiting and development team. We host a wide range of fellowships, career, and financial symposiums, mentoring academies, wealth accelerators, internships, and full-time development programs that provide exposure, engagement, and development to students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Over the past 2 years, we have served more than one thousand students through programming, such as our HBCU Wall Street Fellowship program, Technology & Finance Fellowships, our MentorMe Academy, Wealth Accelerator, and Talent Consortium, which allows students from HBCUs to receive personalized career conversations, career master classes, and targeted student insight panels.
We are proud to fulfill our company mission through the strategic initiatives, community service, and dedicated work that we accomplish in partnership with HBCUs across the country.
Article written by: Valerie Davis – Senior Program Manager of Early Career Recruiting and Development at U.S. Bank
A Day of unity and giving: Volunteers make a difference for Foster Care Support
The Atlanta Asian Heritage BRG board members, employees and their families came together in August to show their solidarity and compassion in action at the Foster Care Support Foundation in Roswell, GA. This organization touts an illustrious history that spans more than two decades – a testament to its unwavering dedication to fostering the well-being of foster and relative care families across Georgia. They serve the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services-managed foster homes and private agency care, as well as partnering with other organizations to broaden impact.
Prior to the event, U.S. Bank and Elavon volunteers pitched in by donating clothes and funds collected from a lemonade stand organized by employees’ children. During the event, volunteers rolled up their sleeves to reorganize the foundation's space to make it easier for those seeking assistance to find clothing and essentials. Even the youngest volunteers played an integral role, by aiding in packing clothing, toys, and repairing bicycles—a transformative endeavor that holds significant value for families with foster children. Beyond clothing provisions, the foundation extends its impact by providing vital infant equipment and toys, contributing profoundly to the lives of the children it serves.
This collective volunteering effort showcases the incredible potential of a community coming together for a shared purpose. It's not just about the foundation's commitment to its mission—it shows the enduring power of people's compassion and the tangible change they can create when they work together. We continually strive to support the communities where we live, work and play. Through our Community Possible giving platform, we invest our time, resources, and passion in economic development by supporting efforts to create stable jobs, better homes and vibrant communities.
Commitment to access
Our goal is to become an industry leader by providing access to resources, capital, exposure, information, education, and guidance to communities around the globe. In February 2021, we launched U.S. Bank Access Commitment™, a long-term approach led by our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team bringing together the strengths of U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation, corporate social responsibility and our business lines to help build wealth while redefining how we serve diverse communities and provide more opportunities for diverse employees.
