Ayako Kato is a 2023 United States Artist Fellow & founder of the Art Union Humanscape, focusing on the principles of fūryū (Japanese for “wind flow"), the cyclical transformation of human motion in nature.

To Ayako, AAPI Month is about dismantling stereotypes and celebrating the individuality of AAPI cultures. Learn more: ayakokatodance.com

Enrico Hufana is the founder of Little Ripper Skateboarding - an innovative skateboarding school dedicated to teaching children the sport. Born in the Philippines and raised in Chicago, Enrico wanted a place where other AAPI and minority folks could share a sense of community.

Inspired by teaching his son Rue how to skateboard, Enrico created LRS with his best friend, Guillermo. To him, LRS provides children with more than skateboarding. It represents a diverse community that challenges systemic barriers and accepts all.

Beverly Kim is a chef, entrepreneur, mother, and half of the wife-and-husband team behind two of Chicago’s most acclaimed restaurants - Parachute & wherewithall. Parachute is a Michelin-starred eatery serving Korean American fare and wherewithall dishes out elevated American cuisine.

Chef Kim's cooking has been praised by the Chicago Tribune, Eater, and Bon Appetit. Chef Kim shared the 2019 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes with her husband, Chef Johnny Clark. She and Johnny were also finalists for the 2022 James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant.

To Chef Kim, AAPI Heritage Month is about celebrating the contributions and talents of the Asian American community while sharing the diversity of the AAPI diaspora. Food was her mother’s love language, and she is proud to introduce others to her rich heritage through Parachute.

As a chef and restaurateur, she believes that the best way to learn about others and break down barriers is through food. AAPI representation and education extends beyond May. Chef Kim encourages AAPI folks to advocate for their voices to be heard and take space.

These past few years have been especially hurtful to the AAPI community with the rise of anti-Asian hate & violence. Chef Kim is grateful for the passage of the TEAACH Act to stop hate early on by including Asian American history in textbooks in grade schools.

Shireen and Afzal Ahmad have called Chicago home for over 50 years. Retired physicians and art collectors, the Ahmads established the South Asia Institute in 2015 to promote a cultural appreciation for South Asia and its diaspora through the arts.

The Ahmads amplify South Asian voices while staying connected to the larger human family. They work towards breaking down barriers & building bridges between communities - contributing to a world in which differences are celebrated & people are uplifted through the arts.

To the Ahmads, AAPI Heritage Month is not only an occasion to highlight the rich cultural heritage of South Asian Americans and celebrate their experiences and identities but also an opportunity to address the challenges of racism and violence faced by our communities.