More than a dozen Asian Pacific Americans and supporters stand together for a group photo. Chuck Grigsby is third from the right. A tall banner standing in the front of a room reads, Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. Beside it is a wood podium with a gold plaque that reads, Michigan State University. Rows of folding chairs are in the foreground facing the podium and banner. A selfie of Chuck Grigsby smiling in a blue vest and tie. He is seated in an audience of primarily Asian Pacific Americans who are listening intently to a speaker at the podium. A man and a woman are seated in stylish chairs in the front of a room. The woman holds a microphone and gestures while speaking about the National APA Museum.

Here in the City of East Lansing, we understand the value of creating spaces where people feel seen, where their stories are respected and their culture is celebrated. It was an absolute honor to welcome the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Asian Pacific American Museum to East Lansing on April 11 as part of their national listening tour. As I shared with our guests — with Michigan State University at the center of our city, our community is stronger because of the many perspectives, histories and lived experiences of our AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawai’ian and Pacific Islander) residents. The commission was established by Congress in June 2022 to explore the creation of a national museum in D.C. These regional convenings help raise funds and shape what the museum will look like, and I’m proud that EL has a hand in creating a space where AANHPI history will be recognized and preserved for future generations. Learn more about the commission’s work at nationalapamuseum.org.