NEWSROOM

AAPI Heritage Month: Celebrating Asians and Pacific Islanders in GMF’s Workforce

GM Financial is proud to celebrate the important role that Asians and Pacific Islanders play in our company’s success and in the shared history of the United States.

In May, during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we highlight team members who trace their ancestry to Asia and the Pacific Islands. Our company also honors their rich and varied cultures throughout the year by hosting Diwali and Lunar New Year celebrations for team members.

Diwali, the biggest annual holiday in India, is celebrated around the world in the fall. Known as the Festival of Lights, it is named for the clay lamps displayed to celebrate the event for more than 2,500 years.

Although primarily associated with the Hindu religion, Diwali is also observed in many other traditions, including Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism.

Lunar New Year, known as the Spring Festival, usually begins between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20, marking the end of winter and the start of new life in the spring. The festival can be traced back 3,500 years and is celebrated by about 1.5 billion people across the world.

Lunar New Year is associated with many myths and traditions. The lion dance and giving red envelopes filled with money to family and friends are two of the most popular traditions.

GM Financial’s annual Diwali and Lunar New Year celebrations bring together hundreds of team members for traditional food, dancing and music, along with cultural education. The company also hosts annual celebrations for Juneteenth and Hispanic Heritage Month.

“I’m really proud that our company fosters an inclusive environment that makes it welcoming for everyone and creates a sense of belonging,” said Shunda Robinson, Senior Vice President and Chief DE&I Officer. “When team members and job candidates see themselves represented throughout GM Financial, they are more likely to join the company and stay with the company.”

AAPI Heritage Month: Team members in their own words

Three team members discuss their ancestry and the significance of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Kenny Kwong, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives

Time at GMF: 5½ years

Where in Asia do you trace your roots?

I was born and raised in Singapore. I came to the U.S. for college at Texas A&M for what was supposed to be a two-year “see the world” trip with my wife, and it has turned into a 25-year stay.

What holidays, traditions or customs does your family observe that are unique to your culture?

Ethnically, I’m Chinese, so my family celebrates Chinese/Lunar New Year with a small gathering of Asian friends. We usually have hotpot and give one another’s children hong bao, small red envelopes with money inside. If we can find the ingredients, we also have lou hei, a raw fish salad that is also known as yusheng, which I think is unique to Singapore and Malaysia.

I consider my Christian faith a more central part of my family’s identity and heritage, so we tend to have bigger celebrations for Easter and Christmas. We infuse Asian flavors and include Asian dishes in the traditional holiday meals, such as curry-spiced lamb kebabs instead of roast lamb.

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

It’s a time to give additional attention to the contributions AAPIs have made to the country. It is especially interesting for me coming from a different country to learn how AAPIs have influenced the American culture despite representing such a small percentage of the population.

What is your favorite part of GM Financial’s Diwali and Lunar New Year event events?

Undoubtedly, it’s the food.

Christina Tran, Global Infrastructure Governance Analyst, ITS

Time at GMF: 7 years

Where in Asia do you trace your roots? Vietnam

What holidays, traditions or customs does your family observe that are unique to your culture?

The biggest holiday my family celebrates is definitely Lunar New Year. Every year my father and his siblings take turns hosting the entire family. It’s one of the few times a year when the family members who don’t live in DFW anymore fly in to visit. We even try to cram everybody into one group photo, and it’s chaotic every year, but I love it.

Although I’ve recently aged out of receiving the red envelopes full of money, it has been quite fun being on the giving side where I get to watch the next generation bow and struggle to say happy Lunar New Year in Vietnamese. After handing out the red envelopes, there is always a game of bau cua, an animal dice game that I look forward to playing. No matter the location, my dad has always been the one to facilitate the game since I was a child, and it’s always so much fun playing with such a large group.

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

During AAPI Heritage Month, it’s nice to see an increase of Asian representation in the media. Growing up I didn’t get to see many people who look like me on mainstream media, and it’s awesome getting to see them spreading more information about our culture and traditions in a positive light.

What is your favorite part of GM Financial’s Diwali and Lunar New Year events?

For Diwali, I love seeing the decorations because they’re always so colorful and pretty. The team really goes all out every year, but the delicious food is a noteworthy second place for me! For Lunar New Year, the lion dance is hands down my favorite part. The energy in the room really changes once the loud drumming starts, and it’s so much fun watching the crowd interact with the lion for the first time and realizing just how close the lion dancers actually get to you.

Marily Penttinen, Global Internal Communications Manager

How long have you worked at GMF? More than 5 years.

Where in Asia do you trace your roots? Philippines

What holidays, traditions or customs does your family observe that are unique to your culture?

Christmas in the Philippines is unique because it has the longest Christmas season in the world, beginning Sept. 1 and culminating on the third Sunday of January, the feast of the Santo Niño (Holy Child). During the “ber” months (months ending in “ber”), you’ll hear Christmas songs, see Christmas decorations and lights on display, and feel the festive spirit everywhere.

We have a good mix of Western and local traditions influenced by the country’s predominantly Catholic religion. We celebrate the birth of Jesus and go to traditional Simbang Gabi (dawn mass) for nine days leading up to Christmas while also sharing gifts and anticipating Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. It’s the biggest holiday for many Filipino families, including mine. 

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

Celebrating and understanding the history and contributions of Asian Americans.

What is your favorite part of GM Financial’s Diwali and Lunar New Year events?

I attend and volunteer for all GM Financial cultural events, including Diwali and Lunar New Year. I love doing so because they offer an opportunity to connect and work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and departments while celebrating different traditions. It’s so much fun! Apart from leading the Entertainment committee for the most recent Diwali event, I’ve also served as the volunteer photographer at all these events. 

By Sonny Bohanan, GM Financial

Sonny Bohanan is a writer who loves telling stories and has a special passion for writing about life events that help foster diversity, equity and inclusion. Libraries and used bookstores provide the ideal backdrop for Sonny’s penchant for reading and writing fiction.