Employees Celebrate Culture, Community, and Connections this AANHPI Month

May marks the beginning of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the United States, and Asian Heritage Month in Canada. These observances serve as an opportunity for many to honor the rich cultural and historical contributions AANHPI communities have made to both North American and Canadian societies. To celebrate, our employees are embracing the theme, “Community Connectiveness,” emphasizing the significance of cultural bonds regardless of one’s location.

We reached out to our employees to understand what community means to them and how their cultural values influence the way it shows up in their lives, both at work and beyond.

The concept of connectedness ties together various relationships and fosters a sense of belonging—it’s in this connectedness where community often thrives. When asked about his vision of community and his role in fostering it, Ben Wong, a product technology group team member shared, “A supportive community is one that is open and accepting of people of all walks of life and every level of experience. The best communities have diverse perspectives…I like to share everything I know and learn from everyone I can.”

Rajiv Gajria, vice president and managing director at Blackbaud India and Steven Wan, a software engineer on our JustGiving® from Blackbaud® team, both credit their upbringing and heritage as the source for understanding and building community all around them. Rajiv Gajria shares, “Being raised in an Indian household, I learned the value of connection, respect, and shared purpose. These values shape how I build strong and inclusive communities that offer a strong network of mutual support and empathy.”

Steven Wan, who has a multi-cultural background as a British-born Chinese person recalls how embracing both Chinese and British cultures and traditions has helped him find a sense of belonging in a diverse world. “This blend of cultures has helped me confidently connect with people from many diverse backgrounds while still feeling deeply rooted in who I am and maintaining my authentic self.”

At Blackbaud, the idea of community encompasses the communities we build within our workplace teams and with our customers whose missions are supporting the needs of others daily. Varsha Kinikar, on our renewals and retention team finds that her cultural values are instrumental in building a strong community. “My cultural values emphasize hospitality, teamwork, and empathy. These influence me to actively listen, celebrate diverse perspectives, and create a welcoming space where colleagues feel comfortable and valued”.