Honor AAPI Heritage Month (Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month) this May with our Social Media Toolkit!
This guide shows how you can use your company’s social platforms to highlight AAPI culture, foster inclusion, and share your company’s commitment to inclusion and belonging in meaningful ways.
Explore creative ideas, best practices, and thoughtful inspiration to spark meaningful conversations, stand against racism, and amplify AAPI voices while engaging your audience in respectful and impactful ways.
Read the full blog to see how your team can celebrate AAPI Heritage Month authentically at work.
AAPI Heritage Month Social Media Toolkit
Did you know: Unexpected Virtual Tours & Training is an Asian American-founded company!
We create all of our virtual programming through a lens of intersectionality and historical accuracy. AAPI History Month is especially near and dear to our hearts.
For instance, our AAPI History Month: Being American team building session celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander history from the 1800s through the present. During this experience, your team will learn about leaders like Fred Korematsu and Bhagat Singh Thind, take a virtual field trip to San Francisco’s Chinatown, and understand how Asian Americans have impacted every aspect of American life.
Or explore meanintful stories of Asian American women with our AAPI History Month: The American Dream session. Told from the perspective of AANHPI women, you will hear about people who fought for inclusion like Afong Moy, the first Asian woman immigrant, to Indra Nooyi, the first Asian woman CEO of a Fortune 100 company. In addition, learn how AANHPI women have impacted our armed forces, take a live-streaming visit to San Francisco’s Chinatown, and see incredible sites like the Column of Strength and the women-designed artwork at the Rose Pak station.
A few of our favorite AAPI Heritage Month social media ideas:
Read on for more details on these ideas, and additional ideas!
- Share meaningful quotes from AAPI leaders, innovators, and activists
- Highlight books, podcasts, tv shows, and movies from AAPI authors, directors, etc.
- Diversify your company’s social media feed by following Asian American creators
- Share about Asian American history, heritage, and cultural sites
- Participate in an AAPI Month team building session and share what you learned
- Support a worthy cause and encourage followers to join
In this list, you’ll find:
- AAPI Month social media content ideas
- Examples of what other companies are doing to promote this holiday on social media
- Meaningful team building experiences
- #AAPI Month hashtags to boost social media engagement
For more information about what Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month is and how your team can celebrate, check out our blog post: Ideas for AAPI Heritage Month.
AAPI Month Terminology
Before we delve into social media ideas for AAPI Month, watch the short video below to learn common acronyms and terminology related to AAPI Heritage Month.
AAPI Heritage Month Post Ideas & Inspiration
Inspire Action & Support Asian American & Pacific Islander-Led Causes
Leading by example can be an impactful way to change the world. This month, support an AAPI-Led Cause and invite followers to join!
For instance, you can raise money for a nonprofit organization serving Asian American & Pacific Islander communities, bring awareness to a cause, sign petitions, volunteer, or join anti-racism initiatives. You can highlight the good work an organization is doing in the community, tag them, and share a link to their webpage, volunteer sign-up, or donation form.
Not sure where to start? Reach out to local organizations to see how your company can help.
Host an AAPI Month Team-Building Event & Share It
Connect and learn with colleagues during a virtual team building session led by an expert guide – and then share about it on social! Unexpected Virtual Tours & Training offers two top-rated virtual team buildling experiences just for AAPI Month:
- AAPI History Month: Being American celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander history from the 1800s through the present. During this engaging virtual session, your team will learn about leaders like Fred Korematsu and Bhagat Singh Thind, take a virtual field trip to San Francisco’s Chinatown, and learn how Asian Americans have impacted every aspect of American life.
- AAPI History Month: The American Dream shares about important women who fought for inclusion like Afong Moy, the first Asian woman immigrant, to Indra Nooyi, the first Asian woman CEO of a Fortune 100 company. Additionally, you’ll learn how AANHPI women have impacted our armed forces, take a live-streaming visit to San Francisco’s Chinatown, and see incredible sites like the Column of Strength and the women-designed artwork at the Rose Pak station.
After completing one of theses sessions, our team will even send you a screenshot and resource guide for your company newsletter and social platforms!
Pro tip: When posting about your team building session on social media, remember to prioritize your team’s privacy and comfort. Some team members may not be comfortable having their images or quotes shared on your company’s social platforms. Consider asking those who feel comfortable to sign a photo release form before the activity. Or, create optional photo and feedback opportunities.
Additionally, it is best practice to share ahead of time content you plan to post with employees featured in the content. Gaining approval ensures that everyone is on board with their involvement and how they’re being portrayed.
Be Respectful & Avoid Stereotypes
When it comes to Asian American and Pacific Islander history and culture, there are a number of stereotypes to avoid. When in doubt, consult your company’s HR department or an external consultant who can help you figure out what’s appropriate.
Overall, it’s important to remember that the term “Asian American” is broad and encompasses a wide variety of countries of origin, languages, cultures, diets, religious traditions, and more. Avoid grouping all Asian Americans together in such a way that implies they are a homogenous group.
In fact, the UN notes that today, Asia is made up of 48 unique countries – each with their own histories, customs, and norms. And of course, within those countries, there is diversity within various regions, communities, and families.
Acknowledging diversity within the Asian American & Pacific Islander community can lead to a more well-rounded and inclusive conversation.
Share Inspiring Quotes from AAPI Leaders
Sharing words of wisdom from Asian American & Pacific Islander authors, innovators, and leaders can be a powerful way to inspire your audiences.
As an additional benefit, social posts featuring quotes are easily sharable and can resonate with many people. As a result, you might find more followers than usual hitting the “share” button to amplify your company’s message. This can help broaden your social reach to engage new followers.
Get started with our blog post, 45 AAPI Heritage Month Quotes for Work.
Recommend Books, Podcasts & Films by AAPI Creators
Engage your employees and your social media audiences at the same time! Ask employees what AAPI-authored works they’re reading, listening to, and watching. Or, choose a book, podcast, or streaming content to enjoy together.
Then, post about these works on your company’s social media accounts. You can include your team’s takeaways or a quote, share what resonated, and ask audiences what they thought of the work. You can also ask your social media audience for their suggestions and recommendations!
Recommendations to Share During Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month:
- Books written by Asian American and Pacific Islander authors
- Songs and playlists that highlight artists of the past and present
- Your favorite AAPI-owned and run magazines, e-zines, and poetry journals
- Films or documentaries about Asian American history and culture
- Podcasts focusing on relevant issues and topics
Share Asian American & Pacific Islander History and Heritage
Asian American history can be, at times, fascinating, tragic, uplifting, and everything in between. Use your company’s platforms to share history and heritage during the month of May. You can highlight a specific historical event or subject matter, or share more broadly by linking to educational resources and museums.
Topics to learn about & share during Asian American Heritage Month:
- The construction of the U.S. transcontinental railroad
- The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
- Internment of Japanese Americans during WWII
- Struggles and triumphs of the Fillipino American farm workers and labor movements
- Asian American artists and their works
- Representation of this community in film & television
If your company is located near Asian American & Pacific Islander heritage sites or museums, sharing about them can be a great way to engage your local community as well as spark a larger conversation. Delve in by browsing Frommer’s guide to The 10 Best Museums to Learn About Asian American and Pacific Islander History and Culture.
Highlight Innovators
In all industries, Asian American & Pacific Islander people are making valuable discoveries and creating innovative change. During Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, highlight leaders who have made significant contributions to your company’s field. This might be a historical figure or someone actively working in the field today.
From entertainment to technology, sports to literature, and everything in between – there are so many amazing professionals your company can highlight.
Get inspired with this CNN article, “Asian American History is American History.”
Promote AAPI-Owned Businesses
May is a great time to share about your favorite AAPI-owned businesses to support. From professional service vendors to retailers and restaurants, take the time to review your vendor list and see which businesses you could highlight. If your vendor list doesn’t include any AAPI-owned businesses, this can also be a great prompt to review your company’s vendors.
When posting, be sure to tag the relevant business and share a few words about why they stand out!
This list from New York Magazine includes 98 AAPI-owned businesses to support, from cosmetics and fashion to food and drink, home and office decor, client gifts, and more.
Boost Visibility with AAPI Heritage Month Hashtags
Get more eyes on your post by using AAPI Month hashtags. Using relevant hashtags can help your posts reach audiences who are actively searching for the type of content your company is sharing.
Hashtags to Boost Social Media Visibility for Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month:
- #aapi
- #aapihistorymonth
- #aapiheritagemonth
- #aapimonth
- #stopasianhate
- #asianamerican
- #celebrateaapi
Diversify Your Company’s Social Media Feed
AAPI Month is an opportune time to diversify your social media feed – both for your company, and in your personal life!
Especially if you feel you’re in a “social media rut” or the content you’re consuming no longer resonates with your goals, cleaning up and adding thoughtfully to your “Follow” list can be transformational.
Browse through the list of accounts you’re following and take notice of how many AAPI creators are included in this group. If your list looks slim, make an intentional effort to seek out and follow AAPI creators. This is also a great time to follow accounts from other marginalized communities, too. For instance – when scrolling social media, do you see content from people living with a disability, people of all genders, Indigenous creators, and people of color?
Nowadays, there’s a lot of discussion about algorithms and how social media can create an “echo chamber” that reinforces our existing worldview. The upside? It only takes a few minutes to curate your social feed and broaden your digital horizons!
To get started, check out this guide on the top AAPI influencers to follow. From journalism to business, technology, beauty, social advocacy and more, these influencers are making a mark on social media and in the world.
Amplify Asian American & Pacific Islander Voices by Re-Sharing Content
Once you’ve diversified your company’s social media feed, take it a step further by actively amplifying Asian American & Pacific Islander voices.
Re-share content from influential creators – whether it’s powerful quotes, community events, timely perspectives, or meaningful artwork. With proper credit, this approach not only expands your audience’s perspective but also helps elevate important stories, voices, and resources in an authentic, accessible way.
Experience AAPI Heritage Month with a Virtual Tour!
Take your team on a meaningful journey through Asian American & Pacific Islander history with a virtual tour. These immersive experiences provide a unique opportunity to explore the contributions, challenges, and cultural heritage of AAPI communities – from historical landmarks to stories of resilience and innovation.
A virtual tour can deepen understanding, spark meaningful dialogue, and create a shared learning experience for your team.
AAPI History Month: Being American explores Asian American and Pacific Islander history from the 1800s to today, highlighting influential figures like Fred Korematsu and Bhagat Singh Thind, along with a virtual visit to Chinatown, San Francisco.
For a complementary perspective, AAPI History Month: The American Dream centers on trailblazing women – from Afong Moy to Indra Nooyi – while exploring their influence across industries, including the armed forces. This experience also includes a live-streamed look at San Francisco landmarks such as the Rose Pak Station and its striking, women-designed artwork.
For more ideas on how to honor AAPI Heritage Month at work, watch the short video below!
Real-World Examples of AAPI Month Social Media Posts
Discover how companies like yours are posting about AAPI Month on their social media with the real-world examples below.
Citizens Bank
During AAPI Heritage Month, Citizens Bank highlighted key AAPI leaders within the company as well as their commitment to inclusivity.
Dine Brands Global
Dine Brands Global is one of the world’s largest full service restaurant companies in the world. Their franchises include two iconic brands: Applebee’s and IHOP. This past AAPI Month, Dine Brands highlighted various ways in which their Asian Pacific American Network (APAN) employee group honored the holiday. Their post included a shout-out to the team leaders who made these events possible.
Crunchtime
Restaurant software company Crunchtime honored AAPI Month by booking an interactive team building session with Unexpected Virtual Tours & Training. Their LinkedIn post highlighted the session’s engaging content while sharing photos from their session.
Betterment
Investing and savings app Betterment highlighted their team’s learning activities during AAPI month. On LinkedIn, they noted that their teams participated in an AAPI leadership panel discussion, a matcha tasting, and an origami workshop.
BookPal
Wholesale bookseller BookPal leaned into their core offering by curating a thoughtful list of books to read during AAPI Month. By highlighting titles from Asian American and Pacific Islander authors, they provided their audience with an easy, meaningful way to engage more deeply with AAPI stories and perspectives. This is a great example example of how your brand can stay aligned with your area of expertise while contributing something genuinely valuable to audiences.
Bring AAPI Month Learning to Your Team
Interested in creating a more meaningful AAPI Heritage Month experience at your organization? Fill out our short contact form below to learn more about Unexpected Virtual Tours & Training’s engaging programs and how we can tailor a session to your team.
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