In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Stark & Stark’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee are shining a spotlight on some of our AAPI employees.

We sat down with Colleen Park, a mass torts paralegal in our Hamilton office, to discuss her favorite cultural traditions, and what AAPI Heritage Month means to her.

Stark & Stark (S&S): What is your cultural identity?

Colleen Park (CP): Korean-American

S&S: What is your favorite cultural tradition?

CP: Chuseok is Korea’s version of Thanksgiving in the sense that it’s a time for family to come together and have a big meal. Usually, we spend the whole day cooking, eating, and catching up with family.

S&S: What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

CP: It’s a great way to bring light to all the different AAPI cultures and traditions.

S&S: The theme for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year is advancing leaders through opportunity. How do you think we can all work to achieve this goal?

CP: Making an effort to make sure everyone has an equal opportunity for jobs, resources, and representation.

S&S: How do you think your culture has influenced you in your professional life?

CP: I grew up learning that Korean culture puts a heavy emphasis on respecting others and that helped me a lot when interacting with colleagues and clients.

S&S: What do you hope to see for the AAPI community in the future?

CP: I would love to see it continue to grow and be celebrated by everyone.

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