TITLE
Recommendation to request City Council to receive and file a presentation in recognition of Cambodian New Year.
BACKGROUND
This year's 2022 Cambodian New Year presentation includes an interview of Cambodian leaders from across three generations to learn why the new year is important to them and the Cambodian community in Long Beach, which is home to the largest Cambodian population in the United States.
The Cambodian or the Khmer people have a long and rich cultural heritage symbolized by the temple city Angkor Wat, considered one of the Wonders of the Ancient World, built between the 9th and 12th centuries, stands as a living icon of the endurance and genius of all Cambodians throughout the world.
Early connections between the United States and Cambodia began in the 1950s, when Cambodia sent bright and talented college students to universities, including California State Universities in Long Beach and Los Angeles, to study technical trades, engineering, and agriculture with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
After the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979, over 140,000 Cambodians came to the United States as refugees, making the City of Long Beach home to the largest Cambodian population in the United States.
The Cambodian New Year Festival, which is also known as Sangkranti, is also celebrated by Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and some part of India. It is a three-day celebration and this year it begins on April 14 and ends on April 16.
Long Beach prides itself on its diversity, inclusion, and support of all race, ethnicities, cultures, faiths, and experiences. Therefore, the Long Beach City Council should receive and file a presentation in recognition of Cambodian New Year to support diverse cultural celebrations.
FISCAL IMPACT
Due to time constraints no fiscal analysis was conducted.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
SUELY SARO COUNCILWOMAN
SIXTH DISTRICT