In May 2021, I started this petition to include AAPI history in our k-12 education curriculum. Since that time our petition has grown to over 13,000 signatures.
 
What started out as a simple petition has become a movement. 
 
So much has happened in the past 9 months:
The Florida chapter of the nationwide coalition Make Us Visible was born.
 
A team of 1 became 5.
 
Volunteers, supporters and organizations from across the state joined to advocate for AAPI history inclusion.
 
In October Make Us Visible Florida bills HB281 and SB490 were filed.  The bills stated that it would include: “The history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, including the immigration, citizenship, civil rights, identity, and culture of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to American society.”
 
We received recognition in several media outlets spotlighting our journey and the work the AAPI Florida community has been doing.
 
We gained 18 bipartisan cosponsors for HB281.
 
On January 18, SB490 was heard in the Education Committee and passed unanimously!  
 
Despite all of that momentum, HB281 and SB490 will not be moving forward during this legislative session.
 
I am angry. I am frustrated. I am sad. 
 
These are recurring feelings: I felt this way as a child growing up feeling alienated.  I feel this way every time there is another anti-Asian hate crime. 
 
I am angry that despite all of the hard work I have seen from my team and the overwhelming support for this bill, it is not moving forward.
 
I am frustrated that even though we did everything right, it feels like there is no justice or equality.  
 
I am sad that the AAPI community continues to live in fear for the safety of themselves and loved ones.
 
I am angry. I am frustrated. I am sad.     
 
However, I am also inspired.
 
I have lived in Florida my entire life and I have never seen the AAPI community come together across the entire state in the way they did these past 9 months.
 
We have seen historic AAPI citizen engagement with their legislators.  I am amazed by the children, teenagers, adults and seniors who contacted their representatives to advocate for history inclusion and public safety.  I am new at this process, but I know 50 phone calls and emails in one day from across the state to the committee Chair sends a message.
 
We are not giving up. We are going to see this through to the end.  If history has taught us anything, it is that Asian Americans are resilient, and when we rally together, we are strong.
 
The movement continues.    
 
They describe a bill that doesn‘t pass as ‘dead’.  AAPI history inclusion in Florida is not dead.  HB281 and SB490 are building blocks for the future.  What our community has accomplished together is powerful.  We will use that power to get us to that finish line in the next session.
 
I am grateful to our legislative champions Representative Anna Eskamani and Senator Linda Stewart for sponsoring and supporting our bills.  As a team of 100% volunteers who have no experience in legislation, their leadership and experience have been unparalleled in helping us through this process.  Their passion and belief in what these bills can do for our community gave us confidence and validation.
 
Thank you to my amazing MUVFL team.  Your efforts and enthusiasm inspire me to keep going.
Thank you to MUV for your leadership, kindness and unwavering support.  I look forward to the journey ahead because I have an incredible support system.
 
Thank you to everyone who has supported us this far, either with a phone call, email or social media post.  This is not the end, we have more work to do and I hope that you will continue to help include AAPI history in Florida.
 
Since the beginning of this journey, I expressed how deeply I believe that by educating our youth in the history of Asian Americans, we can create a more inclusive Florida, where our differences are celebrated instead of feared. Where young Asian Americans can take pride in their history, and all children can learn from the triumphs and mistakes of the past. 
 
Asian American history is American history.
Asian Americans are American. 
 
Please continue this journey with me and help Make Us Visible.
Mimi