The Mayor of Houston, John Whitmire, along with the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Advisory Committee, held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 pm in the Legacy Room of City Hall to announce the hosting of the AAPI National Convention in Houston. They also launched the Mayor’s AAPI Committee to ensure the voices and concerns of the Asian Pacific community are included in the decision-making process of Houston and the city as a whole.
Nancy J. Li, the Vice Chair, opened the meeting with welcoming remarks on behalf of the Houston AAPI Committee, expressing gratitude towards Mayor John Whitmire’s recognition of the AAPI Committee members. She also announced the upcoming AAPI Houston National Launch Convention to be held on July 27th at the Marriott Marquis Houston. The event introduced Nomaan Hussain, Chair of the AAPI Committee, and Muhammad Saeed Sheikh, Chairman of the AAPI Convention Board.
Mayor Whitmire stated, “I have only been in office for five months, and we have not yet made enough changes, but we are making every effort to do more and for a longer term, you will see that the city government truly represents the people of Houston.” He encouraged residents of diverse cultures to “protect your culture, language, and ethnicity.” In conclusion, he pointed out that the AAPI convention will be an opportunity to promote multiculturalism and Houston to communities from all over the world, fostering significant exchanges and expanding business opportunities.
Nomaan Hussain highlighted that the Mayor’s AAPI Advisory Committee focuses on four main areas. Firstly, building connections between the community and law enforcement to ensure community safety. He also stated the importance of identifying and recommending community leaders for positions in municipal affairs. Members like Kenneth Li and Rufi Natarajan, long-time dedicated community representatives, were introduced. Hussain emphasized, “Houston is the most diverse city in the US, with over 1.2 million AAPI residents, providing a unique advantage to host a national AAPI gathering.” He believed that by advancing human and civil rights, eliminating discrimination, accelerating the well-being of AAPI individuals, and implementing policies for educational and economic security, the AAPI community would be promoted.
Muhammad Saeed Sheikh, the Convention Board Chairman, further elaborated, “The theme of the inaugural AAPI National Conference in Houston is to elevate AAPI, unite the community. By mobilizing and strengthening a strong alliance of Asian American leaders, we celebrate the diversity and collective strength of the AAPI community.” For more detailed information, including registration and event updates, please visit houstonaapiconvention.org. The event expresses gratitude to key partners such as the Southwest Management District, International Management District, and East First Management District, as well as the primary sponsor of the event, Midland Energy. With already 500 members from Canada and the US, plus participants from across the country, it is expected that over 800 individuals will attend the convention.