Houston First is paying tribute to the cultural diversity that makes up the rich and beautiful tapestry of our region by spotlighting Houstonians from various communities in conjunction with national awareness months.
During the month of May, Houston First is celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and the many contributions and influences generations of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans have had on our community and our nation.
We invite you to take a look at some of the incredible stories about individuals, and their achievements in everything from art to food to science and business. For more cultural profiles please visit our sister site, Visit Houston.
MELANIE PANG
Government Relations Officer | Houston Food Bank
Melanie advocates for equitable policies that drive efficiencies in service to those experiencing poverty. Melanie grew up in Missouri City as the youngest of four children to a Chinese father and Filipino mother. Pang earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2010 from the University of Houston. She was one of the first students to minor in GLBT studies and served as president of GLOBAL, the school’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, inter-sex and asexual alliance. She went on to a master’s degree in social work, and was named social worker of the year in 2015 by the local chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. She has been featured in OutSmart magazine’s list of emerging LGBTQ women leaders.
KIRBY LIU
Director of Development | Lovett Commercial
Kirby is a design and real estate developer that aims to reinvigorate Houston’s downtown neighborhoods and celebrate Houston’s diversity by creating arts, entertainment, dining and retail hubs that bridge the gap between culture and innovation. The impactful developer is devoted to building vibrant communities and enriching neighborhoods, and is currently involved in a project called POST Houston that is reimagining the former Barbara Jordan Post Office in Downtown. Liu graduated with distinction from Darmouth College and studied architecture at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design.
