Being part of the Hospitality Studio, I am always interested in staying at unique and different lodging experiences when traveling. So, on a recent trip to the Pacific Northwest with my husband and friends, we journeyed a little further north than originally planned to spend the night in sphere tree houses. It was definitely worth it!

Located in a coastal rainforest on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, the spheres are the creation of Tom Chudleigh. We had a chance to meet Tom and see his workshop where he is currently constructing more sphere tree houses. He utilizes techniques from boat building when constructing and outfitting the spheres. Practically everything is made by Tom, even the hinges and locks for the windows and doors.

The spaces inside the spheres are incredible efficient with storage nooks in any “open” space. Each are equipped with a bed, seating and a kitchenette area enough to make coffee or tea in the morning. There is no running water in the spheres but the bath facilities are very close by. Each sphere is hung in middle of three trees in a way that doesn’t harm but allows the tree to continue to grow and thrive.

If you ever find yourself on Vancouver Island, I high recommend making the journey to forest and staying in a Free Spirit Sphere!

Photo credit: Free Spirit Sphere

Black History Month serves as a time to pay homage to the contributions, struggles and triumphs of Black Americans in our nation. However, many impactful stories never made it into the history books. This year, NELSON teammates are shining a light on some very important, but lesser-known stories of Black history.

Maya Angelou Quote: “When you know better you do better”.

Deed of Gift, Robert Carter III 

Robert Carter III was the grandson of Robert “King” Carter of Virginia. The Carters were a prominent slave-holding family and although their names are often forgotten in history books, their inner circle included Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. In the years during and immediately following the American Revolution, Robert Carter III went through a sort of religious awakening and began to question the morality of the practice of slavery. At the time, he had at least a dozen plantations and more than 500 slaves. Following the laws of Virginia (at the time), Carter decided he was going to free all his slaves. In 1791, Carter filed his Deed of Gift with the county courthouse. This Deed of Gift was a schedule that included the names of every one of his slaves he intended to free and the dates on which they would gain their freedom.

Carter’s Deed of Gift is significant for many reasons. It was the single largest case of a slave owner manumitting his slaves (more than 500) before the end of the Civil War. Many enslaved persons in this country cannot trace their lineage prior to the Civil War because records of the names, ages, birthdates, etc. were not documented. Carter’s Deed of Gift allows some descendants to find the names of their enslaved ancestors, what plantation they lived on, and in some cases, who their other family members were.

“…I have for some time past been convinced that to retain them (slaves) in slavery is contrary to the principles of religion and justice, and that therefore it was my duty to manumit them if it could [be] accomplished without infringing the laws of my county and without being of disadvantage to my neighbors and the community at large.”

-Robert Carter III, Deed of Gift, August 1, 1791.

Read More

How an Enslaved African Man Shared a Revolutionary Way to Prevent Smallpox.

In 1721, a smallpox epidemic struck in Boston. This highly contagious virus was killing hundreds during a time of lesser medical advancements. It was an enslaved man named Onesimus who brought vaccinations to America and changed everything.

Onesimus was purchased in 1706 by Cotton Mather, a prominent Puritan minister. Though Mather held a great distrust for Onesimus, he knew that the man was clever. Around 1716 Onesimus described to Mather the process of inoculation that had been performed on him and others in his society in Africa. This was a process where they would cut the skin and put in a drop of the “juice of Small-Pox”. Amid the spreading sickness of Small-Pox throughout Boston in 1721, Mather brought this vital information to Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, who, despite a major pushback against the idea, managed to successfully inoculate 240+ people. It is noted that Boylston first tried the inoculation on his 6-year-old son and two of his slaves first. As a result of the inoculation only six people experienced death compared to 844 deaths experienced by non-inoculated smallpox patients.

Read More

What is Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Why is it Under Attack?

CRT is an academic concept that is more than 40 years old. The core idea is that race is a social construct, and that racism is not merely the product of individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal systems and policies.

The topic has exploded in the public arena recently—especially in K-12, where numerous state legislatures are debating bills seeking to ban its use in the classroom. Several events of the last decade have increased public awareness about things like housing segregation, the impacts of criminal justice policy in the ’90s, and the legacy of enslavement on Black Americans.

Learn More

1921 Tulsa Race Massacre

The 1921 Attack on Greenwood was one of the most significant events in Tulsa’s history. Following World War I, Tulsa was recognized nationally for its affluent African American community known as the Greenwood District. This thriving business district and surrounding residential area was referred to as “Black Wall Street.” Greenwood Avenue featured luxury shops, restaurants, movie theaters, a library, pool halls and nightclubs. In June 1921, a series of events nearly destroyed the entire Greenwood area.

Read More

Bruce’s Beach

In 1912, Willa and Charles Bruce bought a parcel of land in Manhattan Beach, California. They operated a lodge, café, and dance hall on the property and the area became known as Bruce’s Beach Lodge. It was a refuge for Black beachgoers to enjoy a weekend away. Eventually the couple was harassed, threatened and forced out. In 1924, city officials condemned the property and forced the Bruces to sell and leave, robbing future members of the Bruce family of generational wealth from the land.

In the fall of 2021, the Bruce family got their beach back. The historic Bruce’s Beach case is inspiring social justice leaders and reparations activists to fight for other Black families whose ancestors were also victims of land theft in the United States.

Listen Now

Lewis Howard Latimer – Inventor

While Willis Carrier is credited with creating the first electric air conditioning unit in 1902, Lewis Howard Latimer is credited with creating the first evaporative air conditioner (swamp cooler) in the 1800’s. Lewis was an inventor and draftsman best known for his contributions to the patenting of the light bulb and the telephone. He held seven patents (below) and was recruited by Edison Pioneers where he created the ‘electric lamp’. Lewis is in the National Inventors Hall of Fame. 

Learn More

The Black History of Lady Liberty 

The iconic Statue of Liberty was built to recognize the end of slavery. Édouard de Laboulaye, of France, first proposed the idea of this monument in 1865. He was an expert on the U.S. Constitution and was sitting on a reparations committee overseeing payments to freed, formerly enslaved people. At a meeting of abolitionists at Laboulaye’s home, per Berenson, via the Washington Post: “They talked about the idea of creating some kind of commemorative gift that would recognize the importance of the liberation of the slaves.”

Ten years later, the sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi designed it. The initial iteration had the Lady holding broken chains in one hand. A final iteration has the broken chains at her feet.

Read More

MORE RESOURCES

Read

• The Women Who Preserved the Story of the Tulsa Race Massacre
• 10 Amazing Black Architects Whose Work has Shaped America

Listen

• The Institute of Black Imagination Podcast

Attend

• NOMA UNPLUGGED Conference, Nashville
  October 25-30, 2022

Get Involved

• ACE Mentor Program

As architects and designers, we create inviting and engaging guest-centric spaces for all types of environments. We deliver both experiential and energized settings that resonate with the unique individuals who work, shop, dine, stay, and serve in these spaces, while always staying true to the foundation of the brand, its culture.

At the onset of COVID-19 and as the required work-from-home and social distancing guidelines went into effect, dialogue as to how companies were planning their successful return to the office escalated. The majority of the discussion focused on stripping out amenities, elements, and services that would mitigate the risk of germs and keep employees safe, but there has been very little dialogue surrounding how to keep company culture alive and thriving, without a home base or office which previously serviced as the cultural heart of a company.  So, while all the unknowns continue to circle overhead, how can corporations, enterprises, and large and small businesses ensure that they are keeping their cultures safe?

While reconfiguring floor plans and other critical changes to the physical office environment must continue to be a priority, protecting a company’s culture during this historical time can have a long-term impact long beyond a vaccine.

We recommend a combination of approachable tactics and thoughtful design enhancements for building a stronger, culture-centric workplace post-COVID-19:

ESTABLISH A TEAMMATE TASK FORCE

Create a task force to nurture and energize your existing culture within this new environment. Assess communications and encourage positive messaging outside of revenue and heavy discussions. Empower employees to be part of new initiatives going forward and identify key stakeholders, beyond the executive team, that can lead new initiatives, collect honest feedback, and encourage firmwide participation. Remember to focus on the personal experience of the employee in all communications. Consistent, thoughtful, and cohesive brand messaging is key.

STRATEGIZE SEAMLESS TRANSITIONS

Giving employees the tools, transparency, and sense of control to transition back into the office when the time is right is paramount. The key to success lies in providing constant communication to minimize anxiety. Consider assembling a “welcome back kit,” consisting of sanitizers, masks, quick visual guides pertaining to office layout changes, lists of new protocols for quick reference, and more. Infuse your brand, mission, and values in the kit to tie back to your unique culture.

REPLACE RITUALS

Due to new workplace protocols and behavioral changes that will need to be initiated, keep in mind all legacy cultural traditions that may need to be revised or temporarily cancelled. In their place, identify new rituals that can comply with social distancing, ones that the company can rally around.  Survey your staff for recommendations and communicate that in the pursuit of safety, you will need to alter some traditions.  Perhaps the weekly Friday happy hour can be replaced with a virtually-curated cocktail-making class, and taking the elevator can be replaced with taking the stairs.

DIFFERENTIATE AMENITIES

Where existing amenities might be temporarily halted, provide employees with differentiated opportunities to keep them engaged, while also promoting a healthy lifestyle and safe protocols. Should the company or building fitness center be off-limits, employers could give workers credit for streaming fitness apps or online classes. Make it a team building exercise by including friendly competitions with goal setting and rewards. Encourage fitness clubs that don’t require the gym. Motivate employees to go outside and partake daily walking excursions, running clubs after work hours, and meditation sessions. Inspiring team members to stay active will minimize the disappointment and frustrations surrounding closed amenities.

EMBRACE WELL BUILDING STANDARDS

Employers should look for quick wins that benefit psychological and physical wellbeing of their employees. Look for inspiration from WELL Building Standards by creating work environments that prioritize mental and physical health, and happiness. Incorporate more biophilic elements such as living plants that can serve as barriers between work stations and provide critical air filtration and oxygen. When possible, consider holding meetings in an outdoor venue for a change in scenery. This will not only decrease anxiety, but also promote better health.

LEAD WITH BRAND

During this time of uncertainty, it is more important than ever to leverage your brand assets to encourage teammate creativity and collaboration in a new way.  Consider providing custom, branded Zoom backgrounds for all to use when communicating with each other and clients. There are endless ways to leverage branded environmental graphics throughout a space. Look to add new graphic wraps that reflect your brand and mission at key areas of the office. These can promote safety and show that employees are valued and critical to success. Get creative with wayfinding to highlight new traffic flows and give team members a visual of what a safe distance looks like. A life-size map of the reconfigured floor plan can be displayed to easily locate colleagues and new sanitizing stations. Finally, in a time when so many things are being stripped away from company culture to keep employees safe, brighten up the office by adding a brag wall featuring accomplishments, recognition, and more.

All in all, while it’s necessary to protect the physical environment, your culture is the backbone of your company, and it’s equally as important to keep it safe. In the midst of the chaos, the one consistent thing you can do for your employees is give them a culture to come back to. Bigger investments in the office will take time, concentrating on culture is a short-term solution that will lead to long-term benefits.

Some attorneys start to get nervous when workplace designers discuss the private office. Why? We live in a corporate world now dominated by open layouts and free address plans, some very successful and others, less so. As law firms continue to modernize and explore trends that were long ago adopted by other industries, we’re seeing more of them embrace progressive space concepts than ever before. Does this mean dedicated, private attorney offices are on their way out?

The 2023 theme for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month has been dubbed “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity” by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council. Read more about a few of our own AAPI teammates as they share their stories around family, community, and their journey to NELSON. May is AAPI Heritage Month — and was because it marks two important events in Asian American history: the arrival of the first known Japanese immigrants in 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, which was built by Chinese immigrant workers. The AAPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

Carey Ann Ragusa

Senior Technical Designer

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How did you find your way to NELSON?

I found my way to NELSON through a recommendation by my good friend Schyler Yu. We had previously worked at a different firm together and have been friends ever since. When a position was available at NELSON, he suggested that I apply and felt that I was ready to move in a different path and upgrade my professional career. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and thanks to Sky I wouldn’t have considered the move or be where I am now. NELSON has become a good home for me and has been very welcoming. Becoming part of the New York Asset Strategy team has been such an incredible journey and I honestly enjoy working with our team and our clients. There is a special connection we all have in New York.

How do you identify within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community?

I identify within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community as a first generation out of three siblings. My parents migrated to the United States from the Philippines to create better lives for themselves. My parents both met here in Long Island, got married, had three daughters and the rest is history. We grew up to two different dialects (Tagalog and Visayan) in my house. My dad who is 50% Chinese and 50% Filipino came from the city life in Manila and my mom who is 100% Filipino came from the Aklan province and lived in Kalibo. We grew with immediate family and secondary family with lots of family friends. We always had them around.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?

My heritage has shaped the person I am today through family values and morals I have retained from my upbringing at home. My parents, grandmother, and uncles all have shaped the way I think and have showed me what is important in life and culturally showed me the value of family, understanding the language when its spoken, working hard, and being grateful for what we have because there are many people that don’t get the same opportunity or items we have now.

In the Philippines, my parents had land to build on and requested that I design a building for them. The idea of designing a building in the Philippines helped me understand the culture, land surroundings, minor building codes that they barely have, the use of a ladder opposed to stairs and the scarce number of materials they use there. It was important for me to understand the process there and how it differed here in New York. This alone helped establish the person I am today culturally and made me realize what we have versus what we have there and how thankful and grateful we should be for even the little things and what we take for granted such as a roof over our head.

Does your family have any traditions that are especially important to you?

My family and I had very special traditions that we do and married to an Italian American I have incorporated that with our kids and life. Traditions are especially important to me. Although married to an Italian American, I’ve always looked to incorporate the traditions I was brought up with. Even when my husband was not my husband at that time, he embraced the Filipino culture and respectfully followed and learned our traditions. For special occasions in the Philippines men wear a barong and it is a clear see through flowery white/beige short or long sleeve button down. My dad had a special one made for my husband when he “went back home” so he can wear it along with all my uncles at weddings and other special occasions.

“Going back home” is a special term the Filipinos use when someone in the family is going back to the Philippines. That’s when the family purchases the special “balakbayan boxes (basically a 3’ wide x 5’ length x 2’ high shipping brown box) and we send chocolates, clothes, and various items in the United States that’s either not sold in the Philippines or too expensive to buy. In return they come back to the United States and always bring back items like handmade Ube or candies you don’t usually find in the United States.
Going back to traditions, most Filipinos are predominantly Catholic and my late grandmother would always have a special alter in the house dedicated to the Virgin Mary and have us pray the rosary along with her and would always ensure as a family we go to church on Sundays and we pray the rosary with her the rest of the week.
I got married in Disney and in the church, it was extremely important to me to follow a special wedding Filipino tradition of primary sponsors and secondary sponsors. The sponsors are all made up of special couples or single people in your life that has provided some kind of impact to your life who you respect and admire and look to being guided as the marriage grows. In addition there are four sets of secondary sponsors including Coin Sponsors, Veil Sponsors, Cord Sponsors and Candle. The secondary sponsors are more involved in presenting each item to the bride and groom. Each item is symbolic.

Catholic Coin Ceremony | The Arras
Exactly 13 Arras, or coins, are carried in a pouch and brought to the altar by the coin sponsors. The coins are an emblem of their future children and before the church, the bride and groom promise their care and love.

Catholic Veil Ceremony
Through the Catholic veil ceremony, two individuals are bonded and recognized as one. The veil sponsors drape one side of a white veil over the bride’s head and the other side over the groom’s shoulder as a symbol of unity. This also represents a wish for good health and protection during their life as husband and wife.

Catholic Cord Ceremony
Similar to The Veil Ceremony, the Yugal or infinity shaped cord is incorporated as a representation of the couple’s bond and union. Their sponsors will place the Yugal on top of the veil as the couple receives their blessing.

Catholic Candle Ceremony | Unity Candle
This is the final ritual symbolizing the bonding of two individuals and in Filipino culture, two families. The two outer candles are a representation of their individual lives before the wedding day. The candles exemplify all that the bride and groom are from their past experiences and represent each individual family. Together, the bride and groom will light the unity candle, blow out the single candles, and figuratively extinguish their past.

There are so many different Filipino traditions that are important to me, I can be here for a while describing the traditions I value . But before I end on Filipino traditions I value, one more tradition that I feel is extremely important and lands on birthdays. For every birthday, the family makes sure one dish is at least noodles that represent long life. It’s extremely symbolic and no matter what type of food is eaten during the birthdays, some type of long noodles need to be presented as part of the meal.

Who are the role models or mentors that have influenced you or helped guide you?

I have a few role models I look up to. One of my role models has always been my mother. As my grandmother raised me since I was 6 months, my mother worked two jobs to help and support the family. She has always been the epitome of resilience and a hard worker. She always taught me to work hard, strive to do better, never give up and always take care and respect your elders. As a Filipino taking care of your elders is a sign of respect. They provide the wisdom for the family. As a mother of two babies, I look to be at least half of what my mother is to me to my babies. I look to give them a life they can enjoy and embrace the Filipino culture by reading tagalog books, having my parents teach them the language and enjoying the Filipino flavors in food.

Two other role models I have that seem fitting to mention is an old colleague and friend in the architecture industry. They both taught me different ways of how to approach scenarios at a job site, what to look for in a drawing set, professionalism in all aspects of the job, the gives and takes in the industry, the balance of life and work, business is business, showing empathy is a good characteristic and not to be apologetic over everything. I valued the advice I received from both. They both hold a special place because without them I honestly don’t believe my career would’ve flourished as much as it has thus far and I’m so extremely gratefully for what they have shared and excited to embrace for what has yet to come and I mean that personally and professionally.

What brings you joy about your heritage and culture?

What brings me joy about my heritage and culture is the food. I enjoy the vast amount of food and dessert in the Filipino culture. We look forward to gatherings so we can have a taste of good cuisine aside from seeing all our relatives. Culturally we carry a lot of pork and fish in our dishes and even sometimes during bigger events we roast a pig on a stick. The Filipino food carries a variety of flavors. The secondary joy is spending time with my Tita’s and Tito’s and my cousins.

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

AAPI Heritage month means that it’s an opportunity for me to express the meaning of the Filipino culture and how the culture translates into my daily life. My culture impacts me daily especially when I come home. AAPI highlights the traditions people may not understand or be accustomed to and gives opportunity for different individuals to either try the food or think about visiting the Philippines. I will like to add since my mom is from The province Boracay is an incredible place to visit.

Keo Ballerstein

Design Leader

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How did you find your way to NELSON?

I joined NELSON five years ago and was promoted to Design Leader | Director during my tenure. NELSON has been a great place for me to harness my creative energy to design places for people to connect.

I started my career in architecture & design, focusing on affordable housing and public projects. But over my 20 years in the industry, I gradually transitioned to Workplace. While each had their unique requirements, the underlining principle is to build communities where people can connect. I strongly believe that design can be socially impactful and bring us together.

How do you identify within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community?

I am an American of Lao descent.

I was born in Laos and raised in America. My parents immigrated the family to America following the Vietnam War. My earliest memories are from living in America. Sadly, I do not have any recollection of my birthplace. Navigating the different cultures at a very young age brought-on some challenges, but I never felt a need to replace one for the other. My heritage is an imperfect blend of American and Lao traditions and customs.

Who are the role models or mentors that have influenced you or helped guide you?

My parents are my role models.

My mother was a talented textile weaver of Lao silk who had other talents in traditional Lao arts and crafts. Most things she created and owned were purposeful, and her attention to detail and care for her craft have influenced how I approach design.

My father was an educator in Laos and one of the founders of the Lao America Association of Florida, serving as its first president. He was an eloquent communicator and leader, and I am inspired by the way he was able to warmly connect with so many people.

It has been about 10 years since their passing, and while their stories have yet to be told, they continue to influence the person I am today.

What brings you joy about your heritage and culture?

Great question. It brings me joy when I see friends or strangers of a different ethnicity respectfully embrace my culture. It is one of the reasons why I fell in love with my husband. To see him enjoy Lao food, his willingness to blend American customs with Lao customs, or to understand when he speaks Lao in his most American accent, that brings me joy.

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month recognizes the contributions and influences of the AAPI community in the United States. It can be daunting to think that the various AAPI ethnicities are all lumped into this one community, but I hope the month of May provides a platform for each AAPI ethnicity to share their unique stories. It is important that we dispel mainstream stereotypes of the AAPI community, and for the community to continue their contribution to American history.

Chelsea Cheng

Senior Project Manager

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How did you find your way to NELSON?

I came to NELSON after I had my second maternity leave. I was hired by one of my managers at my very first job. I left NELSON after five years and returned after another five. I just celebrated my 3rd year return anniversary.

How do you identify within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community?

I was born and raised in Hong Kong. While waiting for our immigration application to be approved, I came to study at a boarding school in Vermont when I was 15. My family then moved to Bayside, New York the following year and I have been in New York ever since.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?

Having a different heritage allows me to keep my mind open. It comes natural to me to acknowledge things from different cultures, from different angles and allow myself to really try to understand, “see” and appreciate new and unfamiliar things.

Does your family have any traditions that are especially important to you?

My family has been in the U.S. for over 30 years now. We still celebrate Chinese New Year and most Chinese holidays including Mid-Autumn Festival. During Chinese New Year, we will dress in red or in traditional influenced clothing made with traditional fabric and patterns. Here is Poncho, our three-year-old Golden Retriever, dressed in doggy clothes made with traditional Chinese fabric. We also display decorations in red/gold.

Who are the role models or mentors that have influenced you or helped guide you?

My first project manager. As a new college graduate, he let me attend meetings and go to job sites by myself. It allowed me to make and learn from my mistakes; but most importantly it allowed me to gain experience and confidence. I was not only in a production role; I was being shaped to be a project manager since day one. I was given the chance to prove myself and I wish to do the same to all junior staff members.

What brings you joy about your heritage and culture?

When people ask questions and try to understand and show interest of where I came from and how different Hong Kong is from China or the rest of the Asian countries. How different each of our dialect is, etc.

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you

Every day is Heritage Day for me. Having a specific month honoring our heritage just a bigger reminder to appreciate where we come from, where our roots are, and where our fundamental beliefs begin.

Monica Jun

Senior Project Manager

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How did you find your way to NELSON?

I moved from my hometown, Chicago, nine years ago to NYC and The Mufson Partnership through a recruiter. They were merged with NELSON shortly after.

How do you identify within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community?

I identify as Korean-American. When people ask me where I’m from, I tell them I’m from Chicago (wait for pause) and my parents immigrated from Seoul, South Korea. It’s important to me that I provide context because although AAPIs may have similarities in our stories, they still have unique characteristics that are more identifiable within each subset. Being specific about my background usually sparks better conversation.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?

It is interwoven into every aspect of my life whether it’s accepted, rejected, or remixed as my own. There are aspects of Korean culture that I don’t integrate, and even that is an intentional reaction to the culture. Whenever I go to Seoul, I go on a mini shopping spree because my body shape is a better fit with theirs. Something as simple as finding clothes that fit me is 100 times easier to do in South Korea. However, when I was younger, the fashion sense for girls/women was much more modest and feminine there than what I was drawn towards given my American 90s culture of baggy jeans, baby tees, and starter jackets. I intentionally rejected these “girly” sensibilities because it did not align with my feminist ideals. It shaped my personality at a formative age to be the opposite of what I saw; bold (not meek), loud (not demure), strong (not sensitive). Those qualities are (and were) incorrect stereotypes, but I had not yet understood the layers of cultural nuance and history to be able to appreciate it like I can today. It took me until my thirties to start to wear pink without any guilt.

Does your family have any traditions that are especially important to you?

FOOD! My culture revolves around food. Eating is a communal and social engagement. Parents who grow up in a war-torn country don’t always express affection outwardly in the way I was used to seeing it in TV and movies growing up. But when my mom would make traditional meals to commemorate certain milestones, it was her way of expressing her love. Traditional Korean food can take a long time to make (lots of side dishes requiring pickling, marinading, hard to find ingredients). There is an expression “Let’s eat until we die” that is used jokingly when you are with loved ones and so happy to be eating good food together.

I also love celebrating New Years. My family did our Korean traditions on January 1, instead of Lunar New Year as our own blend. It’s time where we eat traditional food, play traditional games, dress up in our hanboks (see photo), and honor our parents. I loved it as a kid (because you get $$$) but the rituals around it always grounded us in our Korean heritage.

Who are the role models or mentors that have influenced you or helped guide you?

My mom is my primary role model. She sacrificed a lot for the wellbeing of my family and does it so willingly. She’s taught me what’s truly important in life and to reject a situation that goes against my fundamental core values. She can also connect with any stranger on the street. Her effortless ability to make meaningful human connections has always been an inspiration.

Professionally, Joe Schirripa is my mentor 😊. Joe has helped me navigate how to get my voice to be heard and perceived in intentional ways. It’s one thing to voice an opinion, but another to persuade others. I find this invaluable especially when I’m the minority at the table. He’s also insisted that I have a seat at the table. By empowering me, I know how to better empower others.

What brings you joy about your heritage and culture?

It’s encouraging to see the global community embrace South Korean pop culture and food. There are aspects of K-pop and Korean TV dramas I never thought Americans would embrace so I get a kick out of seeing so many teenagers knowing their lyrics without fully understanding what they’re saying but loving the vibe.

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

It’s a time to learn more about the different cultures under the giant umbrella that is AAPI. A time to celebrate the various cultures. Although it is such a behemoth, I appreciate the efforts being made to make it as inclusive as possible.

Kimberly Moy

Recruiter

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How did you find your way to NELSON?

I met Maria in my first interview! She was awesome and I thought if I could work with someone so happy and good at their job, that seemed like a good place to be.

How do you identify within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community?

My father is Chinese, his parents immigrated to America shortly before he was born. They were really proud to be in America, worked for many years in a manufacturing facility, assimilated to the community as best they could, my grandma taught herself English, and they raised my dad and his siblings very “Americanized” so to speak. They lived near Chinatown in Chicago for several years and kept many Chinese and traditions and superstitions. My grandma passed many of those onto me and my sisters.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?

It gives me another perspective. Seeing the hard work my grandparents put in to give my dad and his siblings the best life possible has shaped my values and how I see others. My mother’s heritage is Polish/German, so growing up in a mixed family and seeing/living the different cultures has changed how I see myself and how I relate to others.

Does your family have any traditions that are especially important to you?

Hong Baos (this is a joke 😊)! It’s a little red envelope with money inside. Traditionally given by grandparents or elders at times of celebration for good luck and good fortune…but who doesn’t like the tradition of receiving money from our grandparents? In more seriousness, any holiday and birthday are always important and fun to celebrate.

Who are the role models or mentors that have influenced you or helped guide you?

My whole family, but especially my parents. This has become more and more true as I grow older and realize all that they have done and overcome.

What brings you joy about your heritage and culture?

The emphasis on being together and getting to know my grandparents and aunts and uncles has always been a joy. Like it is with all cultures, celebrating holidays and partaking in traditions is particularly joyful.

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

It is a way to embrace diversity and a reminder to reflect on our heritage and what shapes us into who we are.

This year, retail brands are facing new challenges as shoppers return to stores and have a new outlook on fulfilling their holiday shopping lists after the height of the pandemic. Brands must rapidly evolve to stand out among competitors by ramping up their holiday strategies both online and in-store.

This holiday season we are sharing key insights that will drive retail transformation into the new year. Download the full report today.

Restaurants are more than just a place to eat. They are where we gather, connect, and spend time with loved ones. For decades, we’ve been dining in and driving through these eateries, but what happens when these experiences are taken away from us? And what will the industry look like after COVID-19?

There are many factors that will shape the future of food and beverage, but at a minimum, the industry will be led by low touch and high impact experiences. Download the report to uncover the top four insights that will influence the future of food and beverage.

The COVID-19 pandemic spurred an overnight disruption to our daily lives—driving unprecedented shifts in every business sector. As hubs of commerce that span almost every sector, shopping centers and mixed-use properties will be forced to juggle a myriad of “new norms.” Download the report to uncover six key shifts that will drive the future of the retail and mixed-use industries.