From Disconnection to Belonging

Reflecting on identity, heritage and belonging during AANHPI Heritage Month

I am of Filipino descent. My grandmother and her sisters immigrated to the United States from the Philippines and eventually settled in different parts of the country. My grandmother made her home in Michigan, while her sisters lived in Texas and North Dakota. In an effort to assimilate, my grandmother focused on raising her sons here in Michigan. Because of that, much of our cultural history was never shared while I was growing up. Now, my grandma has dementia, and my great aunts are gone, and with them, almost all my history has been lost.

As a child, I didn’t spend much time thinking about my heritage. I always identified as Filipino and felt proud of that, but I wasn’t actively connected to my culture or history in a meaningful way. It wasn’t something I explored. Looking back, I can see how much of my early life was shaped by finding my place, building confidence and learning where I belonged, without fully understanding where I came from.

I have been at Bronson for 15 years and have worked in roles ranging from Food Services to working in the Practices to my current role in HRIS (Human Resources Information Systems), with a focus on Talent/Performance and Learning Technologies. I don’t feel like I truly started living into my “why” until I began working with the Center for Learning about eight years ago. I started as an Office Coordinator and had the opportunity to become a Bronson School at Work (BSAW) Coach.

This program helped those in entry-level positions with basic job skills, networking, presentation, resources for college career pathways and medical terminology. Having gone through the BSAW program years earlier as a student, I learned the importance of networking, continued learning and how powerful it is to have a safe place to learn and grow. That experience made me want to create that same feeling for other employees who felt stuck or unsure of their next step.

While Bronson’s programs have evolved over time, we continue to invest in meaningful work to support our staff and the communities we serve. We have ERGs, which I see as serving a similar purpose. ERGs can be safe spaces where people feel comfortable learning, growing and being vulnerable. These are spaces where people can explore who they are, where they come from and what truly matters to them. They can find and live within their own “why.”

Joining the ASPIRE Asian ERG and stepping into a co-chair role was a very personal decision for me. I wanted a place where I could dedicate time to learn about my heritage and explore it with others. I am surrounded by those who share my Asian identity and also by those who are curious, supportive and want to learn more about Asian culture. One of the beautiful things about the ERGs is that you don’t have to be a member of the demographic to join. We welcome everyone who is interested in learning and finding a place to belong. It is an intentional way to build connections around similar interests. It has also been a wonderful opportunity to try different recipes and Asian food!

I have always identified as Filipino, and I am proud of my heritage. But for much of my life, I did not have the space or opportunity to understand what that identity meant to me.

While I can be my authentic self at work, ASPIRE gives me the space to lean fully into my Filipino culture and identity. Through this work, I am not only reconnecting with my own roots but also helping create the same sense of belonging and growth for others.