Asian Americans across New York state are gathering in Rochester for the first Upstate Asian American Pacific Islander summit.

“It is a gathering of Asian-Americans from across upstate New York,” State Senator Jeremy Cooney said. “We've got folks here from Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester and even down in New York City. Folks flew up today to help share ideas about how to grow community outside of New York City.”

Adopted by a single mom from an orphanage in India, Cooney had made history as the first Asian American elected to state office from upstate New York.

“I'm the first Asian-American to be elected to a state-level office outside of greater New York City,” Cooney said. “So I've felt that we need to build community here, not only in the Rochester region, but also across upstate New York.”

Passionate towards his heritage, Cooney’s goal for the summit is for the Asian community to be celebrated but to also feel connected.

“AAPI Heritage Month is a great opportunity to raise awareness and visibility for Asian Americans,” Cooney said. “We need to be aware of these cultural identities. So whether you are a retail refugee from Burma, whether you came here from China or India, we want to make sure that, you know, that you feel welcome, that there's a community here for you and that we're going to be able to contribute back to the greater Rochester and upstate New York way of life.”

The summit features several panelists touching upon topics such as mental health, discrimination and breaking down barriers.

“It might be because, you know, the way we live, the way we sound and often we are being looked at in a different way,” panelist Bijaya Khadka said. “We have barriers, language barriers, culture and stuff like that. So we spoke about how to break these barriers and come forth and be visible and come together and support one another so that we can thrive together as a community.”

Leaving a refugee camp on the eastern edge of Nepal with his family, Khadka had still faced barriers coming to America.

“I was actually walking on the street and I got beaten down,” Khadka said. “My father was left unconscious on the street. My brother, same way. And my uncle was also beaten to death and left on the street unconscious. I have heard people calling me by name and like to go back to your country. You are here to take my jobs.”

Khadka’s story hopes this can spark more events like the AAPI summit to implement change for both American and Asian communities.

“I have a past, I have a history, I have a story to tell,” Khadka said. “Models of being a victim of hatred, but also as a community leader and how we are contributing and thriving in our local community.”

Khadka hopes the summit will encourage, empower and move forward for all communities to thrive in.

“When we become more welcoming and when we accept the diversity, however people are, we are stronger,” Khadka said. “We are stronger together.”